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The Surrender option allowed at most card rooms
The surrender option in blackjack is when the house allows the player to essentially fold their hand before they act on it and lose half of their original bet.
The player must make the decision to surrender prior to taking any action on the hand. Once you hit or draw a third card, split, or double down or take make any action on the hand, surrender is no longer an option.(Except on Spanish 21-surrendering is actually part of the game in Spanish 21).
Not every house offers the surrender option, and those that do fall into two categories: Early vs Late Surrender.
Early surrender
In a game where the early surrender option is available , a player may surrender before the dealer even checks his cards for a blackjack, offering a cheap way out even if the dealer turns out to have a blackjack. Early surrender offers a healthy advantage to the player and is rarely offered. Personally, I have never seen the early surrender offered.
Late surrender
The late surrender is when the dealer checks for blackjack first, and then if the dealer does not have blackjack the player is allowed to surrender their hand.
Surrender is an excellent option for players who use it wisely. Unfortunately, surrender is often misused and many players surrender either far too many hands or too few.
To understand how bad a hand must be to properly be surrendered, consider the following:
When to surrender
To properly utilize the surrender, use it when you are only 25% likely to win the hand (ignoring pushes).
So on a hand that you would be expected to lose 75% of the time, and win only 25% of the time, your net loss is about 50% of your bets, or equal to the amount you’ll lose guaranteed by surrendering.
If you play in a house that offers surrender, use basic strategy to determine when surrender is the appropriate play and use it only on hands that have a 25% win percent chance or less of winning.
A note about California card rooms
Card Clubs are one of California’s oldest forms of legal gambling.
In 2008, only 91 Card rooms were licensed compared to 150 in 1999. A small percentage are large, the remainder small mom and pop operations scattered throughout the State.
Historically, card clubs were regulated by local governments.
Beginning in the mid-1980s the State gradually increased its regulatory oversight. The stated primary purpose of this increased oversight in California and elsewhere has been to attempt to prevent criminal activity from being associated with these businesses.
In 1998, then Attorney General Daniel Lungren and Senate Pro Tem Bill Lockyer introduced and passed the California Gambling Control Act. (SB 8 was enacted; the language is in Business and Professions Code: 19800 – 19887) The Act developed the California Gambling Control Commission and the Bureau of Gambling Control in the California Department of Justice. The Commission and the Bureau are responsible for the development of policy, regulatory oversight and enforcement of the States gaming laws at California card clubs.
Excerpt from “Cardroom History” by: Communities 4 California cardrooms
California Card Rooms Governed By PC 330.11
PENAL CODE SECTION 330.11
330.11. “Banking game” or “banked game” does not include a controlled game if the published rules of the game feature a player-dealer position and provide that this position must be continuously and systematically rotated amongst each of the participants during the play of the game, ensure that the player-dealer is able to win or lose only a fixed and limited wager during the play of the game, and preclude the house, another entity, a player, or an observer from maintaining or operating as a bank during the course of the game. For purposes of this section it is not the intent of the Legislature to mandate acceptance of the deal by every player if the division finds that the rules of the game render the maintenance of or operation of a bank impossible by other means. The house shall not occupy the player-dealer position.
California Card Room Info
California Card Rooms
There are more than 100 card rooms in California ranging in size from one table to over 200 tables.
California law allows card rooms to play a variety of card games and the card rooms have no stake in the outcome of any of these games.
Players play against each other and pay a fee for use of the facilities. In some locations that fee is waived for players.
The types of games played in card rooms are:
Poker
Variations of poker such as Hold’Em, Omaha and different variations of stud poker.
California Games (also called Asian Games):
Cal Games, are games that are traditionally house banked games, like blackjack.
21st Century Blackjack, which plays like traditional blackjack. Different versions of Blackjack, like California Blackjack, or Spanish 21.
Cal Games also include games like Pai Gow poker (also called two-handed poker, or double hand poker) and Baccarat.
Some card rooms spread Pai Gow Tiles
California law allows player banked games, whereby one player can act as the banker or player/dealer and play against the other players at the table.
This format is used in the California Games, Blackjack type games.
