21 3 Card Game
Overview of 21+3 Blackjack
The 21+3 side bet is optional, and its size does not need to be the same as the main bet. In order to play the side-bet, you need to participate in the main hand.
Placing a bet in the 21+3 square is all you need to do to participate. As soon as the deal is made, and before any player takes any actions the 2 player cards and the dealer’s up-card (or only card in European Blackjack) are compared to the pay table.
There are several variations of 21+3 payouts, the most simple pays from a ‘flush +pair’ and up, with 9-to-1 payouts in each case. When pairs are also included, this is hit more often, so the prizes are lowered to reflect this. There are 3-to-1 for all hands (pair, flush, straight, trips and straight flush) or there are staggered pay tables.
When the prizes are staggered, a straight flush or better can win significant money. Here is an example:
- Flush – Pays 5:1
- Straight – Pays 10:1
- Straight Flush – Pays 35:1
- Three of a Kind – Pays 33:1
- Suited 3 of a Kind – 100:1
How to play 21 + 3 Blackjack. In 21+3 Blackjack you try to beat the Dealer by accumulating a card value total close to, but not over, 21 points. You can also make a 3 Card side bet which pays relative to the combination of your first two cards and the Dealer's up card. Start by placing a bet. The Blackjack 21 bet is required. The 3 Card bet is. Also called 21, Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world. With a beautiful and intuitive design, you will love this modern take on the classic casino card game. How to Play 21/Blackjack: The goal of 21 is to amount your card values as near to 21 as possible without exceeding or 'busting' it. Moreover, you have to beat whatever hand both the dealer and other players have drawn; if they have 20 and you have 19, you lose the hand. 21+3 Blackjack Bet 21+3 blackjack side bet that first 2 player cards and dealer up card will make a 3-card poker hand. This bet is an optional one and is made before the cards are dealt. If the player places this bet, the outcome is known as soon as the cards are dealt. Play card games for free whenever you like-when at work, school, or home-and make all your friends jealous with your ever-increasing solitaire skills! Klondike Solitaire is the most popular card game around. Card Game Solitaire does it better than the rest offering smooth game play and an undo button!
Keep in mind that depending on the pay table, the house edge can get as high as 13% for this side bet. You can find examples of games (depending on the number of decks in use) where this is around 2.78% instead.
Strategy for 21+3 Blackjack
How To Win 21 Card Game
It goes without saying that knowing the correct basic strategy of the base game is a prerequisite here. Without this you are just handing money to the house.
Your main ‘strategy’ decision over the long run with the 21+3 side-bet is whether to play or not. The house edge is bigger than in most base games. If you know this, then you get to decide whether the added interest and entertainment (and chance of a windfall win) are worth it to you. If the extra engagement from the 21+3 bet works for you – then you can simply add a little to your bankroll to cover this.
Card counters can beat this game by memorizing the suits as they are dealt. It is possible on some deals to find one suit over-represented as the shoe gets smaller – turning the edge positive for players. The expected hourly rate for this is very low compared to other forms of counting. Online the deck is shuffled after each hand, making card counting impossible.
Pros and Cons of 21+3 Blackjack
Adding a poker style hand to blackjack makes for an interesting variation – though I do wonder whether ‘purists’ in either discipline would approve! Depending on which of the pay tables you use there is the chance of a 9-to-1 or even bigger windfall. That elusive suited 3-of-a-kind (paying 100-to-1) would certainly be memorable.
Whether you participate depends on your attitude towards side-bets in general. Some players like these bets, and are happy to pay the extra house-edge for the chance of the occasional big win. Others scorn these bets as long-term losers.
Here’s a new card game to learn that is perfect for your next family game night! This has been a favorite in our family for years. I played it with my grandparents and at family gatherings. My great uncle used to tease my great aunt that this game kept her mind sharp! Some of the best memories happen around a good family game.
You can play this game with anywhere from 2 to 6 players. You’ll need one deck of cards for every two players.
There are 11 rounds to the game. In each round, the number of cards dealt changes, and the requirements for laying down your hand changes. The wild card also changes! Ha! See what I mean about keeping your mind sharp?
