Rules

The Game

Blackjack Extreme is a playing-card game developed and patented by MADtek Games, LLC. It is a new method of playing Blackjack which converts the role of "dealer" into an active participant in the game.

Each player acts in turn as a "player/dealer" (dealer), and plays the hand the other players must beat. The dealer must bank all the wagers made by the players.

In return for being exposed to a higher limit of risk, the dealer enjoys the strategic edge of acting last, having the options to surrender, bluff and hit any soft hand.

The standard version of the game is played with two standard decks of 52 cards. The shoe is reshuffled when less than 26 cards remain before starting a new hand.

The unique aspects of BlackJack eXtreme are:

Each player must place a blind bet within set limits prior to deal
Cards are dealt to players one up and one down
Both dealer cards are dealt face down – revealed card is dealer's choice
A betting round allows for adjustment before resolving the hands
Players may surrender or raise their bet with no limit on raised amount
Player's down cards are revealed and the hands resolved
Raised hands may receive more than one card as needed
No limits on splitting pairs
Dealer may surrender prior to resolving player hands
Dealer may hit any soft hand but must stand on hard 17 or higher or may stand on soft 17 or higher if desired.
Card counting is encouraged.

As bets and raises are made, chips are moved from the "dealer's" chip stack to the center of the table. Player's bets and raises are displayed adjacent to the player avatar/ icon.

The hands resolve using blackjack card values and win/lose decision rules. If any players have blackjack and not raised, once the dealer decides to play or fold, chips sufficient to cover the additional premium paid those players are moved from the dealer's chip stack to the center of the table, insuring that the pot is sufficient to cover all accepted bets. If the dealer has been placed all in, the game continues and bets paid according to the formula set forth below.

A complete set of rules follows with an illustrated hand.

BlackJack eXtreme® Official Rules

BJX is played normally with one or two decks of 52 standard playing cards. More decks may be used in a shoe. Each player gets to be the dealer in turn. Player/Dealer stakes bets from all players.

FIRST BETTING ROUND

Each player makes a BLIND BET, capped at 2 times the minimum.

IN TOURNAMENT PLAY

The blinds will double at intervals set by the tournament director. Players with insufficient chips to make the blind may go "all in" with their remaining chips. Certain tournaments may allow rebuys.

THE DEAL

The dealer gives each player one card down and one card up. Players may look at their down card at any time. Both dealer cards are down. The dealer looks at his cards and TURNS ONE UP.

SECOND BETTING ROUND

Players then adjust their bets:
RAISE – increase bet to at least double but may be more. "Double UP" hands must get 1 more card but may take more to improve their final hand.
CHECK – Play the Blind Bet only.
FOLD – Surrender the hand and keep ½ the Blind Bet.

DEALER SURRENDER

Dealer may FOLD and pay ½ Blind Bet to remaining players, or PLAY.

THE PLAY

Players hole cards are turned up. Dealer pays "Natural Blackjacks" 150% (3:2). If a player has Doubled Up on a Blackjack it is played as an eleven and must get at least one card. Players take cards as needed to improve hand. The Dealer collects all bets from hands that go "bust".

SPLITTING PAIRS

Any pair may be split. The player must match the total bet (BLIND BET and any DOUBLE UP) on the second hand, third hand etc. Blackjacks on split hands pay 1:1. Any two "ten value" cards are considered pairs, thus JK, QK, QQ etc are considered as pairs

DEALER HAND IS PLAYED

Dealer reveals his hole card and plays out hand. The dealer must take cards until his/her hand equals a 17 or higher but may elect to hit any "soft" hand of 17 or higher. Losing bets are collected, winners paid and ties push.

DEALER IS SHORT STACKED

In REGULAR PLAY a player or dealer may pass their turn at any time. If a player passes the play or deal three times, they will be returned to the lobby.

IN TOURNAMENT PLAY, if the dealer has sufficient chips to pay any table position (in order) at least the minimum bet, that position is required to play, but can play for any amount. Players may require a chip count and elect to not play the hand if the dealer could not pay at least the minimum to the player. If the dealer cannot cover even one minimum and no players want to play, the deal passes.

Short stack payouts are as follows:

All losing bets are collected.
Blackjacks paid full value
Winners paid minimum BLIND BET in clockwise order
Winners paid balance of BLIND BET in clockwise order
Winners are paid full amount of DOUBLE UP in clockwise order. On split hands the second, third etc. the entire hand is considered a DOUBLE UP and paid on the last round.

When the dealer runs out of chips, unpaid winners will pull back their bets.