Blackjack at Cache Creek is always a good bet

By CEAN BURGESON
for Destination Cache Creek Magazine

One of the most popular casino table games is Blackjack. It’s an easy game to learn and play with several exciting variations, as Cache Creek’s Vice President of Table Games, Bill Harland, explains. “At Cache Creek, we offer a variety of Blackjack games to satisfy any player’s appetite, including six deck shoes, double deck and single deck games.”

Once you decide how many decks you prefer to play with, there are a few rules at Cache Creek’s Blackjack tables that you may want to know before you head out onto the gaming floor. For instance, on all Blackjack games, the Dealer must stand on cards totaling a hard 17 or greater but must hit a soft 17 (an Ace and 6).

There are also rules that players need to follow with respect to touching the cards at the Blackjack table, which vary depending on the number of decks being dealt. “The main difference between the games is that the cards are dealt face-up out of a six deck shoe,” says Harland. “And because they’re face-up, the player does not need to touch the cards. On the double and single deck games, the cards are held by the Dealer and dealt face-down. Because they’re face-down, the player is allowed to handle the cards.”

There are slight variations in the rules for each Blackjack game, too. “In six deck shoe games and double deck games, Blackjacks (an Ace and a ten or face card) are paid at 3 to 2 odds,” explains Harland. “For example, a $10 wager is paid out $15 for a Blackjack. On single deck games, the payouts are different. Blackjacks are paid at 6 to 5 odds, so a $10 wager pays $12.”

“Another feature on our six deck shoe games is an optional proposition wager called Lucky Ladies. The customer wagers that their first two cards equal a card count of twenty. Any Unsuited Twenty pays the customer 4 to 1, a Suited Twenty pays 9 to 1, a Matched Twenty (same card, same suit) pays 19 to 1, a Queen of Hearts Pair pays 125 to 1, and if the Queen of Hearts Pair is dealt when the Dealer has a Blackjack, the customer receives a 1,000 to 1 payoff.”

Betting on each different Blackjack games varies. On shoe dealt games and double deck games, the players may double down on any two of the first cards dealt, but on single deck games the player is only allowed to double down on two cards totaling 10 or 11. Be sure to check the rules posted at each table or ask one of the dealers if you are unsure of the rules at a particular table.

No matter which variation of Blackjack you choose, there’s plenty of exciting action at Cache Creek’s tables. “We’ve got every type of game a Blackjack fan could want,” says Harland. “Come on out and give us a try.”