Many of the card rooms have full food and beverage services and are located close to major airports and freeways
Check out the games being played at your local card room, it ‘s not just for poker
For more information on card rooms in California contact: Golden State Gaming Association, 1127 11th Street, Suite 242, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA. Phone: 916/498-9500, Website: http://www.goldenstategaming.org
Where does the term “monkey” come from?
When you play blackjack or baccarat you often hear the familiar cry for a “monkey”.
The monkey they are referring to is the face card or a Ten value card.
In blackjack when players want a 10-point card delivered to them, they call for a monkey.
Players in baccarat are cheering for a card representing zero points when they call for a monkey.
When players call for a monkey we know what they want, when I asked around nobody was really certain where the term monkey came from or why they were using it.
The best explanation, I have heard, is that the term “monkey” came from people of Chinese culture playing the European invented game of baccarat.
In Europe, the King and Queen are part of the Royal Court or the Royal Monarchy.
When Chinese people use the English word “Monarchy” with either their Cantonese or Mandarin accents, spoken quickly, the word “Monarchy” sounds like “monkey”.
California No Bust Blackjack: A Variation of Blackjack Created for Card Rooms
Blackjack in California Card Rooms:
It used to be only poker could be played in California card rooms. Gambling against other players is allowed, but traditional house banked games like blackjack were not allowed as they generally required the house to bank and fund the game. Their has been a lot of changes to the card rooms in California. The house is still not allowed to bank the games in card rooms, but the evolution of these games has provided some very effective work arounds. They have created a system in which a corporation banks these traditionally house banked games, so having another player at the table who wants to bank the game is no longer necessary.
Nowadays you can play all different types of house banked games in a card room in California. any type of Blackjack, Baccarat, Pai Gow poker and more.
The First ever version of black jack played in California card rooms was California No Bust. I really liked the game and I liked dealing the game, but it seems to have to become almost extinct with most of the cardrooms playing the more traditional varieties of blackjack and adding all of the other games they currently play. A look back:
California “No Bust” Blackjack
California “No Bust” blackjack or California Blackjack, is a version of blackjack created specifically to be played in California card rooms.
In 1873, the California Legislature enacted Penal Code 330 which outlawed the game of “21” or “blackjack”, throughout the state.
This California statute is still in effect.
Native American Indian casinos currently play “Blackjack” or “21” under authority from the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
For decades, Penal code 330 meant that card rooms across the State of California, could not offer any type of blackjack.
In an effort to circumvent the state statutes, game inventors looked to devise varieties of blackjack to be played in legal card rooms throughout California owned by non-Native American Indians.
In 1989, a man named Roger Wisted changed everything. Wisted invented, patented and trademarked a version of blackjack developed specifically to be played in a card room setting.
He called it California Blackjack, also called California No-Bust Blackjack.
How to Play California Blackjack
One primary difference between Wisted’s card club version and traditional blackjack is the game is played to 22 instead of 21.
The game itself is played with a 53-card deck, adding one joker for each deck in the shoe.
The rules of the game have been tweaked a bit from standard blackjack. The joker paired with an Ace or another joker is a “natural”, and paid 2 to 1, unless the dealer also has a natural.
The joker paired with any other card is automatic “21” and the hand is frozen.
Some Other Rules include:
- A Natural is not the usual two-card 21, instead they include: two jokers, two aces, ace-joker
- A standard two-card 21 is still 21, but just a regular 21 and pays even-money when it wins
- A player with a “natural”, two jokers (or in some locations an Ace-Joker) is paid 2 to 1 (as long as the dealer does not also hold a “natural”)
- A single joker makes any hand 21, and the player must stand
- When the dealer has a face-up joker the hand ends and players lose unless they hold 21, which results in a push
- Players may surrender on their first two cards, but not when the dealer has a joker up – surrender is the loss of half of the player’s wager
- The dealer does not peek at their cards, so if the dealer has a joker as their down card, the player loses their original wager, but not any split or double down wagers.
- Player may double down on any two cards
- Player may split any pair up to three hands
- Player may double down after a split
The No-Bust Part of California Blackjack
It’s not completely no-bust.
The No-bust in the title refers to when the player and dealers hands both bust.
