Blackjack X-Change

Blackjack X-Change plays like conventional blackjack, but adds a twist that the player can buy or sell a card for a random card in most situations. For example, you have a 10 and 6 against a dealer 7. You can get rid of that 6 for a random new card, but at a price. The buy and sell prices are pegged to the specific situation and are 2.5% to 3.0% off of the fair value, against the player.

For all the rules and analysis, please click on the link. As always, I welcome all questions, comments, and especially corrections.

The question for the poll is would you ever exchange cards if playing this game?

First thought is it is obviously impossible to do this game at a live table, so good they keep it 3/2 and S17.

Played for about 10 minutes. Initial thought is I kind of like it as a game. Math aside. It is nice that a game not a poker variant comes out. Other thoughts:

It is nice that a variant not "pre-action" comes out. IOW, Lucky Ladies, In-Between, etc, are all over the second the cards hit. This one I can think about it.

Just 0.37 house edge is something hard to find.

A key seems to be finding dealer bust against your own 20. Then keep selling at a good price. A couple times I made 2:1+ here when the dealer would bust.

Bottom line: It is far more entertaining than video poker. I would for sure play it if they put it in my local joint, and I would parlay that with free drinks to get an edge.

OTOH, I think it will only appeal to a slice of players. It will need some kind of player education to get people to play. OTOOH, put it in a multi-game bartop and what is for the casino to lose.

ONE THING: The hyperlink is too small for people who want to play, I had to hunt for it. Put in a button or increase the font size.

Quote: AZDuffman

ONE THING: The hyperlink is too small for people who want to play, I had to hunt for it. Put in a button or increase the font size.

Sorry, here is a bigger one.

Blackjack X-Change

So I played a bit and I would play a live version vs a slot type game. That being said there were times when I could sell cards for more than the value of the bet I made but buying cards at times was as much as 50+% but live with some cou thing i think the buying and selling of cards could be +ev

Quote: Wizard

Sorry, here is a bigger one.

Blackjack X-Change

My old man eyes thank you!

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: Wizard

Sorry, here is a bigger one.

Blackjack X-Change

My old man eyes thank you!

But the link is:

Game.

On a more serious note. I just tried it again and had at least one time where the payoff was more than an even-money win. I did not see that in the article, though I might have missed it. I turned a 50 pound payoff into several time that much.

Quote: troopscott

That being said there were times when I could sell cards for more than the value of the bet I made

Let's look at 10-8-3 vs. 10, for example.

Standing on that has an EV of 96.26%
Selling the 3 for a random card will give you an EV of -64.77%.

Thus, a reduction in EV by exchanging the 3 of 157.73%. My guess is the game would give you 97.5% of that, or 153.79 times your bet.

What will usually happen is you'll turn a one-unit winner into winning 1.5379 units on the sale but losing one unit the blackjack, for a new win of 0.5379 units. In other words, you're selling at about 1.5 units, but for a 2-unit swing on the main bet.

Quote:

i think the buying and selling of cards could be +ev

I disagree. I didn't just look at the example on my page, but others as well. The game always made a 2.5% to 3.0% profit on card exchanges.

Quote: Wizard

The game always made a 2.5% to 3.0% profit on card exchanges.

why would anyone trust a website 21 game?

I just played 300 hands on my laptop
# of Naturals: 0
Dealer Naturals: 12
Ah, just bad luck

I bought a card EVERY TIME I was dealt an Ace, and ALWAYS got a Blackjack
on the 1st or 2nd card. Quite remarkable for 26 times.
Ah, just good luck

Now when I had a 10 value (and only 1 time a 10,10)
I bought a card trying to get another ten.
1 time did I get on the 1st buy, 1 time one the 2nd buy , 1 time got the Ace
and all the rest was after the 5th buy.

more remarkable
Ah, just bad luck

a video of this is not coming soon
not even worth the effort to see the source code (if available)
to see how (if) they did that

Ah, just bad luck
LOL
good luck

if MG or pt has this game, i will play it.
please get them to buy it from u.

Decent little idea, except all the buys and sells seem a bit too stiff.

I mean, the "sells" all remind me of GameStop. You wanna sell something? Doesn't matter what it is... we'll give you $1. You have a $400 bet? Ah, $2 to give up that ace then...

Quote: Wizard

...would you ever exchange cards if playing this game?

It's an interesting game using an infinite deck and allowing you to hit and double after splitting Aces. However the selling/buying cards doesn't really work as with the high comission it's correct just to ignore the option.

It would be more interesting if the price was true value but perhaps rounded to nearest cent in the house's favour - that way the player could also have some fun.