World Series of Blackjack - Wild Card Episode

What follows is a televised-hand-by-televised-hand account. Obviously, since it's only a one-hour show, most hands are not televised so you're going to see a lot of jumping of the dealer button.

The WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK has five people at the Final Table...and one more seat to fill. The five runners-up from the preliminary matches will enter the Mohegan Sun, play 30 hands of blackjack and, in the end, only one will get that coveted final seat. No money this time; they each already won $5000 in the preliminary tables.

For rules on how blackjack is played, see the small tutorial in the first recap of the series. But know that this is a blackjack tournament, meaning every player starts with $10,000 in chips and must bet between $100 and $5000 on each hand. After 30 hands, the one with the most money wins a seat at the $100,000 Final Table. There is a "Dealer Button" which goes around the table, but it signifies who BETS and PLAYS first, not who the dealer starts dealing cards to first. This is significant, though, since betting is a HUGE part of tournament blackjack.

Michael Konik
Surrendered in final hand of first game to guarantee seat in Wild Card table

David Stann
Went from last to first in second game by using "negative progression" of doubling his bets

Bobby J
A $5000 bet and a lucky Blackjack in the final hand of third game advanced him to the Wild Card table

Previn Mankodi
Beat all odds by getting THREE Blackjacks in a row in the fourth game

Richard Munchkin
Made 26 consecutive $100 bets in the fifth preliminary game

Host Matt Vasgersian and gaming expert Max Rubin giving us the play-by-play. Our dealer is Tiki....so let's have at it! Richard will always be "first base", where the dealer starts dealing the cards. But the order shown, left to right, will be the betting and playing order starting with the "button".

HAND 1
Richard BANK: $10,000	Michael BANK: $10,000	Bobby BANK: $10,000	Previn BANK: $10,000	Dave BANK: $10,000
Bet: $100	Bet: $500	Bet: $100	Bet: $100	Bet: $300
5-5 = 10 (split)	J-8 = 18	6-8 = 14	5-K = 15	7-A = 8/18
DEALER: A
When an Ace is the face-up card for the dealer, s/he asks the players if they want to buy "insurance" against a Blackjack. Any who want insurance must put up a most half their original bet. If a blackjack appears, those with insurance lose their original bet, but win 2-to-1 on their insurance.
No Insurance	No Insurance	No Insurance	No Insurance	No Insurance
Pros know this is a sucker bet in cash games...though it MIGHT come in handy in later hands. Tiki checks her face-down card...and does not flip over a Blackjack, so the hand continues as usual.
HIT: Q = 20 STAND	STAND	HIT: 3 = 17 STAND	HIT: 3 = 22 BUST	HIT: Q = 18 STAND
Dave could have called the Ace an 11-point card and stood on 18. Instead, he raised. When a 10-point card came off, the Ace is AUTOMATICALLY called a 1-point card, since it being 11 points would have put him over 21.
DEALER: A-4 = 5/15 HIT: 4 = 19 MUST STAND
Even though it's a "soft" 19 (one with an Ace as an 11-point card that could be hit), the dealer must stand on ALL hands of 17 points or more.
*WIN*	LOSS	LOSS	LOSS	LOSS
BANK: $10,100	BANK: $9500	BANK: $9900	BANK: $9900	BANK: $9700

HAND 2
Michael BANK: $9500	Bobby BANK: $9900	Previn BANK: $9900	Dave BANK: $9700	Richard BANK: $10,100
Bet: $1000	Bet: $100	Bet: $100	Bet: $600	Bet: $100
2-A = 3/13	10-3 = 13	10-A = 11/21	J-J = 20 (split)	K-8 = 18
DEALER: A
Previn doesn't HAVE to call his hand a Blackjack; in tournament play, he can call the Ace a 1-point card and double down. The safe bet, though, is to take the 3-to-2 offered by Blackjack. Of course, if the DEALER has Blackjack, then it's a push.
No Insurance	No Insurance	No Insurance	No Insurance	No Insurance
No insurance...and no Blackjack for Tiki.
HIT: 7 = 10/20 STAND	HIT: Q = 23 BUST	BLACKJACK!	STAND	STAND
DEALER: A-7 = 18 MUST STAND
*WIN*	LOSS	*WIN 3-to-2*	*WIN*	PUSH
BANK: $10,500	BANK: $9800	BANK: $10,050	BANK: $10,300	BANK: $10,100

