Power Blackjack

Last update: August 15, 2007

Power Blackjack is a blackjack variation found at Internet casinos using WagerWorks software. Following are the specific rules.

Rules

1. The rules are the same as conventional blackjack, except where noted below.
2. Six ordinary 52-card decks are used.
3. Blackjack pays 3 to 2.
4. The dealer stands on soft 17.
5. Double after split allowed.
6. Split to two hands only.
7. The dealer follows the European no hole card rule. If the dealer gets a blackjack, the player loses everything he bet (including doubles and splits).
8. If the player has a two-card total of 9 to 11, including soft 19 and 20, then he may "Power Double." In a Power Double, if the player does not like his third card, he may exchange it for the next card in the shoe.
9. With any other two cards, except blackjack, the player may still do an ordinary double.
10. If the player has any hard total of 15 or 16 (for example 10 and 6), then he may do a "Power Split." A power split is just like an ordinary split, except the initial two cards do not have to be the same rank.
11. If the dealer busts with a total of 22, then all non-busted player hands will push.

Strategy

The following table shows the basic strategy for Wager Works rules.

If player has three or more cards, and strategy says to double or power double, then hit, except stand on soft 18 to soft 20.

Power Doubling Strategy

1. Keep any card forming a 20 or 21.
2. Keep any card forming a 19, except with 2-card 11 against a dealer 10.
3. Keep any card forming an 18, if any of the following conditions apply.
   • 2-card 10 against a dealer 7
   • 2-card 11 against a dealer 7
   • 2-card 9 against any dealer card except 9
   • 2-card soft 19 against a dealer 2 to 4, or 6 to 8

House Edge

The house edge under the WagerWorks rules is 0.23%.

Methodology

The analysis for Power Blackjack was done in Excel, with an infinite-deck assumption. The house edge in an infinite deck game is 0.31%. I subtracted 0.08% for six decks, which is the difference in house edge between six and infinite decks in conventional blackjack.

In addition, Scott McIntosh of Online Poker Room Reviews, did an independent analysis. His house edge agrees with mine to within 0.02%.

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