Top-Up® Blackjack™ NEW BJ Game. by NTG
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8 members have voted
Photo from ICE-London 2019 in My Join-PST Booth. .
* Top-Up® Blackjack™ is a liberal version of Blackjack which matches 1/2 the cost of Players Split and Doubles, in Real Money.
RULES:
Standard Blackjack rules unchanged other than as set out Below:
* Player’s Blackjack is an Automatic-win, Pays 3 to 2.
* Player’s 21 point is an Automatic-win, Pays 1 to 1.
1. Each Player must make both a Main-wager and a Contrast-wager equal to 1/2 his Main-wager.
2. Each Player receives two cards face-up and the Dealer receives two cards with one face-up.
3. If the Player’s two-card hand doesn’t contain one Red-suit and one Black-suit, then his Contrast-wager automatically loses.
4. Play continues as normal Blackjack.
5. For all allowed Splits and Doubles, the Player only wagers 1/2 the Main-wager, and receives a Top-Up of the other 1/2 directly from the rack.
6. Any Contrast-wager stay with the original hand on a split. Player does not match his Contrast-wager while splitting.
7. The Contrast-wager is resolved in the following way:
a. If the Player wins on his hand, his Contrast-wager (if any) wins 2 to 1.
b. If the Player pushes on his hand, his Contrast-wager (if any) will push.
c. If the Player loses on his hand, his Contrast-wager (if any) loses.
* The Question is what do you think about (Top-Up® Blackjack™) and why?
P.S. Any Comments are Welcome Good/Bad.
Is there is a version that you can double on any two cards (inc. DAS)?
If yes, would correct strategy be to double and split pretty aggressively on hands where the Contrast-wager had automatically lost, and play close to a "normal blackjack" basic strategy for when the Contrast-wager was still in play?
Edit (about 1245pm):
For example, if the Contrast-wager had automatically lost, can (and should) you double a hard 12 against a 6?
Quote: tringlomaneSounds interesting. Would be curious to know the rough house edge and how strategy changes vs. standard BJ.
Hi tringlomane,
I would like to see if any Forum-Member here can answer your questions (house edge and how strategy changes vs. standard BJ) first,
Anyway I will answer your questions here next week.
Quote: jackmagic777Stephen, you are not fooling me. It is obvious you are an robot with artificial intelligence. No human could possibly design so many casino games. JUST NOT POSSIBLE .... Seriously, looks like you have a winner for sure
Hi jackmagic777,
Thanks for your Comment.
Quote: ksdjdj
...For example, if the Contrast-wager had automatically lost, can (and should) you double a hard 12 against a 6?
Just had a quick look at the strategy EVs', and if you are allowed to double on hard 12, then I think you should do it against dealer 2 to 6 (for Contrast-wager "still in play"), and dealer 2 to A*** (when Contrast-wager is "automatically lost")
2-A***; If playing "American" (Dealer Peeks for BJ), though I haven't checked what the "no-hole card" basic strategy variations are yet.
Lastly, I won't do anymore until I find out if there is a version where you can double on any total (even after splits) and what the dealer peeks rule is.
Quote: MrCasinoGames
5. For all allowed Splits and Doubles, the Player only wagers 1/2 the Main-wager, and receives a Top-Up of the other 1/2 directly from the rack.
Hey Stephen,
What happens if the player pushes that second hand that they receive the "top-up" on from the rack? Does the player retain that half unit top up or is that surrendered back to the house?
Quote: ksdjdjJust had a quick look at the strategy EVs', and if you are allowed to double on hard 12, then I think you should do it against dealer 2 to 6 (for Contrast-wager "still in play"), and dealer 2 to A*** (when Contrast-wager is "automatically lost")
2-A***; If playing "American" (Dealer Peeks for BJ), though I haven't checked what the "no-hole card" basic strategy variations are yet.
Lastly, I won't do anymore until I find out if there is a version where you can double on any total (even after splits) and what the dealer peeks rule is.