HAND 4
Previn BANK: $9950	Dave BANK: $10,600	Richard BANK: $10,200	Michael BANK: $11,700	Bobby BANK: $9900
Bet: $100	Bet: $300	Bet: $100	Bet: $1100	Bet: $2000
3-3 = 6 (split)	K-5 = 15	4-J = 14	Q-Q = 20 (split)	J-J = 20 (split)
DEALER: K
Traditionally, a dealer with a 10-point face-up card checks the face-down card for a Blackjack. If s/he has an Ace face-down, the Blackjack is turned over and the hand ends. If not, play continues as normal.
HIT: 6 = 12 HIT: 4 = 16 STAND	SURRENDER LOSE $150	HIT: K = 24 BUST	STAND	STAND
Dave surrendered his hand, feeling he had no way to win. Half his bet is lost.
DEALER: K-Q = 20 MUST STAND
LOSS	LOSS	LOSS	PUSH	PUSH
BANK: $9850	BANK: $10,450	BANK: $10,100	BANK: $11,700	BANK: $9900

HAND 6
Richard BANK: $10,200	Michael BANK: $11,800	Bobby BANK: $11,500	Previn BANK: $9950	Dave BANK: $10,950
Bet: $100	Bet: $500	Bet: $500	Bet: $100	Bet: $650
10-A = 11/21	9-3 = 12	7-A = 8/18	4-A = 5/15	2-Q = 12
DEALER: Q
BLACKJACK!	HIT: 7 = 19 STAND	HIT: A = 9/ 19 STAND	HIT: 8 = 13 HIT: 9 = 22 *BUST*	HIT: 6 = 18 STAND
DEALER: Q-6 = 16 HIT: 10 = 26 *BUST*
*WIN 3-to2*	*WIN*	*WIN*	LOSS	*WIN*
BANK: $10,350	BANK: $12,300	BANK: $12,000	BANK: $9850	BANK: $11,600

HAND 7
Michael BANK: $12,300	Bobby BANK: $12,000	Previn BANK: $9850	Dave BANK: $11,600	Richard BANK: $10,350
Bet: $1000	Bet: $1000	Bet: $100	Bet: $1200	Bet: $100
5-6 = 11	Q-3 = 13	9-J = 19	9-5 = 14	3-10 =13
DEALER: 5
Basic blackjack strategy says to stand on 13 and over if the dealer has a low card (6 or less). The chances are very good that the dealer will bust. Basic strategy ALSO states that you should ALWAYS double-down (double your bet but only get one hit card) on an 11 UNLESS the dealer has an Ace, since the chances of getting a 10-point card is ALSO very good.
DBLE: $2000	STAND	STAND	STAND	STAND
DEALER: 5-7 = 12 HIT: 2 = 14 HIT: 2 = 16 HIT: 8 = 24 *BUST*
DD Card: 2 Total: 13
*WIN*	*WIN*	*WIN*	*WIN*	*WIN*
BANK: $14,300	BANK: $13,000	BANK: $9950	BANK: $12,800	BANK: $10,450

HAND 11
Richard BANK: $10,450	Michael BANK: $14,100	Bobby BANK: $14,000	Previn BANK: $10,950	Dave BANK: $13,400
Bet: $100	Bet: $600	Bet: $700	Bet: $100	Bet: $1500
9-5 = 14	6-Q = 16	2-J = 12	10-3 = 13	8-8 =16 (split)
More basic strategy: ALWAYS split eights or Aces.
DEALER: 4
STAND	STAND		STAND	SPLIT $1500 apiece
				8-9 = 17 STAND	8-3 = 11 DD:$3000
Yes, you CAN double-down on a split hand in this tournament. You can even RE-split if they're the same value.
DEALER: 4-10 = 14 HIT: J = 24 *BUST*
					DD: 9 Tot: 20
*WIN*	*WIN*	*WIN*	*WIN*	*WIN*
BANK: $10,550	BANK: $14,700	BANK: $14,700	BANK: $11,050	BANK: $17,900
David just made $4500 on that hand. He's in a BIG lead now.

