Bonus Pairs blackjack
Last updated: 2014-07-04
The objective of Bonus Pairs Blackjack is to accumulate cards with point totals as close to 21, without going over 21. You can also place a Bonus Pairs side bet, which pays out based on the first two cards you're dealt. Each hand is valued according to the sum of the points of each card. The value assigned to cards is as follows:
- The cards from 2 to 10 are valued as indicated.
- Face cards (jacks, queens and kings) are all valued at 10 points.
- An ace counts as 11 or one. It is worth 11 unless that would push the hand value above 21 (a 'bust' hand), in which case it has a value of one.
- Soft total: a hand that contains an ace that can be counted as 11 without the total going above 21. For example, ace-6 is soft 17.
- Hard total: a hand that contains an ace that can be counted as only one because counting it as 11 would make the hand go over 21. For example, ace-6-10 is hard 17.
If you tie with the house, this is known as a 'push' and means that no one wins or loses. If the first two cards dealt are an ace and any 10-point card, it is known as blackjack and you automatically win at 1.5 : 1, unless the house ties.
Information
- The game and the game rules are identical for both real-money and play-money modes.
- The betting limits are shown on the game screen title bar. The maximum bet applies for the initial bet of the game.
- You can also play without making a bonus-pairs bet.
- To play Bonus Pairs you must place bets on both 'Bonus Pairs Bet' and 'Bet' areas.
- Eight decks are used in the Bonus Pairs Blackjack and each deck has 52 cards.
- The deck is shuffled after 20% of the cards have been used.
- The dealer draws a card on soft 17.
- A maximum of three splits is allowed.
- The number of cards that you can be dealt is limited only by choice (by clicking on 'Stand') or by the hand total being greater than or equal to 21.
- If the dealer has a 10, jack, queen or king as the up card, it is possible he has a blackjack. This means your hand will automatically lose, unless you also have a blackjack. In this situation, the dealer will check for a blackjack immediately and will collect the losing bet if one is revealed.
- The Bonus Pairs bet is separate from the main game bet and is settled immediately after the first cards have been dealt.
How to play
- Select the amount you want to wager by clicking on the chip of that denomination and then clicking on the 'Bet' or 'Bonus Pairs' areas. You can decrease the amount wagered by right-clicking on the 'Bet' stack.
- To place a bet you must click on the 'Bet' box and a chip of your chosen denomination will be placed on the board.
- You can place a Bonus Pairs bet by clicking on the 'Bonus Pairs' betting area.
- In order to place a Bonus Pair bet, you must place a main bet in the 'Bet' area.
- Once the wager is placed, click on the 'Deal' button. The 'Deal' button will only be enabled if you place a bet of equal to or more than the minimum amount allowed.
- The dealer deals you two cards face-up, and then deals himself two cards, one face-up and the other face-down.
- If you receive a pair and you've placed a Bonus Pairs bet, you'll be paid according to the Bonus Pairs paytable below. If you don't get a pair, you'll lose the Bonus Pairs bet.
- You can then choose from the following options, offered as per the game rules: 'Hit', 'Stand', 'Double', 'Split' or 'Surrender'.
- If the dealer has a 10, jack, queen, king or ace as his first card, he will check to see if he has a blackjack before you draw your third card.
- You can insure your hand if the dealer has an ace as his first card.
- Once either you or the dealer stands or busts, the results are displayed below your cards and the dealer's as well as in the scrolling window.
- To continue the game with the same bet, click on the 'Rebet' button.
- To place a new bet, first click 'Clear' to delete your current bet, then choose your desired chip denomination.
- Your game balance is displayed at the bottom left-hand side of the game screen.
- Click on 'Rebuy' to buy in more credits from Party Account.
- Click on 'Rules' to view the game rules.
- Click on 'Gamelogs' to view the logs of the games you have played.
- Click on 'Version' to view the current version number of the game.
- To exit from the game, click on 'Exit game'.
- If your game balance drops below the minimum bet amount during the game, the 'Buy-in' window will pop up, allowing you to buy-in credits from your Party Account.
Options to choose from:
Stand:Clicking on the 'Stand' button will keep your hand at its current value. You may stand at any time. When you are satisfied with your hand, click 'Stand' and your hand will be compared with the dealer's completed hand.
Hit: You may continue to take further cards until you either decide to stand, or go bust. Click on 'Hit' to be dealt the next card.
Double: After you are dealt your first two cards, you'll be given the option to double. If you select this option, your bet gets doubled and you'll be dealt one more card. The hand will automatically stand after the next card is dealt. You'll also be given the option to double after splitting. If your game balance is not sufficient for the additional bet, the double option will not be offered. You cannot double if you have been dealt a blackjack.
If you lose the bet, you forfeit the entire bet amount, the initial bet and the additional amount placed for the double option.
Split: If you have two cards of the same value (for example, two 7s), you can click 'Split' to split the cards into two separate hands. This option is also available if you have two aces as your first two cards. Once this option is selected, an additional bet equal to your original bet is automatically placed.
You are allowed to split a maximum of three times. If the hand qualifies for a split, but your game balance is not sufficient for the additional bet, you will not be offered the split option.
You may draw as many cards as you wish on each split hand, with the exception of splitting on aces. If you split aces, only one card will be dealt to each ace. If a 10-point card is dealt to either ace, the hand is counted as 21, not blackjack.
How to play the split option:
- Once you've clicked the 'Split' option, the cards are split into two separate hands and one more card is dealt to each of the hands. An arrow will point to the hand you are currently playing.