Hi ksdjdj,
DOUBLE ON ANY NUMBER OF CARDS (on any Soft/Hard total of 9, 10 or 11 Only) and H17.
Also, Once the Top-Up money is wagered, it is owned by the Player.
The player receives the total proceeds from the outcome of the hand.
Thus, a player will profit 1/2 his main-bet from tying the Dealer on a Top-Up double or split.
Quote: mrsuit31Hey Stephen,
What happens if the player pushes that second hand that they receive the "top-up" on from the rack? Does the player retain that half unit top up or is that surrendered back to the house?
Hi mrsuit31,
Once the Top-Up money is wagered, it is owned by the Player.
The player receives the total proceeds from the outcome of the hand.
Thus, a player will profit 1/2 his main-bet from tying the Dealer on a Top-Up double or split.
Quote: MrCasinoGamesHi mrsuit31,
Once the Top-Up money is wagered, it is owned by the Player.
The player receives the total proceeds from the outcome of the hand.
Thus, a player will profit 1/2 his main-bet from tying the Dealer on a Top-Up double or split.
Nice feature.
Quote: MintyCertainly reminds me of freebet, but I like this version more, actually.
I was going to make that comparison too. The dreaded question with giving players something extra in blackjack is what to take away, when there is so little meat on the bone in conventional blackjack. I could complain that I don't like mandating side bets, but what is better? If you are going to go the route of mandating a side bet, I'd go the whole way and have totally free doubles and splits and depress the side bet to pay for it. However, then it comes more of a Free Bet copy. In the end, my question to you would be, "How does this improve upon Free Bet BJ?"
Quote: SiegfriedRoyWouldn't this be a headache for the dealer and the casino? When you're dealing with a crowded table with drunks, not only will the dealer have to constantly provide change to players who need to put up the contrast-wager which is half, they have to verify that the wager is correct. This back and forth may slow down the game and the casino may not like the pace of it. It's just my personal opinion. Otherwise, it looks interesting.
Hi SiegfriedRoy,
Thanks for your comment.
Yes, Just like any New Games or Side-bets, most of the time it is not easy for the Dealer. e.g. Push 22 (and that is why it is not easy to make a New Game).
The good thing with variations of Blackjack or Poker is you don't have to teach the Dealer or Player how to play the main-game.
That is why most successful games are variations of Blackjack or Poker.
Quote: MintyCertainly reminds me of freebet, but I like this version more, actually.
Thanks Minty,
BTW, Top-Up® Blackjack™ may not have been invented, if my best friend Geoff Hall (Switch) still owns Freebet Blackjack.
* THE Top-3 Legends of New Table Games:
Stephen Au-Yeung (Casino Holdem® Poker™, Unlimited® Blackjack™ and...)
Derek Webb with Glasses (Three Card Poker™, 21+3 Blackjack™ and..)
Geoff Hall (Free-Bet Blackjack™, Blackjack Switch™ and...)
Quote: MrCasinoGames
...DOUBLE ON ANY NUMBER OF CARDS (on any Soft/Hard total of 9, 10 or 11 Only)...
Hi MrCasinoGames,
Thanks for answering my previous post(s).
I now have another question, can the player refuse the automatic win on 21, if he wants to double it as a soft 11?
If the player is allowed to, he would probably double a soft 11 against a dealer 2 to 7, if the Contrast-wager had "automatically lost".
Note: the only soft 11 the player shouldn't double is a 2 card 21 (Blackjack).
Again, seems like a great game, and I will want to try it the next time I am in the US, or when it is available in Australia (as that is where I live).
thanks
Quote: ksdjdjHi MrCasinoGames,
Thanks for answering my previous post(s).
I now have another question, can the player refuse the automatic win on 21, if he wants to double it as a soft 11?
If the player is allowed to, he would probably double a soft 11 against a dealer 2 to 7, if the Contrast-wager had "automatically lost".
