blackjack

Match Play 21, also known as Spanish 21, is a variation of Blackjack. The objective of Match Play 21 is for a Player to come as close to 21 without going over, while still having a higher total than the Dealer. Prior to receiving any cards, the Player must place a bet. Once the bet is made, the Player is dealt two cards face up. The Dealer is also dealt two cards. If the total value of the Player's cards is closer to 21 than the Dealer, the Player wins as much as was bet. The Player also wins if the Dealer goes over 21 and the Player has not busted. If the Player's total goes over 21, the Player loses the amount bet.

Match-Play Rules:

• 8 Match Play decks are used, the 4 10's have been removed from each deck, all other face cards remain.
• Cards are re-shuffled after each hand
• Dealer must hit soft 17
• A Player 21 always wins (except vs a Dealer blackjack)
• A Player Blackjack beats a Dealer Blackjack
• A Player may double down on any number of cards, but only one time, and will receive only one card.
• A Player may surrender after doubling down and then surrenders the double down portion of the bet.
• Certain Card combinations result in higher that 1-1 payoffs - please see the chart below.

Card Values

• Suits of the cards have no meaning in the game.
• Cards 2 through 9 are the face value.
• Jacks, Queens and Kings are all valued at 10.
• Aces can count as either 1 or 11  

If the Player has a hand that consists of a 6 and an Ace, it may either be considered a 17 or drop its value to 7. The Ace may count as 1 or 11. You may change the value of the Ace as the hand progresses.

Player Actions/Bets and Button Descriptions

Bet - To place a bet, the Player must click on the chip value that they wish to bet.

Deal - Press Deal to begin the game once a bet has been placed. The Player gets two cards face up and the Dealer gets two cards - one face up the other face down.

Hit - Player desires another card to be dealt. The Player may take a hit at any time before standing.

Stand - Player desires to keep hand dealt. The game will automatically stand when the Player has hard 21 or after doubling down.

Split - If the Player's first two cards are of the same value (i.e. 7, 7, or Q, K) they may be split into 2 separate hands by placing a second bet of equal value. The Player may have up to 3 hands at one time. The Player then proceeds to draw cards as usual, with these exceptions:  

If a Player splits two aces, only one additional card is dealt for each hand. A hand totaling 21 after splitting aces is considered 21, not Blackjack.

Double - When a Player has been dealt the first two cards and believes that the third card will give them a position to beat the Dealer's hand, they can "double down." The bet is doubled, and one additional card is dealt to the Player. The hand is automatically stood, and the Dealer then completes its hand comparing it to the Players' total. In Match Play 21 if the Player is not satisfied with the total, they may 'Surrender' the double down portion of the bet and the hand is ended with the original bet being returned to the Player.

Blackjack - Is achieved when first two cards total 21. Blackjack beats a score of 21 consisting of 3 or more cards.

Bust - Is achieved when total value of cards for either the Dealer or the Player exceeds 21. If the Player busts the bet is lost, if the Dealer busts the Player automatically wins the bet.

Push - Is achieved when the value of the Dealer's cards (from 17 to 20) and the Player's cards are equal resulting in neither winning. It also results in the return of the Player's bet. In Match Play 21 a Player automatically wins if their total is 21, and a Player Blackjack beats a Dealer Blackjack - these hands do not push

Insurance - Gives you a chance to protect yourself when you believe the Dealer might have Blackjack. If the Dealer's first card is an ace, and the Player believes the Dealer's hole card (face down) value is 10, the Player may purchase insurance against Dealer Blackjack at the price of half their initial bet. If the Dealer does have Blackjack, the insurance pays 2 to 1, which corresponds to the amount of the initial bet. If the Player has bought insurance and the Dealer does not have Blackjack, the Player loses his insurance. The Player's initial bet is then settled by comparing his cards with the Dealer's. If the Dealer and the Player both have Blackjack, the game results in a push with the Player profiting by the amount won by taking insurance - also called "even money".

Payout

Who	Hand	Description	Payout
Dealer	Blackjack	2-card 21	None (unless Player has Blackjack)
Player	Blackjack	2-card 21	3 to 2 (first hand only)
Player	Match Play 21	777suited and Dealer up card 7	40 to 1 *
Player	7-7-7 spades	777 (all spades)	3 to 1 *
Player	6-7-8 spades	678 (all spades)	3 to 1 *
Player	7+Cards	21 on 7 or more cards	3 to 1 *
Player	777 suited	777 suited	2 to 1 *
Player	678 suited	678 suited	2 to 1 *
Player	6-card 21	6-card 21	2 to 1 *
Player	Any 7-7-7	777	3 to 2 *
Player	Any 6-7-8	678	3 to 2 *
Player	5-card 21	5-card 21	3 to 2 *
Player	Twenty One	Any 21	1 to 1
Dealer	Twenty One	Any 21	None (unless Player has 21)
Player	Other Winning Hands		Even Money
Dealer/Player	Tie	Same Total (except Player 21/BJ)	Push

*non-doubled hands and non-split hands only

PLAY FOR REAL MONEY