Monday, April 09, 2007
When Blackjack (Double) Attacks
Back.
After the baseball draft Saturday, four of us ventured to Atlantic City. While searching for $10 blackjack tables, the only one we found was a game called "Double Attack Blackjack" at the Tropicana.
I suggested we give it a try. And man, I'm glad we did. Commenter Marc and I sat down at the table and were soon giddy with amusement as the dealer continued to explain the rules to us -- seemingly coming up with a new one to tell us every couple hands. It was a game reminiscent of one made up in Commenter Messiah's basement. Here are the basics:
Anyway, I've buried the lead in this story: In about two hours at the table, we both won mad money. I finished ahead $490, and Marc won $300.
It was crazy. Our good fortunes were probably less about the game itself (the odds are probably far better for the house than they seemed), and more about regular old blackjack luck (though it didn't feel like it at the time) Marc and I agreed that we could not remember the dealer getting a single blackjack in two hours. Unheard of. Clearly, blackjacks would be reduced with the 10's taken out of the deck. But we still got plenty of them.
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After the baseball draft Saturday, four of us ventured to Atlantic City. While searching for $10 blackjack tables, the only one we found was a game called "Double Attack Blackjack" at the Tropicana.
I suggested we give it a try. And man, I'm glad we did. Commenter Marc and I sat down at the table and were soon giddy with amusement as the dealer continued to explain the rules to us -- seemingly coming up with a new one to tell us every couple hands. It was a game reminiscent of one made up in Commenter Messiah's basement. Here are the basics:
- You get to see the dealer's up card and then decide whether to add to your bet
- You can double down on any hand, after any number of cards
- They take the 10's out of the deck (just the actual 10's, not face cards)
- Blackjack pays 1:1 instead of 1.5 to 1.
- There's a wacky side bet called "Bust It," where you can get paid extra based on what the dealer's bust card is -- if he busts in three cards.
- You can "surrender" at any time.
Anyway, I've buried the lead in this story: In about two hours at the table, we both won mad money. I finished ahead $490, and Marc won $300.
It was crazy. Our good fortunes were probably less about the game itself (the odds are probably far better for the house than they seemed), and more about regular old blackjack luck (though it didn't feel like it at the time) Marc and I agreed that we could not remember the dealer getting a single blackjack in two hours. Unheard of. Clearly, blackjacks would be reduced with the 10's taken out of the deck. But we still got plenty of them.
0 comments. Leave one!