Note: the only soft 11 the player shouldn't double is a 2 card 21 (Blackjack).
Again, seems like a great game, and I will want to try it the next time I am in the US, or when it is available in Australia (as that is where I live).
thanks
Yes, You can refuse the automatic win on 21, if you wants to double it as a soft 11.
BTW, It is a Brand New Game, so it is not in any Casinos yet.
Quote: SiegfriedRoyWouldn't this be a headache for the dealer... ...This back and forth may slow down the game and the casino may not like the pace of it. It's just my personal opinion...
I agree with Sieg that this will be a bit of "a headache for the dealer" at least for when they are new to dealing this game, but I don't think the game will slow-down enough for the casino to "not like the pace of it" (see below).
I think the house edge is about 1.94%***, so the game needs to be 3 to 5 x slower than a regular BJ^^^ game before the casino will "not like the pace of it".
***: according to a post somewhere else on this forum, sorry I can't remember the link.
^^^: compared to BJ games with about 0.65% to 0.39% house edge.
Also, once people are used to playing "Top-Up BJ", I think it will take less than 2 times as long to play a hand ,compared to regular BJ (this is just a guess, as I haven't tried playing it yet).
Most of this is just a personal opinion, so I will be happy to be corrected (if I am wrong in any of the statements above).
Edit( about 420 pm):
I don't know if the average player prefers a faster paced or slower paced game, but I personally don't care about the pace of the game, as long as the other players are not being "annoyingly slow or bad"^*^ with their decision making.
^*^: I have been at a table where I had to leave, because one player was taking about 30 seconds (on average) to decide what to do with "easy" hands and then after all that time they would make a "wrong" decision.
For example, one player took 30(or so) seconds to decide what to do with a hard 12 against a dealer 7, in the end they decided to double down (this was in a game similar to Spanish 21).
Quote: ksdjdjI agree with Sieg that this will be a bit of "a headache for the dealer" at least for when they are new to dealing this game, but I don't think the game will slow-down enough for the casino to "not like the pace of it" (see below).
I think the house edge is about 1.94%***, so the game needs to be 3 to 5 x slower than a regular BJ^^^ game before the casino will "not like the pace of it".
***: according to a post somewhere else on this forum, sorry I can't remember the link.
^^^: compared to BJ games with about 0.65% to 0.39% house edge.
Also, once people are used to playing "Top-Up BJ", I think it will take less than 2 times as long to play a hand ,compared to regular BJ (this is just a guess, as I haven't tried playing it yet).
Most of this is just a personal opinion, so I will be happy to be corrected (if I am wrong in any of the statements above).
Edit( about 420 pm):
I don't know if the average player prefers a faster paced or slower paced game, but I personally don't care about the pace of the game, as long as the other players are not being "annoyingly slow or bad"^*^ with their decision making.
^*^: I have been at a table where I had to leave, because one player was taking about 30 seconds (on average) to decide what to do with "easy" hands and then after all that time they would make a "wrong" decision.
For example, one player took 30(or so) seconds to decide what to do with a hard 12 against a dealer 7, in the end they decided to double down (this was in a game similar to Spanish 21).
Thanks ksdjdj for your input.
You are spot-on regarding the House-edge.
House edge by Stephen How Consulting: DOUBLE ON ANY NUMBER OF CARDS (any Soft/Hard 9, 10 or 11 Only) H17.
6-Decks 1.9417%.
For those that are interested, I will update the strategy here some time next week.
Quote: ksdjdjI agree with Sieg that this will be a bit of "a headache for the dealer" at least for when they are new to dealing this game, but I don't think the game will slow-down enough for the casino to "not like the pace of it" (see below).
I think the house edge is about 1.94%***, so the game needs to be 3 to 5 x slower than a regular BJ^^^ game before the casino will "not like the pace of it".
***: according to a post somewhere else on this forum, sorry I can't remember the link.
^^^: compared to BJ games with about 0.65% to 0.39% house edge.
