Easy Jack

Introduction

Easy Jack can be considered a variation of blackjack where players aim to achieve a score closer to 11 than the dealer without exceeding that number. This game was invented by Matthew Stream and made its debut for testing at Harrah's in Las Vegas on June 21, 2017. I personally encountered and played it there on June 30, 2017.

Fast forward to August 2021, I discovered that PureRNG, a company specializing in software for online casinos, added this game to their offerings, labeling it as Blackjack 11.

Rules

1. This game utilizes eight decks of standard 52 playing cards.
2. All cards are valued as in blackjack.
3. Gameplay commences with the player placing an Easy Jack bet, along with an optional side bet for the Dealer Bust.
4. Each participant receives one card faced up while the dealer is dealt one card faced down, without checking it.
5. In the event that a player's first card is an ace, it is treated as a blackjack, surpassing any other hand.
6. Players can choose to hit (take an additional card) as many times as they wish, until they decide to stand or exceed 11 points, resulting in a bust.
7. There is no doubling or splitting.
8. Should a player accumulate more than 11 points, they bust, resulting in an automatic loss of their Easy Jack wager.
9. Once all players have made their moves, the dealer reveals their hand. The dealer will stand if they have a blackjack, otherwise, they will continue to hit until reaching at least seven points.
10. If the dealer busts, all remaining players with standing bets are declared winners.
11. In other cases, the totals of the player and dealer are compared, and the higher score determines the winner.
12. Winning hands that achieve blackjack will pay out at a ratio of 3 to 2.
13. All other wins pay 1 to 1.
14. Ties push.
15. The payout for the Dealer Bust side bet is determined according to the following payout table.

Below is the payout table for the Dealer Bust side bet, with payouts expressed on a 'to one' basis.

If any part of my explanation is unclear, I've provided scans of the rule card. You can click on either image for a more detailed view.

Strategy

The fundamental strategy aligns closely with that of the dealer: hit when totaling six or fewer, but otherwise stand firm.

A total of six is precarious. My analysis indicates the expected value of drawing a card while holding six to be as follows:

• Hit: -0.5745620516
• Stand: -0.576524479

Hitting with a total of six yields an expected value that is 0.2% higher than simply standing.

Analysis

The following table provides my breakdown of Easy Jack based on a strategy where players hit if they have six or fewer. If a player busts and the dealer reveals a blackjack, it's categorized as a player bust. The lower right corner of the table presents a house edge of 0.94%.

To reduce the house edge by 0.0066%, opt to stand on a total of six acquired from the combination of two or more cards.

Dealer Bust

In the following table, you will find my insight on the Dealer Bust wager, where the lower right cell reveals a house advantage of 9.51%.

Video

I invite you to watch my video featuring Matthew Stream, the innovative mind behind Easy Jack.

Written by: Michael Shackleford