Two Way Winner
December 22nd, 2016 at 11:29:56 AM
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Saw "Two Way Winner" at the Hollywood Park Casino in California.
After making two forced, equal sized "Ante" bets, and an optional "bonus" bet, the game starts as blackjack, with each player getting two cards, and the dealer revealing one of their two cards. Players then decide whether to play their hand as a a blackjack hand (requiring an equal sized "Play" bet), or switch their two starting cards to "Hold Em" poker hole cards (requiring a 1x or 2x "Play" wager). If poker, the board is made up of the dealer's blackjack hand plus additional cards dealt as necessary to to make up a board of five cards and two hole cards for the dealer.
There is also a joker in the 53 card deck, which counts as 2 or 12 in Blackjack or "Ace, Straight, Flush" in Poker. In Blackjack, a hand with a joker totaling 22 beats a 21, otherwise all 22's bust.
After seeing their two starting cards, and the dealer's up card, players can "Surrender" and get one of their two Antes back.
While it seems straightforward, the game is actually quite complicated for the dealer, so relatively slow to play out. The two players I observed always played chose poker, and seemed to be doing well, as the board revealed "bonus" winning cards for them.
I don't have high hopes for this game, but at least there were players. The two "Shaq Jacq" tables were empty.
After making two forced, equal sized "Ante" bets, and an optional "bonus" bet, the game starts as blackjack, with each player getting two cards, and the dealer revealing one of their two cards. Players then decide whether to play their hand as a a blackjack hand (requiring an equal sized "Play" bet), or switch their two starting cards to "Hold Em" poker hole cards (requiring a 1x or 2x "Play" wager). If poker, the board is made up of the dealer's blackjack hand plus additional cards dealt as necessary to to make up a board of five cards and two hole cards for the dealer.
There is also a joker in the 53 card deck, which counts as 2 or 12 in Blackjack or "Ace, Straight, Flush" in Poker. In Blackjack, a hand with a joker totaling 22 beats a 21, otherwise all 22's bust.
After seeing their two starting cards, and the dealer's up card, players can "Surrender" and get one of their two Antes back.
While it seems straightforward, the game is actually quite complicated for the dealer, so relatively slow to play out. The two players I observed always played chose poker, and seemed to be doing well, as the board revealed "bonus" winning cards for them.
I don't have high hopes for this game, but at least there were players. The two "Shaq Jacq" tables were empty.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
January 8th, 2017 at 2:45:37 PM
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Saw this game at Hustler. A well known poker player was there. He had 8-10k in front of him but didn't look happy.
This seems like it would be a real challenge to analyze.
This seems like it would be a real challenge to analyze.
January 8th, 2017 at 4:11:29 PM
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I think I'm missing something at first glance.
If you choose to play blackjack, since you lose both antes if you lose, a blackjack pays 3-5, and all other wins pay 1-2.
Poker pays 1-2 or 2-3 (again, since both antes lose on a loss but the blackjack ante is a push on a win), depending on whether or not you make the second bet, even though you do get to see two of the community cards. I understand why most players would choose to play poker.
If you choose to play blackjack, since you lose both antes if you lose, a blackjack pays 3-5, and all other wins pay 1-2.
Poker pays 1-2 or 2-3 (again, since both antes lose on a loss but the blackjack ante is a push on a win), depending on whether or not you make the second bet, even though you do get to see two of the community cards. I understand why most players would choose to play poker.
