Match Play 21 is a Blackjack variation in which 10’s are removed from the deck. However, the instructions don’t say how many 52-card decks are used in the game, so it isn’t possible to calculate the odds of winning. Nonetheless, taking out the 10’s seems to increase the player’s chances of winning against the dealer, although it’s no guarantee. All those count-10 face cards are still in the mix, and they can turn a lowball hand into a bust with the flip of a card.
The objective of Match Play 21 is to get closer to 21 points than the dealer without going “bust,” (a hand that totals more than 21 points). Players are dealt two cards face up and the dealer is dealt two cards, one down and one up. Like the standard game, a “Blackjack” in Match Play 21 is a hand that totals 21 points with two cards and automatically wins the hand. However, a total of 21 points with three or more cards is not considered Blackjack.
This game has several special hands with assigned payouts, with the highest payout reserved for a “Match Play 21.” To get a Match Play 21, a player must have three 7 cards of the same suit and the dealer’s up card also must be a 7. That’s probably why this seemingly impossible combination pays out 40:1. Other special payouts are listed below.
The rules for this game are as follows:
* Players can double anytime.
* Players can surrender anytime.
* Player’s 21 always wins.
* Match Play 21 pays 40 to 1.
* 7+ card 21, 7-7-7 Spades and 6-7-8 Spades each pay 3 to 1.
* 7-7-7 suited, 6-7-8 suited and 6-card 21 each pay 2:1.
* Any 7-7-7, any 6-7-8 and 5-card 21 pay 3:2.