From: decot@cup.hp.com (Craig Shergold)
Subject: Multi-Action Blackjack
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 02:31:53 GMT
Organization: Make a Wish Foundation
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3


This past weekend, I took Harrah's Lake Tahoe for several thousand dollars,
mostly playing a variation of 21 they called "Multi-Action Blackjack".

Here's how it works:

  Each player has three betting circles instead of one.

  Before each round, each player bets at least two of the spots,
  each played spot subject to the table min-max bets.

  Each player gets two face up cards, and the dealer gets one face up
  (but no down card).

  If the dealer has an Ace up, insurance is offered.  You can insure
  any or all of your bet spots at this time.  There is no peeking, because
  there is no down dealer card yet (as in Europe and elsewhere).  You can
  take even money on some or all of your bet spots if you have a blackjack,
  which are paid (and if you have no more bets pending, your cards are
  removed).

  If the dealer has no Ace or ten up, all player blackjacks are paid
  immediately by stacking the three bets together and paying 3 to 2 on
  the total amount.
  
  Each player hits, stands, splits, doubles, etc. hir hand until sie is
  satisfied with the total (or busts), as usual.  If a player's hand
  busts, this loses *all* that player's bets.

  Double down on any first two cards, or split the first two cards, on
  any or all of your bet spots, but no DAS or resplitting anything.
  Splitting requires doubling all of your bet spots completely, but you
  can double down for less and you can double any, all, or none of the
  bets.  Double down cards are face up.

  After this point, no player bets may be changed or removed until all
  the dealer hands have been drawn and resolved.

  Then the dealer draws *three* hands, each starting with the same original
  up card.  Dealer hits soft 17.  Each dealer hand is compared to each of the
  completed player hands, and the corresponding player bet is
  paid accordingly.
  
  The payoff includes 3 to 2 on winning blackjacks (if they were not
  previously paid).  Because some of the three dealer hands
  can be blackjacks while others are not, one can get pushes on
  some of the bet spots while winning others, with the same player
  blackjack hand.

  If the original up card was an Ace, each player insurance bet wins
  2 to 1 for each *corresponding* dealer hand that is a blackjack, else loses.

  Six decks, 80% penetration.

Here's an example:

  Player's original bets:  $10 $10 $5

  Player's hand: 5 6

  Dealer's up card: A

    Player doubles down (fully on first spot, partially on second):
    Player takes insurance (fully on first spot, partially on third):

  Player's original bets:  $10 $10 $5
  Player's double bets:    $10 $5
  Player's insurance bets: $5      $2

    Player gets a 3 for a total of 14.

  Dealer's hand #1: A, draw 5 8 Q (bust)

    Player gets paid $20 on first spot only, loses $5 insurance from that spot.

  Dealer's hand #2: A, draw K (blackjack)

    Player loses original $10 on second spot, but keeps the $5 double bet.

  Dealer's hand #3: A, draw 10 (blackjack)

    Player loses original $5 bet on third spot, but gets paid $4 on
    insurance bet.

Is the basic strategy for this game the same as for ordinary blackjack?

Some people appear to think you should stand on 16s, 15s, etc. against a
face card, because the dealer has "three chances to bust", and is therefore
likely to pay off at least some of the bets, against the risk of
losing all the player's bets by busting at the beginning.
Is this reasoning correct?

Dave Decot
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