Upcard Luck

Introduction

The Upcard Luck is a side bet in blackjack games like Dynasty by IGT. It pays off if the initial dealt cards put the player in a favorable position. To achieve a win, the dealer's upcard must be between 2 and 7, while the player should have either a blackjack, or a total of 9 to 11 or 18 to 20.

I first encountered this game at the Encore in Las Vegas in early 2021, and later spotted it with a different payout structure at the 2021 Global Gaming Expo.

Rules

To secure a win in this side bet, the dealer needs to have an upcard ranging from 2 to 7, in addition to the player meeting one of the following hand criteria.

What I refer to as Pay Table 1 includes: Jacks of spades paired with ace of spades—offering a payout of 78 to 1.

• What I refer to as Pay Table 2 includes: Jacks of spades paired with ace of spades—offering a payout of 80 to 1.
• Any other blackjack — pays 7 to 1.
• Total of 9 to 11 — pays 3 to 1.
• Total of 18 to 20 — pays 3 to 1.

Below is a visual representation of the rules screen for clarity, should my explanation have any ambiguities.

• I suspect this game utilizes eight decks and the cards are shuffled after each round, though I'm uncertain.
• Any other blackjack — pays 8 to 1.
• Total of 9 to 11 — pays 4 to 1.
• Total of 18 to 20 — pays 3 to 1.

The table provided here presents my findings based on an eight-deck setup. The bottom right cell indicates a house edge of 14.36%.

The subsequent table illustrates the house edge for varying numbers of decks.

Analysis of Pay Table 1

Here is my analysis for an eight-deck configuration. The bottom right cell indicates a house edge of 6.41%.

The ensuing table displays the house edge for varying deck counts based on Pay Table 2.

Analysis of Pay Table 2

It's evident that this side bet could be particularly susceptible to card counters. I gather that IGT shuffles the deck after every hand to mitigate this risk.

Accurate mathematical strategies and insights applicable to a range of casino games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, among many others.

Card Counting

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Written by: Michael Shackleford