Introduction
Power Blackjack is a Table-Comparing Game based on the traditional gambling game Blackjack.
This is a variation that plays quite similarly to the original game, with the exception of its special game mechanic, the Power Double.
How to Play Power Blackjack?
Power Blackjack is played using six copies of the standard Anglo-American 52-card deck. These copies are combined into a single large deck known as the Shoe. As in most Blackjack variants, the Shoe will not be reshuffled between each game. Instead, cards will be drawn from it until it is depleted, upon which time a new Shoe will be created.
Power Blackjack borrows many of its core mechanics from the traditional game.
Ante
Players each must make an Ante before the game begins, a wager that must exceed the table’s minimum, and does not go beyond the table’s posted maximum.
Objective
The win condition of this game is the same as its ancestor: Players attempt to achieve a card total of 21, or otherwise closer to 21 than the Dealer without going over.
Deal
After each Player has made the appropriate Ante, cards will be dealt to each Player who made an Ante wager.
Each Player will be dealt two cards face-up, while the Dealer will deal to themselves one face-up “Top” card and one face-down “Bottom” card.
Gameplay
Moving Clockwise, starting from the Player to the immediate clockwise of the Dealer, Players will take turns deciding their position for the hand.
Players have all of the normal positions available: Hit, Stand, Split, Double, and Fold.
No Surrender, Insurance, or Side Bets
There is no surrender option in Power Blackjack, and neither is there Insurance, nor a side-wager.
In keeping with the theme of aggressive gameplay owed to its “Powerful” name, this game has only offensive options that demand a higher risk, but yield potentially high rewards.
These high-risk positions are called the Power Double, and the Power Split, and define Power Blackjack as a game.
Power Double
The Power Double is like a normal Double Down, except it can only be performed when a Player has a 2-card hand totaling 9, 10, or 11.
This is no real disadvantage, as a Player generally should only Double Down when having a 9, 10, or 11 total for their hand.
If a Player has those totals, then they may perform a Power Double. They may still normally Double Down If they so wish.
In a Power Double, a Player doubles their Ante and is dealt a third card just like in a normal Double Down. However, in a Power Double, that Player is able to discard the third card dealt to them if it causes them to bust or they feel they will perform even better on a re-deal.
Players can only re-deal a single time during their Power Double, and are forced to stand after the replacement card is dealt.
Power Split
Aside from the Power Double, there is the Power Split.
Players who possess a two-card hand that totals 15 or 16 and are able to Power Split. Doubling their wager and splitting the hand into two hands as though they performed a normal Split. They are being dealt one card to each new hand.
This is particularly advantageous, as 15 and 16 are very weak hands. Players can perform a Power Split on cards that are not matched in rank, such as a 10 and 6, so long as they equal 15 or 16.
Rules
- Blackjack still pays automatically and pays out 3:2 per normal rules.
- Players may Double after they Split, and may Double after hitting.
- If the Dealer Busts on 22 exactly, then all non-busted Players will have their wagers pushed, except for Blackjack.
Example Scenario
Imagine the following scenario:
You are dealt a 7♦ and an 8♠
Even though these cards are not the same rank, you can Power Split them, as they total 15 with only two cards in the hand.
This yields the following hands:
7♦ 10♣ and 8♠ A♥
17 and 19 are far stronger hands to Stand on than 15. In traditional Blackjack, a 7 and 8 in the hand is tricky to work with.
The hand is too low to safely win the Showdown, but too high to safely Hit or Double Down. The Power Split option gave you an out from that bad hand, and instead gave you two fairly strong hands in return.
Strategy and Tips
Excel at an Aggressive Playstyle
As its name suggests, Power Blackjack is a much more aggressive game than the traditional. Players are offered two more positions that double their wagers. There are no options for Surrender or Insurance in, limiting the Player’s defensive options.
A Player’s best defense is a good offense. Take the above example, where a Player was able to rescind a 15 into a 17 and 19.
Tilt the House Edge in Your Favor
The House Edge for Power Blackjack is about half of a percent. Playing optimally, Power Doubling whenever possible, Power Splitting to turn away 15s and 16s, and otherwise performing optimally will yield this very low Edge.
