7-14-21

I saw this game at the Palms today when I was there for a haircut. It was getting pretty good play, but everybody was betting $5 or $10 per hand. Also bear in mind this was Friday afternoon of the July 4th weekend, and the casino was already quite crowded.

Rules

1. Single 52-card deck used.
2. All cards scored as in blackjack.
3. Player makes three equal bets, plus optional bonus bet.
4. Player and dealer each get six cards.
5. Player arranges his cards into three 2-cards hands, titled 7, 14, and 21.
6. The object of each hand is to get as close to the indicated number of points without going over.
7. After the players have set their hands the dealer will set his according to the house way.
8. The player's 21 hand is compared to the dealer's 21 hand. The one closer to 21 wins.
9. The player's 14 hand is compared to the dealer's 14 hand. The one closer to 14, without going over, wins. If both go over, then the dealer wins.
10. The player's 7 hand is compared to the dealer's 7 hand. The one closer to 7, without going over wins. If both go over, then the dealer wins.
11. The 14 and 7 hands are scored in the same manner as the 21 hand.
12. Wins pay even money, and ties push.
13. In the event the player makes a "perfect hand," which is exactly 7, 14, and 21 points, he is automatically paid 4 to 1 on all three wagers.

House Way

1. Dealer first makes the best 21 hand possible.
2. Dealer then makes the best 14 hand possible. If there is more than one way to make 14 points the dealer will chose the way with the fewest aces.

Bonus Bet

1. Suited perfect hand pays 2000 to 1
2. Colored perfect hand pays 100 to 1
3. All cards same suit pays 50 to 1
4. Perfect hand pays 16 to 1
5. Beat the dealer on all three hands pays 7 to 1
6. Win any two hands pays 1 to 1

This analysis will be of medium difficulty. Here is how I would do it:

1. By random simulation, determine how often the dealer gets each total for each hand.
2. Put results of first simulation in an three arrays, one for each hand.
3. Do another simulation of both player and dealer hands.
4. Determine the expected win of all 90 ways to play each player hand, given the results of the first simulation. Make play with highest expected value.
5. Score hand. Repeat.

Such random simulations are rather tedious to program and not very challenging. I don't plan on bothering until I see the game get more placements.

I give the game credit for a fairly novel idea, yet still sticking to the scoring concept of blackjack. It is pretty easy to catch onto and while it feels like a strategy game, most hands should be obvious how to play.

Here are scans of the rule card. Click on image for larger version.

You can play it online and get the rules here:


Link

Quote: Wizard

... The player's 21 hand is compared to the dealer's 21 hand. The one closer to 21, without going over wins. If both go over, the dealer wins.

So I don't understand how a two-card hand can possibly go over 21 (assuming a "soft 22" is automatically a 12).

removed
silly

Quote: mustangsally

So I played, and was not too happy. It seems to be a hard game to have any win streaks.

I figure the problem is the 7 hand. That's where you bust more often.

I played it a bunch a while ago online. Seems like a game where you bleed down slowly. Often I remember winning 1 or two hands.

Quote: crazyiam

I played it a bunch a while ago online. Seems like a game where you bleed down slowly. Often I remember winning 1 or two hands.

I concur.

Quote: Doc

So I don't understand how a two-card hand can possibly go over 21 (assuming a "soft 22" is automatically a 12).

It can't. I reworded the rules, but that rule applies to the 7 and 14 card hands only.

This game may have the lowest standard deviation I've ever seen in a casino game. Most of the time the player will win or lose 1/3 of his total bet, not counting the bonus bet.

I got sick of playing this one on the computer rather quickly. It's okay to kill time with, but I wouldn't want to bet money on it.

We talked about this game in a previous thread in case anyone missed it. here