CELEBRITY BLACKJACK

TOURNAMENT 2
EPISODE 4

NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR

What follows is a televised-hand-by-televised-hand account.  Obviously, since it's only a one-hour show, some hands may not be televised so you may see a little of jumping of the dealer button.


So what do you get when you take celebrities away from the limelight, put $100,000 in chips in front of them and force them to play 21 hands of blackjack for charity?  You get the second season of CELEBRITY BLACKJACK!

This year, a full 13-week season will be contested. There will be ten four-player single-table matches with the winners getting $25,000 and advancing to the semi-finals. The top two from each of the two five-person semis will go to the Final Table for a crack at the $100,000 first prize, all for their charities. (And, yes, it's been confirmed on the show that this is how it works. Don't ya love it when I'm right? :D )

For a brief explanation about the game of blackjack and how this tournament will be contested, check the first episode recap. But know that this match is played until a set amount of hands are played (in this case, the amount is 21).  If a player runs out of the $100,000 worth of chips s/he starts with (or has less than the minimum bet), s/he's out of the game.  The bets for each of the first ten hands must be between $1000 and $25,000. The final 11 hands will have a minimum bet of $5000, but NO maximum; a player can go all-in if so desired. After the set amount of hands are played, whoever has the most money will advance to the semi-finals.

And ALSO know that, for this special tournament, six JOKERS have been added to the six decks they play with.  A Joker can be substituted for any card on the table still in play (meaning, once a hand is stood on, it's no longer in-play). There were four last season but, since there are only four players, they upped that number. Also this season is the addition of FIVE-CARD CHARLIE, the kid's rule that says that, if you get dealt five cards without busting, you automatically win.

Lets meet the four celebs competing tonight (and their charities):

Cheryl Hines
(United Cerebral Palsy)
Larry David's wife on Curb Your Enthusiasm; John Goodman's lioness wife on animated Father of the Pride

Coolio
(Heritage Begins Within)
Rapper extraordianaire; sang "Fantastic Voyage" and "Gangsta's Paradise"

Meat Loaf
(Painted Turtle)
Rock 'n' Roll legend; singer of "Paradise By the Dashboard Light"; also acts on occassion; was in "Fight Club" and "Spice World"

Mathew St. Patrick
(Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation)
Plays Keith Charles on HBO's Six Feet Under; was also on General Hospital and All My Children

We have Matt Vasgersian doing the play-by-play and the "bad boy of Blackjack" Dave Stann back to deal the cards...so let's get goin'!  Cheryl 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
Mathew
BANK: $100,000
Cheryl
BANK: $100,000
Coolio
BANK: $100,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $100,000
Bet: $5000 Bet: $2000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $10,000
6-7 = 13
10-2 = 12
9-10 = 19
6-Q = 16
DEALER: A
When the Dealer shows an Ace, he must ask if the players want insurance, betting up to half of their original bet while getting 2-to-1 for it if there IS a Blackjack.
No Insurance
No Insurance
No Insurance
No Insurance
Everyone knows that insurance is a "sucker bet" in money games...but MAY prove useful later on. The Dealer now peeks to see if the down card is a 10-point card. If he has one, he flips it over and the hand ends with everyone a loser. If not (like this time), the game continues as usual....
HIT: 5 = 18
STAND
HIT: 8 = 20
STAND
STAND
STAND
.Basic blackjack strategy (or "the book") says to hit on 16 and lower and stand on 17 and higher against a Dealer Ace. Only Meat Loaf bucked "the book". Shame; 16 vs an Ace only wins 17% of the time. Meat Loaf's certain Dave has a five as the hole card.
DEALER: A-3 = 4/14
HIT: 4 = 18
MUST STAND
It doesn't matter if it's a "soft" hand (like this one, with an Ace) or a "hard" one; the Dealer MUST stand on ALL hands 17 and higher. Had Meat Loaf hit as he shoud have, he would've had a 20 and a GREAT chance of winning.
PUSH
WIN
WIN
LOSS
BANK: $100,000
BANK: $102,000
BANK: $105,000
BANK: $90,000
Meat Loaf: "Don't do that again if you want to live to see the next show."

 

HAND 2
Cheryl
BANK: $102,000
Coolio
BANK: $105,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $90,000
Mathew
BANK: $100,000
Bet: $4000 Bet: $7000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $10,000
2-6 = 8
A-Q = 11/21
A-9 = 10/20
K-A = 11/21
DEALER: 10
Coolio and Mathew don't HAVE to take blackjack; they can each choose to call the Ace a 1-point card and double-down. But taking the 3-to-2 is much safer. However, the Dealer MUST check for a Blackjack...
DEALER: 10-A = 21
BLACKJACK!

...and wouldn't ya @#$%ing know it?! That means Coolio and Mathew push and Meat Loaf and Cheryl lose. This is the first time in CBJ history that the Dealer's had a Blackjack while a player had one.

