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Meistro

Well-Known Member
#1
A poster on another website asked what I consider an interesting question. Any insight?

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/3...ckjack-like-game-beatable-exploitable-674578/



Hi guys, (warning: long post)

I've got a question regarding a card game offered at a local "casino" (let's just call it that ). The game appears to be similar to blackjack at first. It does vary though in certain ways, the rules are explained in detail below. My question is if anyone here could help me figure out an optimal strategy or even a way to beat the game. Counting cards is possible.

I only have basic knowledge of card counting and blackjack. I apologize should I be explaining the obvious in the rules. I'm just trying to be as exact as possible.

Here are the specific rules:

- The game is referred to as "twenty-two". The goal is to get to 22 or as close as possible without going higher than 22. To win you must be closer to 22 than the dealer, or on/below 22 when the dealer busts. When player and dealer have the same value it is a "stand-off" and the player takes back his wager. The exception is if the dealer has two aces, but that's explained in detail below.

- The game is played with a shoe of 6 decks of cards. The penetration is somewhere between 20-30% of the deck. By penetration I understand the point at which the dealer puts in the cutting-card prior to loading the shoe. Once this card comes out during the game, the current game is finished and after that the shoe is re-shuffled.

- It is possible to watch the game and sit in/out at any point.

- The game is played with a minimum wager of $10 and a maximum wager of $100 per box. It is no problem to vary the betting sizes.

- The cards have the value they display. All face cards have the value 10. An Ace has the value 11 or 1.

- The game is played on a table like blackjack. All players are dealt one card open, then the dealer gets dealt one card open, then all players get dealt a second card open. After this the first player can choose to "hit" i.e. draw another card, or "stand" that is draw no more card.

- Once all players have made their choices the dealer draws for himself. The dealer must draw until 16 and stand at 17 or higher. There is no difference to soft/hard sums.

- When you win you are payed 1 to 1. (IE: you bet $30 and win --> you win $30 and take back your wager.)

- Two aces beat everything including any combination equaling 22. When a player is dealt two aces he is paid 2 to 1 on his wager immediately, except if the dealer's card is an Ace.
-)Should the dealer's card be an ace (when the player is dealt two aces) the following options arise for the player:
a) The player can immediately take 1.8 to 1 and end his game right there. OR
b) The player can buy an "insurance" for 10% of the betting amount (this option is given before the first player acts).
-Should the dealer hit an ace and the player insured himself he can take back his wager and the insurance is kept by the dealer.
-Should the dealer hit an ace and the player has not insured himself he loses to the dealer.
-Should the player buy insurance and the dealer hits no ace, the player receives 2 to 1 but loses the insurance.
- Whenever the two cards dealt to a player add up to 10, 11 or 12 the player may "double-down". The player then doubles his bet and receives only one more card.

- Any pair as well as any two face cards dealt to a player allow the option of splitting. Should the player opt to do so the two cards are separated and he receives an additional card to each of the originally dealt cards. Of course the player has to bet the same amount on the second hand as he did initially on the first hand.

Example: The player is dealt 3-3. He bet $10. He opts to split. He must now put down another $10 and then receives and additional card to his first 3 and an additional card to the second 3, thereby now playing two hands.

- There is no limit to splitting. If the cards allow it, the player can split and "re-split" without limitation. Also, should the player split and the possibility arise, he can double-down.

- There is no form of "surrender" as there is in blackjack.

I'd be happy to answer any questions regarding this game. I haven't played it myself yet, just watched people playing it.

I would appreciate any insight into the possibility beating this game.
 
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