HAND 12
Michael BANK: $14,700	Bobby BANK: $14,700	Previn BANK: $11,050	Dave BANK: $17,900	Richard BANK: $10,550
Bet: $2500	Bet: $2400	Bet: $100	Bet: $1900	Bet: $100
Betting in a tournament is a lot like chess; once you take your hand off the chips in the betting circle, you can't change it. Bobby bet $2400 then TRIED to add one more $100 chip. This is a "string bet" and is illegal in tournaments. Richard: (upon seeing the bets) "I have never seen a better time for a dealer Blackjack than this hand."
7-10 = 17	A-7 = 8/18	K-Q = 20 (split)	7-3 =10	J-K = 20 (split)
Michael Dave CAN split their face cards. As long as they are of the same VALUE, you can split them. However, splitting 10-point cards is not advisable.
DEALER: 6
STAND	DBLE: $4800	STAND	DBLE: $3800	STAND
Even more "basic blackjack strategy": when the dealer has a low card, doubling-down on 9, 10 or "soft hands" is advisable...again because the chances the dealer will bust are very good.
DEALER: 6-3 = 9 HIT: 9 = 18 MUST STAND
	DD Card: 5 Total: 13		DD Card: 8 Total: 18
LOSS	LOSS	*WIN*	PUSH	*WIN*
BANK: $12,200	BANK: $9900	BANK: $11,150	BANK: $17,900	BANK: $10,650

HAND 13
Bobby BANK: $9900	Previn BANK: $11,150	Dave BANK: $17,900	Richard BANK: $10,650	Michael BANK: $12,200
Bet: $5000	Bet: $100	Bet: $100	Bet: $100	Bet: $100
7-3 = 10	6-Q = 16	6-4 = 10	J-A = 11/21	Q-K = 20 (split)
DEALER: 5
DBLE: $9900	STAND	DBLE: $200	BLACKJACK!	STAND
In some tournaments and casinos, you are allowed to "double-down for less", meaning you get the one card, but you can bet less than double your bet. As long as you add SOMETHING to your original bet, you can double down in this case. Bobby is now "all-in"; if he loses this gamble, he's out.
DEALER: 5-7 = 12 HIT: 4 = 16 HIT: 7 = 23 *BUST*
DD Card: 9 Total: 19		DD Card: 9 Total: 19
*WIN*	*WIN*	*WIN*	*WIN 3-to2*	*WIN*
BANK: $19,800	BANK: $11,250	BANK: $18,100	BANK: $10,800	BANK: $12,300
Bobby has the biggest one-hand gain of the tournament so far. And, after the halfway point two hands later, Bobby has the biggest chip count of the tournament at that point.

During the commercial break, however, Dave made some big bets to take the lead...barely.

HAND 17
Michael BANK: $11,700			Bobby BANK: $19,400	Previn BANK: $11,200	Dave BANK: $20,525	Richard BANK: $10,750
Bet: $700			Bet: $300	Bet: $2500	Bet: $300	Bet: $100
9-9 = 18 (split)			7-5 = 12	Q-2 = 12	3-A = 4/14	8-6 = 14
DEALER: 5
SPLIT $700 apiece			STAND	STAND	DBLE: $600	STAND
9-2 = 11 DD:$1400	9-9=18 SPLIT $700 @
	9-6= 15 ST	9-4= 13 ST
DEALER: 5-7 = 12 HIT: 6 = 18 MUST STAND
DD Card: K Total: 21					DD Card: 3 Total: 18
Michael lost both re-splits, but won the double-down, so...
PUSH			LOSS	LOSS	PUSH	LOSS
BANK: $11,700			BANK: $19,100	BANK: $8700	BANK: $20,525	BANK: $10,650

