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Crazy 21

The Aim of Blackjack
The basic premise of the game is that you want to have a hand value that is closer to 21 than that of the dealer, without going over 21. Other players at the table are of no concern. Your hand is strictly played out against the hand of the dealer. The rules of play for the dealer are strictly dictated, leaving no decisions up to the dealer. Therefore, there is not a problem with the dealer or any of the other players at the table seeing the cards in your hand. Indeed, if you're playing at a shoe game, the player cards are all dealt face up.
A "shoe" game is 8 decks are used. The advantage for beginners in this game is that all of the player's cards are dealt face-up in front of each player, and the dealer can help with playing questions and decisions.

Vocabulary Explanation
•	Natural Blackjack: A blackjack, or natural, is a total of 21 in your first two cards. A blackjack is therefore an Ace and any ten-valued card, with the additional requirement that these be your first two cards. Blackjack pays the player odds of 3 to 2.
•	Bust: exceeding the hand total of 21.
•	7 Card Charlie: a player who accumulates seven cards without going over 21, pays the player odds of 2 to 1.
•	Tie: Both player and dealer have the same hand total - player keeps bet.
•	Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace, or with an Ace valued at 1 is said to be Hard in that it can only be given one value, unlike a Soft Hand. (You can value an Ace 1 or 11 to suit you).
•	Soft Hand: A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 is called a Soft Hand.

The values of the cards
•	A card from 2 to 10 has its face value.
•	A jack, queen, or king has a value of 10.
•	An ace may have a value of either 1 or 11 unless a value of 11 would give a player or the dealer a score in excess of 21, in which case it has a value of one.

The Player’s Choices
•	Ante Bet: A basic bet before the cards deal.
•	Pairs: A side bet in Pairs before the cards deal. The same in first 2 cards pays the players odds of 11 to 1.
•	Hit: Take another card.
•	Stand: Take no more cards.
•	Insurance: side bet up to half the initial bet against the dealer having a natural 21 - allowed only when the dealer's showing card is an Ace. If the dealer has a 10 face down and makes a blackjack, insurance pays at 2-1 odds, but loses if the dealer does not.
•	Surrender: giving up your hand and lose only half the bet.
•	Double Down: double your initial bet following the initial two-card deal, but you can hit one card only. A good bet if the player is in a strong situation.
•	Even Money: cashing in your bet immediately at a 1:1 payout ratio when you are dealt a natural blackjack and the dealer's showing card is an Ace.

The House Rule
Dealer always complies with House rule to select Hit or Stand in anytime. Crazy 21 adopts the rule dealer must stand on 17 (hard and soft) and draw to 16.

Summarized Game Rules
Play begins with every player making a bet. Each player is then dealt with 2 face-up cards. Dealer deals herself with 1 face-up card.
After seeing the face-up cards, each player, despite others’ decisions, may “Stand” to take no more cards or “Hit” to take another card. After all players have made their decisions, common cards will be dealt:
	i) For players who decide to hit, they would use the common card(s) to match up with their own cards until they decide to “Stand” or “Bust”.
	ii) For players who decided to “Stand”, the next common card(s) will be matched up with dealer’s card. Dealer will play the hand according to the house rule.
A player may also make an optional side bet “Pairs”, a variation of betting, in addition to the main wager.

Common Cards
Player is playing personally with the dealer. Since the dealer has dealt the first two cards to each player and one card for herself, all cards dealing thereafter would be considered as the common cards. Common card is dealt for the player if he hits or for the dealer if the player stands and dealer's decision of hits or stands will be based on the house rules until the outcomes.