9 Card Fortune Flush

Here is the fourth and final installment of August field trial games in Vegas -- 9 Card Fortune Flush. It is on field trial at Ballys, where I played it on Friday.

The game is evidently another attempt to ride the popularity of flush-based games. This is the first one where you don't need to beat a dealer but win or lose entirely on your own cards. Rather than explain everything twice, please click the link above for all the rules and my analysis. I welcome the amateur gaming mathematicians on the board to confirm or deny my numbers.

It is interesting to note that three of the four August field trial games are based on suits or colors.

So, please let me know what you think of the page. As always, I welcome all questions, comments, and especially corrections.

The question for the poll is would you play 9 Card Fortune Flush?

Here is the rack card:

Side 1
Side 2

There will be one last August field trial at Palazzo. Starts this Thursday!

Quote: SM777

There will be one last August field trial at Palazzo. Starts this Thursday!

Oh boy! Hopefully not another flush/color game.

Quote: Wizard

Oh boy! Hopefully not another flush/color game.

No. Deal & Reveal Blackjack.

Quote: SM777

No. Deal & Reveal Blackjack.

Can you reveal more?

Whether I personally would play it or not is moot (I wouldn't, because I like money), but I think the game would fail for two reasons:

1. There is very little strategy involved: only one decision, which is obvious to even a novice.
2. You'll make the decision to Play the majority of the time, meaning the only element of suspense is whether you'll get three cards of the wrong color as your initial hand.

I would expect this game to hold players' interest for a while, especially if they hit one of the 9-card Bonus payouts, but on the other hand, they could go a long time without hitting one of those bonuses and bleed out as a result. I rate it as "meh."

Quote: Wizard

Can you reveal more?

If dealer's upcard is 2-6, they reveal entire hand before players make a decision - while playing against Push 22.
If dealer's upcard is 7-A, it is normal BJ - No Push 22.

If Dealer has BJ, they'll throw it out one time and start with a new bottom card. If it is BJ again, then it stays and player's lose.

This is a Push-22 Game, belong to our friend, Switch (Geoff Hall). He can tell you more.

I also have a Similar Game, Open 21® (not a Push-22 Game), We both come up with a Similar Game at the same time (without knowing each other's game).

P.S. We were both surprised, when we find out, we have a Similar Blackjack Game.

Quote: SM777

If dealer's upcard is 2-6, they reveal entire hand before players make a decision - while playing against Push 22.
If dealer's upcard is 7-A, it is normal BJ - No Push 22.

So, if the up card is a six, for example, do they reveal the hole card only, or play out the whole dealer hand before the player acts?

Quote: Wizard

So, if the up card is a six, for example, do they reveal the hole card only, or play out the whole dealer hand before the player acts?

If upcard is 6, dealer will reveal hole card and players will act. Dealer will not act until all player's are complete.

IMHO, 9 Card Fortune Flush has too high a Play rate 88%+ to even call that a decision point. Without a decision point this is a "get your cards and see if you hit the pay table" type game...I don't see it doing that well on trial, but I have been surprised before.

Quote: SM777

If upcard is 6, dealer will reveal hole card and players will act. Dealer will not act until all player's are complete.

Deal & Reveal BJ is a lot more interesting than 9CFF! Not sure if I like it more than Free Bet BJ [may depend on if DRBJ is 6:5 BJ, :-)].

It does have only partial Push 22 mechanism in play as opposed to it always being in play with FBBJ. Dealer is going to have to remember that, which in theory should be easy if they go to play their hand and both cards are already up, Push 22 is in effect.

However, I have to believe as a dealer, that is the hardest thing to remember. Also likely the most frequent mistake that is uncovered when a FBBJ isn't holding like it should.

That being said, only facing Push 22 when you have already received the advantage of seeing both dealer cards is a positive. Player startegy is going to change, I would think most of the changes will be intuitive...it will be interesting to see that chart.

Pot of Gold is a real good side bet for FBBJ...what if any unique side bets will Deal & Reveal have in play? I feel like BJ players that try/play BJ variants want bonus pays and/or side bets. I could be wrong.