Video Review of Easy Jack

During the 2018 Cutting Edge Table Games Conference in Las Vegas, Mike had the opportunity to interview Matthew Stream about his game, Easy Jack. This interview not only covers the game itself but also provides a comprehensive analysis report that Mike composed following the gameplay trials conducted at Harrah's in Las Vegas.

Hello, this is Mike Shackleford reporting live from the 2018 Cutting Edge Table Game Show, where I'm accompanied by Matthew Stream, the creator of the game Easy Jack . Matthew, if I recall correctly, I saw this game previously at the Flamingo, right? Paris Casino in Las Vegas [00:00:40] Mike: I gave this game a try at Harrah's and even shared my thoughts about it on my website. I must say, it's a smart simplification of traditional blackjack. However, for those of my readers who might not have seen my analysis yet or have yet to experience it, could you explain how the game works?

[00:00:39] Matthew Stream: Harris.

[00:00:52] Matthew: Of course! In simple terms, Easy Jack is a unique twist on blackjack, utilizing just a single card . Each player begins with one card rather than the standard two. The objective is to total closer to 11 than the dealer without exceeding it. Similar to classic blackjack, exceeding 11 results in a bust. If a player receives an ace as their starting card, it counts as a natural 11 and is treated like a blackjack, allowing for payouts of either 3 to 2 or 6 to 5, depending on the casino's policy. blackjack [00:01:16] Mike: So, it involves just hitting or standing, right?

[00:01:19] Matthew: Exactly! It's a straightforward game where players can either hit or stay.

[00:01:23] Matthew: The dealer’s card is dealt face down while all players receive their cards face up. Once all the players have made their decisions, the dealer reveals their card. If the dealer's total is 6 or lower, they will keep hitting until they reach a total of 7 or higher.

[00:01:36] Mike: So that outlines the dealer's strategy. What would you consider the optimal strategy for players?

[00:01:21] Mike: There’s no dealer up card right?

[00:01:43] Matthew: The player's strategy is quite similar, with only one amusing divergence. If the player has a single card totaling 6 or lower, they should choose to hit. Conversely, if they have multiple cards summing to 5 or lower, hitting is also advisable. So, it all comes down to the number of cards; with a single card of 6, or multiple cards with a total of 6, it’s advised to stand.

[00:02:04] Mike: Isn't that akin to the logic behind hitting on 16 against a dealer’s 10 in traditional blackjack? If you have a 16 made up of two cards, you should hit. Yet with three or more cards making up that 16, standing would be the better option.

[00:02:17] Matthew: Is that where I've been incorrect all this time? [laughs]

[00:02:19] Mike: It's such a minor detail, but it can offer a slight edge at the tables. In blackjack, facing a dealer’s 10 with a 16 is definitely a tricky position, isn't it?

[00:02:30] Matthew: Yes, it's a challenging scenario regardless. You find yourself in a less than favorable position.

If that's an option, you should absolutely consider taking it.

[00:02:37] Mike: So, do you mind if we demonstrate a few rounds for illustrative purposes?

[00:02:34] Mike: If surrender [00:02:41] Matthew: I'd be delighted to do so! Players, kindly place your bets. Now, are there any side bets? Best of luck to everyone. The first round shows a 7, followed by hitting and then busting. We'll honor the base wager, but you still have opportunities with the side bet. For the next player, a 5 and 15, that's too high. Let's stand with 10. The dealer reveals a 10 and stands as well. No bust resulted in a push.

[00:02:36] Matthew: Absolutely.

Best of luck. Moving on, we see an 8 to hit, then a 6, resulting in a 16 and ultimately, a bust. The dealer has a 10 and makes no bust, leading to losses for the 8. However, here's a natural 11. For the 6 to 5 payout, you'd have been compensated right away, while keeping this card on hand represents the side bet still in play.

Next, we have a 5 that hits into 15. That's a bust, along with 14. The dealer shows a 4, indicating they must hit until reaching at least 7 or higher. Sadly, we busted with two cards, so the payout at 3 to 1 was lost. Good luck with the next round; standing at 10 with a dealer showing a 6 means they have to hit. They reveal an 8, avoiding a bust. Thus, 7 loses, 9 wins, and 10 also wins.

All right, last call…

[00:04:59] Matthew: Absolutely! Wishing everyone a lot of luck. We have a 2 hitting to 10, which is great. Standing with 10 and 8 now. The dealer reveals a 2, has an 8, and chooses to stay. No bust here -- 8 leads to a push, while both 10s win. Players, please go ahead and place your bets again with wishes for good luck. For the subsequent player shining with a 10 against a dealer’s 2 requires them to hit. A 3 into 5 results in a total of 12. We encounter a four-card bust; thus, 10 wins and the four-card payout is at 10 to 1.

[00:05:47] Mike: Thank you, Matthew, for that thorough demonstration. Could you provide insight into the mathematical aspects of this game? What is the house edge?

[00:04:58] Mike: One more round.

[00:05:53] Matthew: In the 3 to 2 variant, where both the player's ace and the dealer's ace compete against one another, the house advantage is around 0.94%, which is just below 1%. Conversely, the 6 to 5 variant, where players are compensated at 6 to 5 right away, has a house edge of 2.4%. Since players generally make fewer mistakes in this game, it becomes more palatable for the house edge to be slightly higher without pushing it too far. However, the increased hands per hour mean we should limit that edge as necessary.

[00:06:22] Mike: Got it. What about the dealer bust side bet payouts?

[00:06:26] Matthew: That would sit at about nine and a half percent, which from my understanding, is trending towards being more common, settling right around 10% or even exceeding that with newer games.

and various other table game experiences. I feel like I'm on the right track.

[00:06:37] Mike: Well, thanks once more for walking me through the game. side wagers for blackjack Providing mathematically sound strategies and insights for various casino games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and countless others that can be enjoyed.

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[00:06:40] Matthew: Thank you very much Mike.

[00:06:41] Mike: Bye everyone.

Written by: Michael Shackleford