- Click on 'Hit', 'Stand' or any of the other options offered to you.
- Once the first hand is completed, the second hand will become active.
- Click 'Hit', 'Stand' or any of the other options offered to you.
Insurance: The insurance option gives you a chance to protect yourself against a dealer's blackjack. If the dealer's first card (the open card) is an ace, you can choose to insure your hand by clicking on 'Insurance'. Insurance costs 50% of the bet and is in addition to your initial bet. The additional bet will be automatically placed when you opt for insurance.
If the dealer has a blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2:1, and you will lose the initial bet. If the dealer doesn't draw a blackjack, you lose the insured bet and the game will continue for the initial bet amount. Insurance is not offered to you if you are dealt a blackjack.
You will not be offered the chance to insure your hand if your game balance is not sufficient for the additional bet.
Surrender: When your point total is announced, you may choose to discontinue play for the round by clicking on the 'Surrender' option. Play will stop, and you will forfeit one half of your bet. You can only surrender on your first two cards, and the decision to do so must be made before you indicate whether you wish to double, split, stand or hit.
You will only be offered the surrender option after the dealer has checked to see if he has a blackjack. If the dealer's second card results in a blackjack, your entire wager will be collected and the game will come to an end. However, you have opted to surrender and if the dealer does not draw a blackjack, one half of your bet will be returned to you.
Bonus Pairs bet rules
- All Bonus Pairs bets must be placed before clicking on the 'Deal' button.
- All bets must be between the posted minimum and maximum amounts.
- A pair is defined as two cards of the same rank. This includes pictures cards. Therefore a jack and king are not considered a pair: Only a jack and a jack, a queen and a queen, and a king and a king are considered pairs.
- Should your initial two cards not be a pair, the Bonus Pairs bet is removed immediately from the table.
- Should your initial two cards be a pair, you will be paid immediately according to the Bonus Pairs paytable as shown below.
- The Bonus Pairs bet is independent of the result of the main game.
Paytable
| Paytable | ||
|---|---|---|
| Win Type | Description | Payout |
| Blackjack | A blackjack, or 'natural', comprises a total of 21 in your first two cards. A blackjack is therefore an ace and any 10-point card, with the additional requirement that these be your first two cards. If you split a pair of aces, for example, and then draw a 10-point card on one of the aces, you will have scored 21 rather than a blackjack. Your blackjack beats any dealer total (including a dealer's regular 21) except a dealer's blackjack. If both you and the dealer have a blackjack, the hand is a tie, or 'push', and nobody wins or loses. | 1.5 : 1 |
| Normal win | Your total is greater than the dealer's, but less than or equal to 21. | 1 : 1 |
| Push | The totals of both the dealer's hand and your hand are the same. | The round is tied, and your wager is returned. |
| Insurance | Offered when the dealer's first card is an ace to insure your hand against the dealer receiving a blackjack. It costs 50% of the bet amount in addition to the initial bet placed by you. The Insurance option is never taken when playing an optimal strategy. |
If the dealer gets a blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2:1. You lose the initial bet. If the dealer does not get a blackjack, you lose the insured bet and the game continues for the initial bet amount. |
| Surrender | Allowed only on the first two cards. You can select to discontinue play of your hand for that round and surrender. | If the dealer's second card results in a blackjack, your entire wager will be collected by the dealer. If the dealer's second card does not result in a blackjack, then one-half of your bet will be returned. |
Bonus Pairs paytable
| Bonus Pairs paytable | ||
|---|---|---|
| Win Type | Description | Payoff |
| Mixed pair | Your initial two cards are of the same rank, but are of from different suits and are of different colours. For example a 7 of hearts and a 7 of clubs is a mixed pair. |
6 : 1 |
| Colored pair | Your initial two cards are of the same rank and same color, but are from different suits. For example, a 9 of spades and a 9 of clubs is a coloured pair. | 12 : 1 |
| Exact pair | Your initial two cards are of the same rank and are from the same suit. For example, a queen of diamonds and a queen of diamonds is an exact pair. | 25 : 1 |
The theoretical return to player of this game is 99.65%
Adding funds to your Party Account
To add funds to your Party Account, click on 'Deposit' in the Cashier menu, then select the desired deposit option. You can also add funds to your account by clicking on 'Rebuy' while in the game screen and then clicking on 'Cashier', or by clicking on 'Deposit' or 'Real balance' in the My Account section in the left panel of the Main Lobby. The time taken to transfer funds and the fees charged will vary depending on which deposit option you choose. Funds can only be added at the beginning of a new game.
What do I do if I reach my betting limits?
If your game balance drops below the minimum bet you are trying to place, you will have to click on 'Rebuy' to buy in credits from Party Account to your game balance.
To add funds to your Party Account, click on the 'Deposit' option in the 'Cashier' menu in the Main Lobby, or click the 'Cashier' button in the 'Buy-in' window of any game. You can also click on the 'Deposit' button or on 'Real balance' in the My Account section of the left panel in the Main Lobby.
I could not complete the game. What should I do?
If you get disconnected in the middle of the base game, the software will automatically finish your play. You will be able to find out the result by clicking on the 'Gamelogs' button once you have logged back in. You can also find out the result from your Party Account balance. If you are still having problems, please contact our 24/7 Customer Care Team.
If you are disconnected in the middle of the feature round, you will be prompted to complete it once you've logged back in. After completing the feature round, you can resume playing the same base game, or you can select another game of your choice.
Malfunctions voids all pays and plays
