Power Blackjack

Game Objective

The objective of Power Blackjack is to achieve a higher card count than the dealer, but without going over 21. The best hand is Blackjack – when the sum of the values of the first two cards dealt is exactly 21. You compete only against the dealer, not against other players.

• Played with eight decks.
• 9’s and 10’s removed from each deck.
• Double, Triple, Quadruple any two initial cards.
• Double, Triple, Quadruple after split.
• Split initial cards of equal value.
• Only one Split per hand.
• Single card dealt to each Split Ace.
• Insurance offered when dealer shows an Ace.
• Blackjack pays 3 to 2.
• Insurance pays 2 to 1.
• Dealer always stands on soft 17.
• Dealer checks for Blackjack on J-Q-K and Ace.
• Push game when hands tie.

Power BlackJack By Evolution Gaming

Game Rules

The game is hosted by a dealer and allows an unlimited number of players to play in each game round.

The game is played with eight decks. 9’s and 10’s are removed from each deck. Card values in Blackjack are as follows:

• Cards from 2 to 8 are worth their face value.
• Face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) are each worth 10.
• Aces are worth 1 or 11, whichever is more favourable to the hand. Note that a soft hand includes and Ace worth 11.

After the allotted betting time has expired, the dealer deals one card face up to each player, and then a card for the dealer. The dealer then deals a second card face up to each player, but the dealer’s second card is dealt face down. The value of your initial hand is displayed next to your cards.

Blackjack

If the value of your initial two-card hand is exactly 21, you have Blackjack!

Insurance

If the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you are given the option to purchase insurance to offset the risk that the dealer has Blackjack – even when you have Blackjack yourself. The amount of insurance is equal to one half of your main bet, and the insurance bet is settled separately from the bet on your hand. The dealer then peeks at the value of his/her downcard to check for Blackjack. If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the round continues. If the dealer has Blackjack, but you do not, the game is over and the dealer’s hand wins.

If you and the dealer both have Blackjack, the game ends in a push and your bet is returned.

Dealer checks for Blackjack on J-Q-K

If the dealer’s upcard is a face card, he/she will check if the downcard is an Ace and dealer has Blackjack. If the dealer has Blackjack, the dealer’s hand wins. If you and the dealer both have Blackjack, the game ends in a push and your bet is returned. If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the round continues.

Hit or Stand

If the dealer does not have Blackjack upon checking his/her two initial cards, players are given the chance to improve the values of their hands in turn, by the dealer offering to deal further cards to players’ hands.

If the value of your initial hand is not 21, you can decide to Hit to be dealt an additional card to add to the value of your hand. You can Hit more than once to receive additional cards before you decide to Stand once you are satisfied with the value of your hand.

Please note that the player will not be offered a decision option when his/her soft hand score equals 21.

Double, Triple, Quadruple

Alternatively, you can decide to Double, Triple or Quadruple. In this case, you will double, triple or quadruple your bet and be dealt only one additional card to add to the value of your hand.

Split

If your initial hand is a pair of cards of equal value, you can decide to Split the pair to make two separate hands, each with a separate bet equal to your main bet. After a second card is dealt to both your hands, you can improve the value of these two hands by deciding to Hit. You can also improve the value of your hands by choosing to Double, Triple or Quadruple. In this case, you will double, triple or quadruple your bet and be dealt only one additional card to your each hand. Again, you can choose to Stand once you are satisfied with the value of your two hands. However, if you Split an initial pair of Aces, you will receive only one additional card per hand with no option to Hit.

Outcome

If the sum of your hand exceeds 21, you bust and lose your bet on that hand.

When all players have taken their turns, the dealer reveals the value of his/her downcard. The dealer must Hit on a hand of 16 or less and must Stand on a hand of soft 17 or more. (Remember that a ‘soft hand’ includes an Ace worth 11.)

You win when the value of your final hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand or when the dealer busts. If the value of your hand is the same as the dealer’s, the game round ends in a push and your bet is returned.

Blackjack is only possible using the two cards in the initial two-card deal. A hand of 21 resulting from a split pair is not considered a Blackjack. Therefore, Blackjack beats any hand of 21 resulting from a split pair.

Side Bets

This Blackjack game also includes optional side bets – Any Pair, 21+3, Hot 3, Bust It. You may place side bets in combination with your main Blackjack bet. You have the chance to win on any side bet whether you later win or lose on your Blackjack bet.

Any Pair

The Any Pair side bet allows you to bet on the combination of the two first cards of your hand.

The winning combination in this case is any two cards of the same value: e.g. two Queens, two Aces, two 8s, etc. There are two types of combinations for the Any Pair side bet, each with a different payout:

• Any Pair, e.g. 8 of Clubs and 8 of Hearts.
• Suited Pair, e.g. 2x Aces of Spades.

21+3

The 21+3 side bet gives you the chance to win if your first two cards plus the dealer’s upcard comprise any of the following winning combinations (similar to those in poker), each with a different payout:

• Suited Trips – an identical triplet, e.g. 3x Queens of Hearts.
• Straight Flush – in numerical sequence and same suit, e.g. Jack, Queen and King of Diamonds.
• Three of a Kind – same value but different suits, e.g. any three non-matching Kings.
• Straight – in numerical sequence but different suits, e.g. 2 of Spades + 3 of Clubs + 4 of Hearts.
• Flush – non-sequential cards in the same suit, e.g. 2, 6 and 8 of Clubs.

Hot 3

The Hot 3 side bet allows you to bet on the combination of three cards, comprising your two first cards and the one open card on the dealer’s hand. There are several combinations for the Hot 3 side bet, each with a different payout:

• Total 19, for example: Jack of Hearts, 2 of Diamonds and 7 of Spades.
• Total 20, for example: 8 of Hearts, 2 of Diamonds and Queen of Spades.
• Total 21, suited, for example: 8 of Diamonds, 3 of Diamonds and King of Diamonds.
• Total 21, unsuited, for example: 8 of Hearts, 3 of Diamonds and King of Spades.
• 7-7-7, for example: 7 of Hearts, 7 of Clubs and 7 of Diamonds.

Bust It

The Bust It side bet allows you to bet that the total value of the dealer’s cards will exceed 21, i.e. he/she will bust.

The Bust It side bet is pushed if the player has Blackjack.

There are several combinations for the Bust It side bet, each with a different payout:

• Bust with 3 cards.
• Bust with 4 cards.
• Bust with 5 cards.
• Bust with 6 cards.
• Bust with 7 cards.
• Bust with 8 or more cards.

Payouts

• Blackjack pays 3:2.
• Winning hand pays 1:1.
• If the dealer has Blackjack, insurance pays 2:1.

Your payout depends on the type of bet placed.

Please note that any malfunction voids the game round and all eventual payouts for the round.

Return to Player

The optimal theoretical payout percentage is:

• Blackjack – 98.80%^*
• Any Pair bet – 96.58%.
• 21+3 bet – 96.09%.
• Hot 3 bet –96.21%.
• Bust It bet – 94.71%.

^*based on the first hand in the shoe