Blackjack Block Bonus

Introduction

Block Bonus, or Blackjack Block Bonus, is a side bet based on the player's initial two cards and the dealer's up card. It wins if one of the suit of the dealer's card matches the suit of at least one player card and that player card is greater in rank than the dealer's card. The win will depend on details of the other player card involved.

I hear Blackjack Block Bonus can be found in some casinos in Egypt, Ireland, and eastern Europe.

This bet should not be confused with the Block Pro Blackjack.

Rules

1. The game can be played with any number of 52-card decks.
2. Cards are ranked the same way as in poker, except aces are high only.
3. All wins are based on the player's initial two cards and the dealer's up card.
4. Following are the ways to win:
   • Ultimate Block — All three cards are suited, player cards are the same rank, and the player rank is greater than the dealer's rank.
   • Pair Block — Player cards are the same rank but different suits, the dealer's suit matches one of the player suits, and the player card of that matching suit exceeds the dealer's rank.
   • Flush Block — All three cards are suited, player cards are different ranks, and at least one player card is greater than the dealer's rank.
   • Normal Block — Player cards are different in both rank and suit, the dealer's suit matches one of the player suits, and the player card of that matching suit exceeds the dealer's rank.
5. If at least one of the player cards matches the dealer's card in both rank and suit, and the other card (if any) does not result in a win, then the outcome shall be a push.
6. Wins shall depend on the number of decks used, as shown in the pay table below.

The following shoes the pay table, which varies according to the number of decks. All wins are on a "to one" basis. Please note an Ultimate Block is impossible with one deck.

Here is another way of explaining the different wins:

• Ultimate Block — All three cards are suited, player cards are the same rank, and the player rank is greater than the dealer's rank.
• Normal Block — Player cards are different in both rank and suit, the dealer's suit matches one of the player suits, and the player card of that matching suit exceeds the dealer's rank.
• Flush Block — Same as a Normal Block, except the two player cards are suited.
• Pair Block — Same as a Normal Block, except the two player cards are the same rank.
• Ultimate Block — Same as a Normal Block, except the two player cards are the same in suit and rank.

Here are some examples of various situations and how they are scored.

Analysis

Following is my analysis with eight decks. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 4.96%.

Following is my analysis with six decks. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 5.32%.

Following is my analysis with four decks. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 5.21%.

Following is my analysis with two decks. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 5.43%.

Following is my analysis with one deck. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 5.88%.

Internal Links

Full list of blackjack side bets.

Written by: Michael Shackleford