HAND 18
Bobby BANK: $19,100	Previn BANK: $8700		Dave BANK: $20,525	Richard BANK: $10,650	Michael BANK: $11,700
Bet: $300	Bet: $2500		Bet: $300	Bet: $5000	Bet: $100
2-3 = 5	10-10 = 20 (split)		7-2 = 9	A-6 = 7/17	4-5 = 9
DEALER: 6
HIT: K = 15 STAND	SPLIT $2500 apiece		DBLE: $600	DBLE: $10,000	DBLE: $200
	10-7=17 STAND	10-2=12 STAND
DEALER: 6-Q = 16 HIT: 5 = 21 MUST STAND
Talk about your bad beats! Everyone's lost...except Richard. But he WILL lose unles the double-down card is a 4, which would give him a push.
			DD Card: 9 Total: 18	DD Card: 8 Total: 15	DD Card: A Total: 20
LOSS	LOSS		LOSS	LOSS	LOSS
BANK: $18,800	BANK: $3700		BANK: $19,925	BANK: $650	BANK: $11,500

HAND 19
Previn BANK: $3700	Dave BANK: $19,925	Richard BANK: $650	Michael BANK: $11,500	Bobby BANK: $18,800
Bet: $1850	Bet: $1000	Bet: $650	Bet: $100	Bet: $1500
3-J = 13	8-3 = 11	3-9 = 12	5-2 = 7	10-9 = 19
DEALER: 9
HIT: 3 = 16 HIT: 10 = 26 STAND	DBLE: $2000	HIT: J = 2 BUST	HIT: 3 = 10 HIT: 2 = 12 HIT: 4 = 16 HIT: 2 = 18 STAND	STAND
DEALER: 9-K = 19 MUST STAND
	DD Card: J Total: 21
LOSS	*WIN*	LOSS	LOSS	PUSH
BANK: $1850	BANK: $21,925	*OUT!*	BANK: $11,400	BANK: $18,800

HAND 20
Dave BANK: $21,925	Michael BANK: $11,400	Bobby BANK: $18,800	Previn BANK: $1850
Bet: $1300	Bet: $5000	Bet: $100	Bet: $1850
J-6 = 16	3-5 = 8	K-K = 20 (split)	Q-6 =16
DEALER: J
Here, Tiki checks her down card...then ACTS like she's about to flip the Ace over but doesn't. The fake-out shows that the dealer is just as much a part of a blackjack game as the players. Michael, of course, doesn't appreciate it.
SURRENDER LOSE $650	HIT: 8 = 16 STAND	STAND	STAND
Michael thinks Tiki showed something in her fake-out...that she may have a low card and might bust. So, instead of following basic strategy, he stands on 16.
DEALER: J-Q = 20 MUST STAND
Obviously, Michael read wrong.
LOSS	LOSS	PUSH	LOSS
BANK: $21,275	BANK: $6400	BANK: $18,800	*OUT!*

HAND 21
Michael BANK: $6400	Bobby BANK: $18,800	Dave BANK: $21,275
Bet: $1400	Bet: $100	Bet: $300
6-3 = 9	2-K = 12	Q-10 = 20 (split)
DEALER: 5
DOUBLE DOWN: $2800	STAND	SPLIT $300 apiece
		10-6 = 16 STAND	Q-10 = 20 STAND
DEALER: 5-10 = 15 HIT: 6 = 21 MUST STAND
DD Card: Q Total:19
LOSS	LOSS	LOSS
BANK: $3600	BANK: $18,700	BANK: $20,675

