Double Attack Blackjack

Countless people sit at blackjack tables wishing they could increase stakes after seeing croupiers turn over a lousy 5 or 6. This resentment over bust cards was the inspiration leading to the creation of Double Attack Blackjack, one of the craziest diversions found today.

This is definitely a 21 variant to practice beforehand because it’s an advanced undertaking with unique rules that usually aren’t familiar to most. As always, never risk bankrolls until logging a few practice hours.

So just where did this whacky attraction come from? Well, in the 1980s John Breeding was a simple truck driver from Minnesota who couldn’t be less-interested in gambling, never placing hard-earned money down at tables. However, in one transcendent moment he read an article about how casinos were attempting to thwart card counters and decided that he was the person to invent a mechanical shuffling machine to automatically split and re-combine decks. He turned in his trucker’s license, borrowed $30,000, and quickly completed the task.

Breeding called his new company “Shuffle Master” and his contraption enabled dealing from one deck while another was shuffling. Thanks to “robotic fingers” preparing subsequent shoes, more hands were dealt per session, profits soared, and his venture thrived.

Many destinations were already adopting multi-deck shoes and Breeding knew he needed to develop single-deck products to keep his business relevant. He therefore devised a five-card poker game with three to the player and two community ones, “Let it Ride”, then branched out into 21. Shuffle Master ultimately found a hit with “Blackjack Switch“, conceived by Geoff Hall, consequently distributing his other invention of Double Attack that attracted legions of fans.

Rules

Double Attack Blackjack utilizes a deck of 48 with all 10s removed, just like Spanish 21, often from eight-deck shoes. The first card coming out is normally the last to be revealed, dealers’ Up-cards. Before the hand continues, those seated may increase ante sizes up to original stake amounts in the Double Attack box on the felt. If liking chances of success based on what’s exposed, risking additional chips to try to capitalize on the opportunity is permitted.

Action then unfolds as usual, with customers battling against the House in an effort to get higher totals while remaining under the sum of 21. If going over, they bust and antes are taken.

Winning Strategy for Double Attack

Experts of this “war game” advise that a full-out Double Attack should be launched when dealers show a 2 through 8. If the Up-card is an Ace, Insurance will be offered, paying better than normal at 5:2, yet still an ill-advised decision, especially considering the quartet of 10s are removed.

Doubling-down is allowed on any two cards, after splits, and following hitting. Splits can be executed on up to four hands, but each new one must equal Double Attack antes if originally placed, as well as double-downs. In addition, dealers stand on all 17s against the firepower reigned upon them by the opposition.

Participants may retreat and surrender throughout, taking half of original or Double Attack antes back to chip stacks. Although, in exchange for these concessions, player blackjacks only earn a normal rate of 1:1, making the House advantage amidst this furious action .62%.

Double Attack Blackjack Side Bets

The blackjack side bet in Double Attack is known as “BustIt”, or sometimes by its cute alter ego, “Buster”. Players win when dealers bust with exactly three cards in the following ways:

• 9s pay 6:1
• 8s pay 8:1
• 7s pay 10:1
• 6s pay 15:1

A special prize on an 8-8-8 awards a massive 200:1 if suited and 50:1 if not. Any round without a dealer bust, or busts with four cards or more, is technically a Lost BustIt.

Online Versions

Galaxy Gaming introduced a version in Las Vegas called Triple Attack Blackjack that won Casino Journal’s “Best New Table Games of 2010″ competition. As expected, assaults on croupiers come three times, prior to dealing, after first rounds, and then when Up-cards are revealed.

Sparks can fly at any time because even if passing on the second attack they could still opt for the third. For standing up to this onslaught, dealers hit on all 17s and grade 22s as pushes not losses, drastically affecting odds.