When a player busts the bets remain in the wagering circle until the dealer is done hitting out their own hand. If the dealer also busts and the player’s total is lower than the dealer’s, the hand is a push. If the player’s point total is higher or equal to the dealer, the player loses.
California Blackjack has been licensed to card clubs and casinos throughout California since 1990.
Now that most card rooms spread traditional house games like baccarat, Pai Gow Poker and and so many others, it is becoming hard to find clubs who are playing this game anymore.
As a Cal Games dealer at The Lucky Derby, I dealt California Blackjack until late 2013. The Lucky Derby also offered an optional side bonus bet on this game.
This game, especially when paired with the optional side bet, was a favorite of the long-time card room players. The game was not viewed as favorably by those who were new to card room play. Many guests who came to the card room, most who by now had primarily played at the Nevada or tribal gaming casinos, had a hard time seeing the game as a legitimate blackjack game.
A more in-depth look at California Blackjack: http://freeblackjack.net/free/blackjack/games/california-blackjack/
NOTE:
After inventing California Blackjack, Roger Wisted took the money he earned in licensing agreements and started Blackjack Ranch Vineyards and Winery in Solvang (Santa Barbara County). The outfit’s wine club is known as the High
Rollers Club. For more information, visit
California Card Rooms: Playing Blackjack, Baccarat and More!
Card rooms in the past were known as places to play poker. Card rooms in California offer much more than poker these days.
People who live in California and enjoy playing table games, such as blackjack, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, just to name a few, have two options.
Gamblers can enjoy these table games in one of the states nearly 100 Card Rooms and they can also play at a Tribal Gaming Casino, also called an Indian Casino.
When I tell people that I am a dealer in card room they automatically assume I deal poker, but I am actually a Cal Games or Table Games Dealer. Check out your local card room, you may be surprised at all the games offered at these local hot spots
Below is a list of games played in card rooms:
Card Rooms Offer:
Blackjack:
- Single Deck
- Double Deck
- Multi-deck Shoe Blackjack
Optional Blackjack Bonus Side Bets:
- The Buster Bet
- The Red Flex
- Lucky Lucky
Blackjack Variations: 21st Century Blackjack, Pure 21 and “No Bust” California Blackjack w/ Jokers, Blackjack Switch, Spanish 21.5-w/ optional Match the Dealer Bonus
Baccarat:
- EZ BAC Baccarat with the Dragon and Panda Bonus (some card clubs offer the option to squeeze)
- Zoo Baccarat
Pai Gow:
- Pai Gow Poker with the fortune bonus
- Pai Gow Tiles
Carnival Games:
- Three Card Poker
- Ultimate Texas Hold ’em
- Casino War w/Optional tie bonus
Some Card Rooms offer progressive jackpots on these games, too.
Call your local card room and find out which of these games they offer.
Visit your local Cardroom, it’s not just for poker.
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Benefits of playing in card rooms
“Card rooms provide a warm, friendly alternative to the cold, empty tribal gaming experience”
California Card Rooms Offer:
- Smoke Free Environment
- Lower Table Minimums
- Friendly AtmosphereIndividualized service
- Individualized service
- Great food at a great price
- The option to Surrender
- Take a phone call on the table
- Customer service driven dealers who “go for their own” tokes
You can walk into any card room, sit down and play Blackjack, Baccarat, Pai Gow or any number of your favorite table games, just as you would play in any Nevada or Indian Casino.
Also, “California Style Blackjack” gives you the opportunity to act as the house. Although you have the opportunity to act as the house, it is not required. Don’t beat the dealer, be the dealer
“Don’t beat the dealer, be the dealer”
**Note in some parts of the state players must pay a small fee to play each hand in a cardroom. Sacramento Area Card Rooms do not charge a fee to the players due to their proximity to Tribal Gaming Casino
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A parody skit on “The Blackjack Player”
“Douchebag Casino” is a parody on blackjack players.
BJ players are hilarious, and often repetitive.
Although this skit is not particularly well-written, it does illustrate a few of the more common types of players you will find playing at the blackjack table.
“Douchebag Casino” by Sammy Smith
Cardroom Insider 