HAND 22
Bobby BANK: $18,700	Dave BANK: $20,675	Michael BANK: $3600
Bet: $1000	Bet: $1200	Bet: $100
J-J = 20 (split)	8-5 = 13	A-10 = 11/21
DEALER: K
STAND	HIT: 8 = 21 AUTO STAND	BLACKJACK!
Tiki doesn't even bother ASKING Dave if he wants to stand on 21.
DEALER: K-10 = 20 MUST STAND
PUSH	*WIN*	*WIN 3-to-2*
BANK: $18,700	BANK: $21,875	BANK: $3750

HAND 25
Bobby BANK: $16,100	Dave BANK: $20,375	Michael BANK: $3800
Bet: $4300	Bet: $5000	Bet: $100
K-9 = 19	A-4 = 5/15	A-K = 11/21
DEALER: K
STAND	HIT: 7 = 12 HIT: A = 13 HIT: 9 = 22 BUST	BLACKJACK!
DEALER: 9-10 = 19 MUST STAND
PUSH	LOSS	*WIN 3-to-2*
BANK: $16,100	BANK: $15,375	BANK: $3950

HAND 26
Dave BANK: $15,375	Michael BANK: $3950	Bobby BANK: $16,100
Bet: $2500	Bet: $150	Bet: $2500
A-7 = 8/18	9-2 = 11	J-A = 11/21
DEALER: 8
STAND	DOUBLE DOWN: $300	BLACKJACK!
DEALER: 8-6 = 14 HIT: J = 24 *BUST*
	Double-Down Card: K Total: 21
*WIN*	*WIN*	*WIN 3-to-2*
BANK: $17,875	BANK: $4250	BANK: $19,850

HAND 27
Michael BANK: $4250	Bobby BANK: $19,850	Dave BANK: $17,875
Bet: $4250	Bet: $900	Bet: $3000
4-8 = 12	10-Q = 20 (split)	7-5 = 12
DEALER: 3
HIT: K = 22 BUST	STAND	HIT: J = 22 BUST
DEALER: 3-K = 13 HIT: 8 = 21 MUST STAND
That is the THIRD 21 that Tiki has turned up on a hit.
LOSS	LOSS	LOSS
*OUT!*	BANK: $18,950	BANK: $14,875

While away to let Michael lament over the loss, Dave made a $5000 bet and lost while Bobby made a $2500 bet and likewise lost.

It all comes down to one last hand. Whoever is ahead at the end of this hand wins the last spot at the Final Table. Nothing for second place THIS time.

*FINAL HAND!*
Bobby BANK: $16,600	Dave BANK: $14,875
Bet: $1700	Bet: $3500
2-3 = 5	A-9 = 10/20
Dave was PRAYING for a 10-point card...since that would have meant he had all but won.
DEALER: 6
HIT: 4 = 9 HIT: 5 = 14 STAND	STAND
Bobby was CONSIDERING doubling-down...but he decided against it. With his low hand, the only way Bobby can win this game is if Tiki makes a 20 or a 21...and the odds of that are less than 20%. A 20 would give a push to Dave and Bobby would win by a mere $25. A 21 would make BOTH lose and Bobby would STILL win. But a 17, 18 or 19 would mean a win for Dave and a loss for Bobby, putitng Dave way ahead...and a bust would put Dave ahead by just $75.
DEALER: 6-A = 17 MUST STAND
LOSS	*WIN*
BANK: $14,900	BANK: $18,375 WINNER!

So the very vocal David Stann can walk the walk as well as talk the talk. He joins Regina Cuzion, M.I.T. Mike, Micky Rosa, Jimmy Pine and Ken Smith at the Final Table...with the winner getting $100,000!

HAND 29
Dave BANK: $9875	Bobby BANK: $16,450
Bet: $5000	Bet: $150
J-J = 20 (split)	5-7 = 12
DEALER: 6
STAND	STAND
DEALER: 6-2 = 8 HIT: 8 = 16 HIT: Q = 26 BUST
*WIN*	*WIN 3-to-2*
BANK: $14,875	BANK: $16,600