Difference between revisions of "CalicoJack"

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'''CalicoJack''' is one of the forms of gambling available in the [[Casino]]. It is a modified version of BlackJack. There are two tables playing the game in the casino, one low stakes(100 Qi coins bet) and one high stakes(1,000 Qi coins bet).
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'''CalicoJack''' is one of the forms of gambling available in the [[Casino]]. It is a modified version of blackjack. There are two tables playing the game in the casino, one low stakes (100 Qi coins bet) and one high stakes (1,000 Qi coins bet).
  
 
==Game Rules==
 
==Game Rules==
The objective is to score higher than the Dealer without exceeding a total value of 21. Exceeding 21 busts the hand and causes an immediate loss.
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The objective is to score higher than the dealer without exceeding 21.
  
The player and the Dealer are both dealt two cards, each valued between 1 and 11. One of the dealers initial cards is hidden while the player takes his action.
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The player and the dealer are both dealt two cards, the first valued between 1 and 11, the second between 1 and 9. The dealer's first card is hidden while the player takes his actions.
  
The player can then choose to stay, keeping their current total or hit drawing a new card valued from 1-9. This is repeated until the player either chooses to stay or busts their hand by exceeding a total of 21.
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The player can then choose to stay, keeping their current total, or hit, drawing a new card valued between 1 and 9. This is repeated until the player exceeds 21, a "bust", for an immediate loss; makes a total of exactly 21, a "CalicoJack", for an immediate win; or chooses to stay.
  
The Dealers hidden card is now displayed. If the Dealer has a total of lower than 18, or have a lower value than the players hand, they must hit for another card. The player wins if the Dealer busts their hand, otherwise the player loses. If both the player and Dealer have a total of 21 the game is a draw and no Qi coins change hands.
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If the player stays, the dealer's hidden card is displayed. The dealer will then take additional cards (valued between 1 and 9) until they either bust, or have a total of 18 or higher that is at least as high as the player's total.  If the dealer busts, the player wins; if the dealer has a higher total than the player but no greater than 21, the player loses; if the player and dealer have the same total, the game is a draw.
  
If the player wins they gain a number of Qi coins equal to their bet, if they lose they lose their bet.
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If the player wins they gain a number of Qi coins equal to their betif they lose, they lose their bet.  If the game is a draw, no coins are won or lost.
  
 
==Game Strategy==
 
==Game Strategy==
  
As with many casino games, the house always wins. Statistically, you have a greater chance of losing a game of CalicoJack than of winning it. Over the course of enough games, you will always lose more games than you win, costing you Qi coins. If you are after the more expensive prizes, it's a safer bet to just buy the coins instead of trying to win them.
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Optimal strategy for the player is to stand on 18 or higher when the dealer shows a 9, stand on 16 or higher when the dealer shows a 5 or 6, and stand on 17 or higher against all other dealer upcards.
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Using optimal strategy, the chance of winning a game of CalicoJack is 43.9%, giving the game a house edge of 12.1%.  (This is about 20 times higher than typical real-life casino blackjack games.)  If you play CalicoJack long enough, it is a statistical inevitability that you will lose all your Qi coins. If you are after the more expensive casino prizes, it's a better bet to just buy the coins than to try to win them.
 
[[category:mini-games]]
 
[[category:mini-games]]

Revision as of 03:14, 26 January 2017

CalicoJack is one of the forms of gambling available in the Casino. It is a modified version of blackjack. There are two tables playing the game in the casino, one low stakes (100 Qi coins bet) and one high stakes (1,000 Qi coins bet).

Game Rules

The objective is to score higher than the dealer without exceeding 21.

The player and the dealer are both dealt two cards, the first valued between 1 and 11, the second between 1 and 9. The dealer's first card is hidden while the player takes his actions.

The player can then choose to stay, keeping their current total, or hit, drawing a new card valued between 1 and 9. This is repeated until the player exceeds 21, a "bust", for an immediate loss; makes a total of exactly 21, a "CalicoJack", for an immediate win; or chooses to stay.

If the player stays, the dealer's hidden card is displayed. The dealer will then take additional cards (valued between 1 and 9) until they either bust, or have a total of 18 or higher that is at least as high as the player's total. If the dealer busts, the player wins; if the dealer has a higher total than the player but no greater than 21, the player loses; if the player and dealer have the same total, the game is a draw.

If the player wins they gain a number of Qi coins equal to their bet. if they lose, they lose their bet. If the game is a draw, no coins are won or lost.

Game Strategy

Optimal strategy for the player is to stand on 18 or higher when the dealer shows a 9, stand on 16 or higher when the dealer shows a 5 or 6, and stand on 17 or higher against all other dealer upcards.

Using optimal strategy, the chance of winning a game of CalicoJack is 43.9%, giving the game a house edge of 12.1%. (This is about 20 times higher than typical real-life casino blackjack games.) If you play CalicoJack long enough, it is a statistical inevitability that you will lose all your Qi coins. If you are after the more expensive casino prizes, it's a better bet to just buy the coins than to try to win them.