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Blackjack Block Bonus
Introduction
The Block Bonus, also known as the Blackjack Block Bonus, is a side wager that relies on the two starting cards dealt to the player and the dealer’s visible card. A win occurs when the suit of the dealer's card matches that of at least one player card, provided that player card has a higher rank than the dealer's card. The specifics of the winning are determined by the details of the matching player card.
I've heard that the Blackjack Block Bonus is offered in various casinos across Egypt, Ireland, and parts of Eastern Europe.
It's essential not to confuse this wager with others. Block Pro Blackjack .
Rules
- This game can accommodate any number of decks, all comprising 52 cards.
- The ranking of cards follows the same hierarchy as in poker, but here, aces are counted only as high.
- All winning scenarios are based on the player's initial two cards in conjunction with the dealer's up card.
- Following are the ways to win:
- Ultimate Block — This occurs when all three cards belong to the same suit, the player cards are of equal rank, and that rank is superior to the dealer's.
- Pair Block — This is when the player cards share the same rank but differ in suit, the dealer's card matches one of the suits, and the rank of the player’s matching card exceeds that of the dealer.
- Flush Block — Involves three cards all of the same suit, with the player cards having different ranks and at least one of these cards being higher than the dealer's rank.
- Normal Block — Occurs when the player cards differ in both rank and suit, but one of the player suits matches the dealer's and the rank of the matching card surpasses the dealer's.
- If any one of the player cards matches the dealer's both in rank and suit, resulting in no win with the other card (if it exists), then the result is a push.
- The outcomes depend on the number of decks being utilized, as outlined in the pay table below.
The following section displays the pay table, which varies based on the quantity of decks used. All payouts are on a 'to one' basis. Please note, achieving an Ultimate Block is impossible with just one deck.
Pay Table
Event | One Deck |
Two Decks |
Four Decks |
5-8 Decks |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ultimate Block | n/a | 60 | 40 | 35 |
Pair Block | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Flush Block | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Normal Block | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Here is another approach to clarifying the different winning scenarios:
- Ultimate Block — This occurs when all three cards belong to the same suit, the player cards are of equal rank, and that rank is superior to the dealer's.
- Normal Block — Occurs when the player cards differ in both rank and suit, but one of the player suits matches the dealer's and the rank of the matching card surpasses the dealer's.
- Flush Block — This mirrors a Normal Block, except both of the player cards share the same suit.
- Pair Block — Similar to a Normal Block, but here the player's cards match in rank.
- Ultimate Block — Identical to a Normal Block but with the player cards matching in both suit and rank.
Let’s examine a few scenarios and understand how they are scored.
Examples
Player Cards | Dealer Up Card | Score |
---|---|---|
Js, Qc | 5d | Loss |
Js, Qs | 5d | Loss |
Js, Qc | Ks | Loss |
Js, Qs | Ks | Loss |
Js, Js | Ks | Loss |
Js, Qs | Qs | Push |
Js, Qc | Qc | Push |
Js, Js | Js | Push |
Js, Qc | 5c | Normal Block |
Js, Qs | Js | Flush Block |
Js, Ks | Qs | Flush Block |
Js, Jc | 5s | Pair Block |
Js, Js | 5s | Ultimate Block |
Analysis
Here’s my analysis using eight decks. The lower right cell indicates a house edge of 4.96%.
Eight Decks
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ultimate Block | 35 | 69,888 | 0.001956 | 0.068448 |
Pair Block | 10 | 479,232 | 0.013410 | 0.134102 |
Flush Block | 5 | 1,311,232 | 0.036692 | 0.183458 |
Normal Block | 2 | 5,750,784 | 0.160922 | 0.321844 |
Push | 0 | 1,057,056 | 0.029579 | 0.000000 |
All other | -1 | 27,068,288 | 0.757441 | -0.757441 |
Total | 35,736,480 | 1.000000 | -0.049590 |
Here’s my analysis using six decks. The lower right cell indicates a house edge of 5.32%.
Six Decks
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ultimate Block | 35 | 28,080 | 0.001867 | 0.065346 |
Pair Block | 10 | 202,176 | 0.013443 | 0.134426 |
Flush Block | 5 | 550,368 | 0.036594 | 0.182969 |
Normal Block | 2 | 2,426,112 | 0.161311 | 0.322622 |
Push | 0 | 424,320 | 0.028213 | 0.000000 |
All other | -1 | 11,408,904 | 0.758573 | -0.758573 |
Total | 15,039,960 | 1.000000 | -0.053210 |
Here’s my analysis using four decks. The lower right cell indicates a house edge of 5.21%.
Four Decks
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ultimate Block | 40 | 7,488 | 0.001688 | 0.067539 |
Pair Block | 10 | 59,904 | 0.013508 | 0.135078 |
Flush Block | 5 | 161,408 | 0.036396 | 0.181980 |
Normal Block | 2 | 718,848 | 0.162094 | 0.324187 |
Push | 0 | 112,944 | 0.025468 | 0.000000 |
All other | -1 | 3,374,176 | 0.760846 | -0.760846 |
Total | 4,434,768 | 1.000000 | -0.052061 |
Here’s my analysis using two decks. The lower right cell indicates a house edge of 5.43%.
Two Decks
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ultimate Block | 60 | 624 | 0.001142 | 0.068532 |
Pair Block | 10 | 7,488 | 0.013706 | 0.137065 |
Flush Block | 5 | 19,552 | 0.035789 | 0.178945 |
Normal Block | 2 | 89,856 | 0.164477 | 0.328955 |
Push | 0 | 9,360 | 0.017133 | 0.000000 |
All other | -1 | 419,432 | 0.767752 | -0.767752 |
Total | 546,312 | 1.000000 | -0.054255 |
Here’s my analysis using one deck. The lower right cell indicates a house edge of 5.88%.
One Deck
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pair Block | 15 | 936 | 0.014118 | 0.211765 |
Flush Block | 5 | 2,288 | 0.034510 | 0.172549 |
Normal Block | 2 | 11,232 | 0.169412 | 0.338824 |
Push | 0 | - | 0.000000 | 0.000000 |
All other | -1 | 51,844 | 0.781961 | -0.781961 |
Total | 66,300 | 1.000000 | -0.058824 |
Internal Links
Full list of blackjack side bets .