Match Play 21

Match 21 BlackJack Rules and Strategy:

The objective of face up 21 is same getting the total 21 points. The game rules are little different to adjust the odds since in this variant the players are in advantage. In this game if you get a tie hand, you lose the game and you can win the tie with only holding a blackjack. On getting the blackjack you’ll be instantly paid and you can play maximum three hands simultaneously.

• While playing this game, following the successful strategy chart is recommended. The deck doesn’t have ten value cards so total 32 cards are absent. Thus, when playing the player must split 2s and 3s when the dealer faces up the card with value of 8 or lower.
• They shouldn’t split 4s and 5s.
• On dealing a pair of 6s, split them if the dealer has 4, 5 or 6.
• On holding 7s, go for split if the dealer holds 2 through 7.
• Split the 8s in every case instead if the dealer has an ace card.
• Split 9s instead if the dealer has 2, 7, 10 or ace cards.

In these cases the player must stand and go for splitting ace to get the total 21.

• When you are going for doubling down the wager, you must do it at only hard 9 when the dealer has 6.
• For hard 10, doubling down is better if the dealer has 2 through 8.
• If you have 11, double down.
• Match play 21 holds few soft hands for which doubling them is essential. For example soft 15 when the dealer has 6, soft 16 when the dealer’s face up card holds 5 or 6 points, soft 17 or 18 when the dealer holds 4, 5 or 6. Thus, all of these soft hands must be doubled down to ensure the winnings in this variant.

The game allows the player to surrender however this is hardly a good decision. But surrender is a wise option when the player has hard or soft 16 or 17 whereas the dealer has an ace.

Cards Value:

• All cards from 2 to 10 irrespective of the color have their same face value
• Jack, Queen and King has face value of 10 points each (again irrespective of the color of card).
• Ace - I used to call it a hypocrite card as it face value may be 1 or 11 depends on requirement.



Common Terms:


When the cards are distributed and opened (obviously dealer’s only one card is opened) usually you will see four option to choose from

• Hit: Simply a call for another card. (You may hit again-n-again if you are not satisfied with deck total with the only condition is your hand sum is lesser than 21).
• Stand: This option is to use when your hand total is nearby 21 (normally more than 17) and then dealer need to open his card(s).
• Double: As clear from its name it will double your bet amount. (Not only double your wager but make one HIT and then automatically go for STAND, irrespective what your total is).
  
• Surrender:Easy to understand with its literature meaning ‘GIVE UP’. Using surrender will return your half bet amount only. You must keep in mind that you can only use this option at initial stage (before hitting HIT or STAND) only.
  Use this option if your cards sum is less than 7 and dealer card is >7



There is one more term which you love to hear but only when dealer is opening their cards and that is BURST.

• Burst: As I said it’s the term you love to listen when dealer’s cards are getting opened. It simply means that the hand has crossed 21 and no further moves are possible and if only dealer’s cards are burst (irrespective of your hand total) than you are the winner. On the other hand if both dealer and player’s cards are burst than dealer is the winner.



Occasional Terms:


There are only two options which are used occasionally (but are very important to understand)

• Insurance: This option is activated when dealer opened card is hypocrite card (Ace). It is basically the gamble whether the dealer will hit blackjack (options are if dealer second card is either 10, Jack, Queen or King). If dealer hit the blackjack than you may lose the game but win the insurance (2:1). This is to keep in notice that insurance amount is always just the half of your actual bet amount.
• Split: Again easy to understand with its literature meaning ‘divide in parts’ (here in two equal parts) and you will start playing multihand blackjack for this particular bet where your two cards of one deck will be divided in two decks and two bets and each deck will play individually and all same rules will apply



Game Results:


Now come the results, like other games there is either you win or dealer or the third option is tie. Now let’s elaborate them to understand better:

• Player Win: There are two scenario when player wins. First is when your cards total is greater than dealers card total but lesser than 21. Second is when your total is less than 21 and dealer BURST (total cross 21).
• Dealer Win: Dealer win when the case is just opposite to the above said scenario i.e. when dealer card total is more closer to 21 than player hand’s card or if player burst.
  Please note: If both player and dealer burst (there hand total cross 21) than you dealer will be considered as winner. (This is the only part of blackjack which I don’t like)
• Push: Though, most of the terms in blackjack work as same as their literate meaning but the only exception is PUSH. Push actually means TIE – When both player’s and dealer’s hand total is equal to each other and you will be the winner of your wagered amount only.

Now, we have cleared classic BlackJack playing rules and I invite you to please select any of my tested, selected and enjoyed Best BlackJack tables mentioned above to start your own gaming experience. I personally advise you to please start playing for free money initially and once you opened your hands and gain some experience than play with real money wisely.

At end, I wanna invite you to please jot down your learning / playing experience so that other gamblers too learn something new every day. Please visit us again soon ……