We’ll talk about the rounds in a minute, but first let’s talk about turns. The dealer deals out the correct number of cards. He’ll then place the rest of the deck on the table and turn the top card over. When it is your turn, you’ll make a choice to either take the top card from the discard pile or draw a card from the deck. You’ll end your turn by choosing a card to discard. You can lay down your cards when your hand meets the requirements of the round.
To lay down (or go out, whatever you want to call it) a player must use all their cards. The rounds are as follows.
Rounds:
Jokers are wild on all rounds.
Round 1 – Deal 3 cards. 3’s are wild. Must have a set of 3 or run of 3 to go out.
Round 2 – Deal 4 cards. 4’s are wild. Must have a set of 4 or run of 4 to go out.
Round 3 – Deal 5 cards. 5’s are wild. Must have a set of 5 or run of 5 to go out.
Round 4: Deal 6 cards. 6’s are wild. Must have a set of 6, run of 6, or two runs of 3, two sets of 3, or a set of 3 and run of 3. Lots of options here!
From here on out, all sets or runs must have at least 3 cards. There are several combinations that will allow you to lay down your cards.
Round 5: Deal 7 cards. 7’s are wild. Must play all 7 cards to go out.
What Are The Rules Of 21 Card Game
Round 6: Deal 8 cards. 8’s are wild. Must play all 8 cards to go out.
Round 7: Deal 9 cards. 9’s are wild. Must play all 9 cards to go out.
Round 8: Deal 10 cards. 10’s are wild. Must play all 10 cards to go out.
Round 9: Deal 11 cards. Jacks are wild. Must play all 11 cards to go out.
Round 10: Deal 12 cards. Queens are wild. Must play all 12 cards to go out.
Round 11: Deal 13 cards. Kings are wild. Must play all 13 cards to go out.
Scoring:
Once a player has gone out, everyone else gets one more turn.
For the players who could not go out, any sets or runs that have 3 or more cards do not count against them. The rest of the cards do.
Ace is low.
Modifications for younger kids:
We don’t always play the whole game in one sitting! If you have younger kids, or if you don’t have long to play, just play the first few rounds and then determine a winner. Or, save the rest of the rounds for later.
Need more game night ideas?
Here are some Minute-to-Win-It family games.
And some LEGO games! We love LEGO.
Here’s a collection of Nerf Target Games to make.
9 Comments
How Do You Play 21 Card Game
Post a Comment21+3 Card Game
thank you for sharing this card game! our family is always looking for new games to play together. this game looks like something we will all enjoy!!
Reply
The instructions say 'the rest of the cards do' (count against them). In what way do the rest of the cards count against them? Thanks!
Reply
We count the remaining cards as number states with Ace-1; 2-10 as per number; Jack=11; Queen=12; King-13
Reply
Reply
King, Queen and Jack are 10 each. Jokers and wild cards are 20 each when you get stuck with them.
Reply
We have played this game for years as Progressive Rum.
Reply
Reply
I've never heard of five crowns so I don't know! Could be the same game with multiple names.
Reply
Five Crowns has five suits, instead of 4, and for runs the cards have to be all the same suit. In this game suits don't seem to matter at all. That's the only difference.
Reply
Five Crowns has a specific deck with 5 suits but no 2's or aces. It is played the same way as 3-13.
Reply
Maybe a silly question, but if you are playing with small children, are the “runs” in the same suit or just a run of numbers?
Reply
Runs need to be in the same suit. Although I think it would work to adjust the rules for young kids!
Reply
We call it Dummy Rummy and the person who mistakenly discards the wild card gets to wear the dummy hat. (mine is a jesters hat)
Reply
So you do not lay cards down as you go? You hold everything in your hand until you can go out?
Reply
That is correct. When you get to the rounds where you have a lot of cards, it's fine to lay some of them face down on the table.
Reply
We play this game but call it Bush Rummy. We have 15 rounds as we play 'Ace' and 'Two' rounds (14 and 15) after 'Kings'. Jokers are worth 50 if you get stuck with one when you're forced to lay down.
Reply
Is it a rule that you cannot go 'out' on first turn?
Reply
Funny you should ask... :-) It wasn't a rule, but at our house, we actually just made this a rule. I think that poor card shuffling from the younger kids has been causing this to happen too often. My husband decided that they could no longer go out on the first turn!
Reply