Also, once people are used to playing "Top-Up BJ", I think it will take less than 2 times as long to play a hand ,compared to regular BJ (this is just a guess, as I haven't tried playing it yet).
Most of this is just a personal opinion, so I will be happy to be corrected (if I am wrong in any of the statements above).
Edit( about 420 pm):
I don't know if the average player prefers a faster paced or slower paced game, but I personally don't care about the pace of the game, as long as the other players are not being "annoyingly slow or bad"^*^ with their decision making.
^*^: I have been at a table where I had to leave, because one player was taking about 30 seconds (on average) to decide what to do with "easy" hands and then after all that time they would make a "wrong" decision.
For example, one player took 30(or so) seconds to decide what to do with a hard 12 against a dealer 7, in the end they decided to double down (this was in a game similar to Spanish 21).
I've played at a couple tables where the dealer would stop the game to talk to players. That's a frustrating experience. I've also played with a guy who consults a deceased person before making playing decisions and let me tell ya, dealer and player reactions to him are priceless.
In the end the game seems difficult to deal. To me the hand action of going in and out of the tray for matching purposes would slow the game down immensely. The HE while only 1.94% will depend on perfect play, and I doubt that about 2% of people who try their hand at this game will come close to optimal play. In the end I think it will be frustrating to gamblers and dealers alike. I think what might make the game a success despite the frustrations is the house take for a variation of blackjack. It will be a good moneymaker especially if lower limits are available and would draw newer recreational players to a blackjack game and can't afford the higher limits.
I myself wouldn't play it. The only variation of blackjack I play is switch and I typically bring my custom strategy card when I play it.
Quote: MintyI've played at a couple tables where the dealer would stop the game to talk to players. That's a frustrating experience. I've also played with a guy who consults a deceased person before making playing decisions and let me tell ya, dealer and player reactions to him are priceless.
If you don't want to play a game with a Dealer who stops the game to talk to Players, you could try Computerized Table Games. :) My local Casino Computerized Roulette Game is just the player and the game, that's it. The only talking you'll hear is the disembodied voice saying,"Woohoo!" When you win more than your bet, LMAO! :D
The Player consulting with a deceased person before making bets seems part hilarious, part disturbing, part scary, part confusing. :D :/ O.O
Quote: NathanIf you don't want to play a game with a Dealer who stops the game to talk to Players, you could try Computerized Table Games. :) My local Casino Computerized Roulette Game is just the player and the game, that's it. The only talking you'll hear is the disembodied voice saying,"Woohoo!" When you win more than your bet, LMAO! :D
The Player consulting with a deceased person before making bets seems part hilarious, part disturbing, part scary, part confusing. :D :/ O.O
I'm better at beating games that are live, and that's my top priority. My two favorite kinds of dealers are chatty quick dealers and silent fast dealers. Either is good, long as the game keeps moving!
I find it beyond annoying to sit at a table, especially an already slow game like PGP, when the dealer stops the game to tell a long story or chat people up. Annoying to the point where I will color up and leave, in a couple of cases, where it was continual. Yuck.
The casino isn't paying them to deal 15hph and BS, afaik. And I only get to gamble 5-8 days a year, most years. I want to see some hands.
fyi I remeber discussing doubling soft 21 with my local casino. There was a game where, in some circumstances, you should split pictures and also then double if you got an Ace. Their ruling was you would need identical pictures and couldn't double AX.Quote: MrCasinoGamesYes, You can refuse the automatic win on 21, if you wants to double it as a soft 11....
Quote: charliepatrickfyi I remeber discussing doubling soft 21 with my local casino. There was a game where, in some circumstances, you should split pictures and also then double if you got an Ace. Their ruling was you would need identical pictures and couldn't double AX.
Hi charliepatrick,
Thanks for the Info.
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Quote: MrCasinoGamesThanks ksdjdj for your input.
