Magic Blackjack

Last night, I literally dreamed up a new Blackjack game while I was sleeping. I have no idea about the feasibility, odds, or anything of that nature; I just wanted to put down what my subconscious came up with, and see if it could be melded into an actual game.

The game is Magic Blackjack. If your first card is a Spade, it is assigned a 'magic' power based on its rank. All powers are optional, and do not need to be taken. Examples:

2 of spades: Free double down
6 of spades: Split first two cards, regardless if they are paired
7 of spades: Given a third card, you may switch it with either of your first two cards
Q of spades: Quit the hand (surrender) for free
K of spades: Kill any card in your hand (avoid busting)

I imagine all 13 cards could be given a different power/bonus, or ranges of cards.

Based on this preliminary rule set, do you feel this could be made into a new table game?

Magic Blackjack © Dween, just in case!

Hello Dween,

There is a chance this could fly in an internet setting; in brick and mortar, between the glorious advantage play opportunities and the, uh, dealer and player training issues, you'd probably be out of luck.

You think that AP would be an issue, such as counting spades? What if the game were changed to say the first card in the hand determined the magic power?

I can agree that training could be an issue, since in effect you are introducing 13 rule changes into the game.

Would anyone play a game like this if the cost was:
Reduction to 6:5 BJ?
Even money BJ?
$1 bet before hand begins to use magic?
Match bet after hand dealt to use magic?

Quote: Dween

Last night, I literally dreamed up a new Blackjack game while I was sleeping. I have no idea about the feasibility, odds, or anything of that nature; I just wanted to put down what my subconscious came up with, and see if it could be melded into an actual game.

The game is Magic Blackjack. If your first card is a Spade, it is assigned a 'magic' power based on its rank. All powers are optional, and do not need to be taken. Examples:

2 of spades: Free double down
6 of spades: Split first two cards, regardless if they are paired
7 of spades: Given a third card, you may switch it with either of your first two cards
Q of spades: Quit the hand (surrender) for free
K of spades: Kill any card in your hand (avoid busting)

I imagine all 13 cards could be given a different power/bonus, or ranges of cards.

Based on this preliminary rule set, do you feel this could be made into a new table game?

Magic Blackjack © Dween, just in case!

Could be a cool 'cult' game that is played for money or not as long as it has a cult name e.g. harry potter blackjack or star wars blackjack.

For casinos and online casinos there maybe too many new rules to adapt too, too many rules for new players to grasp and regular players don't like switching to new games (although its still blackjack so many new rules will change the game).

Best of luck with whatever you choose.

I kind of like it since I think blackjack needs some spicing up. A couple things to note: if you really like your idea, get provisional protection before sharing it on a forum. I think others will agree, it can be easy to make a game more fun, but that usually means you have to offset in other areas to make it more profitable. I believe there could be rules applied to both dealer and player hands that could make the game more interesting/exciting. So far, all concepts seem to give the player an advantage, but then take away a benefit or give the dealer a new advantage. But if players feel they have the same or better chance to win, and think the game is more fun, and the house sees how it improves the bottom line, it can be done...

Quote: CRMousseau

Hello Dween,

There is a chance this could fly in an internet setting; in brick and mortar, between the glorious advantage play opportunities and the, uh, dealer and player training issues, you'd probably be out of luck.

And from what I've been told, online companies want a brick and mortar before they will consider it. Frustrating reality for my dealer first game: :( If anyone knows something to the contrary let me know...