You are spot-on regarding the House-edge.
House edge by Stephen How Consulting: DOUBLE ON ANY NUMBER OF CARDS (any Soft/Hard 9, 10 or 11 Only) H17.
6-Decks 1.9417%.
For those that are interested, I will update the strategy here some time next week.
Strategy for Top-Up Blackjack:
Quote: MrCasinoGamesStrategy for Top-Up Blackjack:
This is just the strategy for when the contrast wager is still "in play", right?
Also, this strategy must be for a different version of the game, as the player can only double on soft/hard totals of 9-11, right?
There is also at least one*** change to this strategy if the contrast wager had "automatically lost" , you should double a Soft 20 against a 7, yes?
***: haven't checked any others, but doubling a soft 20 (a+9) against a 7 is worth an extra 0.11+ in EV , when compared to the players' initial "main bet" (again, only for when the contrast wager had already lost).
On hands that can have two "best plays", maybe there should be a basic strategy table, that has two choices side by side, where the left choice is for when the contrast wager is still in play, and right choice is for when the contrast wager had already lost (see example below).
For example: for a soft 20 vs 7, it could read "S/D" where "S" is when the contrast wager is still in play, and "D" is for when the contrast wager had already lost.
Note: I used 6-deck and dealer stands on 17, for figuring the "EV improvement" for all of the above.
------
Update ( about 454pm)
If my calculations are correct, you should also double a soft 19 (A+8) against a 7^^ or 8** (when the contrast wager had already lost)
^^: It is worth an extra 0.2+ in EV compared to the initial "Main bet" against a 7
**: It is worth an extra 0.09+ in EV compared to the initial "Main bet" against an 8.
------
Update 2 (about 508pm)
If the player pushes with dealer on doubles (or splits) then my understanding is that he will profit 50% of his initial bet on that hand.
So, the estimated EV improvement figures I gave will probably be a bit lower than the real improvement figures (since mine did not include the chance of a push with the dealer).
Quote: ksdjdjQuote: MrCasinoGamesStrategy for Top-Up Blackjack:
This is just the strategy for when the contrast wager is still "in play", right?
Also, this strategy must be for a different version of the game, as the player can only double on soft/hard totals of 9-11, right?
There is also at least one*** change to this strategy if the contrast wager had "automatically lost" , you should double a Soft 20 against a 7, yes?
***: haven't checked any others, but doubling a soft 20 (a+9) against a 7 is worth an extra 0.11+ in EV , when compared to the players' initial "main bet" (again, only for when the contrast wager had already lost).
On hands that can have two "best plays", maybe there should be a basic strategy table, that has two choices side by side, where the left choice is for when the contrast wager is still in play, and right choice is for when the contrast wager had already lost (see example below).
For example: for a soft 20 vs 7, it could read "S/D" where "S" is when the contrast wager is still in play, and "D" is for when the contrast wager had already lost.
Note: I used 6-deck and dealer stands on 17, for figuring the "EV improvement" for all of the above.
------
Update ( about 454pm)
If my calculations are correct, you should also double a soft 19 (A+8) against a 7^^ or 8** (when the contrast wager had already lost)
^^: It is worth an extra 0.2+ in EV compared to the initial "Main bet" against a 7
**: It is worth an extra 0.09+ in EV compared to the initial "Main bet" against an 8.
Thanks ksdjdj,
Below is also come with the report (I for got to put it up).
Yes, you are right. This strategy is for a different version of the gameIt (is based on a 6-deck shoe game with Rule Set-I) see below.
BTW. Hi Ksdjdj,
Thanks for taking your time on Top-Up Blackjack.
Here is a link to the Report for Top-Up Blackjack (AKA, Contrast Free-Match 21). http://bit.ly/2X4hv4R
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RULES
Raise 'Em Poker is a poker variant Popular in Africa.
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The pay table used is the same as that used in Let it Ride at the Royal Swazi.
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