LOSS
PUSH
LOSS
PUSH
BANK: $98,000
BANK: $105,000
BANK: $80,000
BANK: $100,000

 

HAND 3
Coolio
BANK: $105,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $80,000
Mathew
BANK: $100,000
Cheryl
BANK: $98,000
Bet: $10,000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $2000
Q-J = 20 (split)
4-10 = 14
3-3 = 6
A-A = 2/12 (split)
DEALER: 9
Here's some tips from "the book". First, on a high Dealer card (7 or higher), hit on 16s and lower, stand on 17s and higher. Only split 3s if the Dealer has a 7 or worse. NEVER spilt 10-point cards and ALWAYS split Aces. The downside in this tournament is that each split Ace only gets one card...and a 10-point card does NOT make a Blackjack, just a 21.
STAND
HIT: 10 = 24
BUST
HIT: 2 = 8
HIT: Q = 18
STAND
SPLIT
$2000 apiece
A-JOKER
Dealer's 9
A-9 = 20
A-K = 21
The rule of the Joker is that you can take any card still live or the next card off the top of the deck. The only card still live is the Dealer's 9. In essence, Cheryl helped the whole table out.
NEW DEALER CARD: 5
DEALER: 5-4 = 9
HIT: J = 19
MUST STAND
WIN
LOSS
LOSS
WIN
BANK: $115,000
BANK: $70,000
BANK: $90,000
BANK: $102,000

Pop quiz, blackjack hot shots: how does "the book" say you should play a pair of 6s against a Dealer's 6? Do you hit, stand, double down or split? Answer later on.

HAND 4
Meat Loaf
BANK: $70,000
Mathew
BANK: $90,000
Cheryl
BANK: $102,000
Coolio
BANK: $115,000
Bet: $20,000 Bet: $3000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000
A-9 = 10/20
A-J = 11/21
3-2 = 5
4-5 = 9
DEALER: J
Fortunately for Dave, he doesn't have Blackjack this time...'cause I'm sure Meatloaf would've eaten him whole!
STAND
BLACKJACK!
HIT: 8 = 13
HIT: 3 = 16
HIT: 2 = 18
5-CARD CHARLIE!
HIT: 9 = 18
STAND
Cheryl smiles at the "Charlie" and says, "Don't hate the player."
DEALER: J-K = 20
MUST STAND
PUSH
WIN 3-to-2
WIN
LOSS
BANK: $70,000
BANK: $94,500
BANK: $107,000
BANK: $110,000
At least Meat Loaf didn't LOSE this time.

 

HAND 5
Mathew
BANK: $94,500
Cheryl
BANK: $107,000
Coolio
BANK: $110,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $70,000
Bet: $6000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $15,000 Bet: $25,000
6-A = 7/17
7-5 = 12
2-3 = 5
4-7 = 11
ALWAYS double-down on an 11, since there's a GOOD chance of getting a 21. It's not a GIVEN, but it's a good chance
DEALER: J
HIT: Q = 17
STAND
HIT: J = 22
BUST
HIT: K = 15
HIT:
7 = 22
BUST
HIT: 5 = 16
HIT:
A = 17
HIT: 9 = 26
BUST
It's a good idea to hit a "soft" 17 against a Dealer's 10-pointer. You should always assume a 10 as the down-card, so a 17 is NOT going to beat a potential 20. Besides, even if it's a 10, you won't bust anyway; it's a "free card".
Meat Loaf asks the waitress to come over for luck as he hit. He's obviously scared of doubling-down, missing and being down to a mere $20G. And, to a point, he was justified. But going for the "Charlie" was BAD...though he had BETTER odds than standing (31% to 23%).
DEALER: J-8 = 18
MUST STAND
Meat Loaf just CAN'T WIN! Had he stayed on 17 he'd've lost ANYWAY! And had he doubled down, he would've lost DOUBLE! This rock 'n' roller's dreams AREN'T coming true!
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $88,500
BANK: $97,000
BANK: $95,000
BANK: $45,000

 

HAND 6
Cheryl
BANK: $97,000
Coolio
BANK: $95,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $45,000
Mathew
BANK: $88,500
Bet: $3000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $25,000 Bet: $6000
8-5 = 15
K-6 = 16
Q-JOKER = ??
7-A = 8/18
Meat Loaf: "I'm going on a run of six or seven winning hands"
Matt: "Oh, casinos are BUILT on philosophies like that!"
And, wouldn't ya know it...he gets a Joker with an Ace live on the board!
DEALER: A
AND one for the Dealer! Meat Loaf can take EITHER Ace BEFORE the Dealer asks for insurance.
Dealer's Ace
Q-A = 11/21
(Meat Loaf: "GIMME THE DAMN ACE!")
DEALER: J
HIT: 4 = 19
STAND
HIT: 5 = 21
AUTO STAND
BLACKJACK!
HIT: 10 = 18
STAND
DEALER: J-K = 20
MUST STAND
Meat Loaf kept the Dealer from a Blackjack!
LOSS
WIN
WIN 3-to-2
LOSS
BANK: $94,000
BANK: $100,000
BANK: $82,500
BANK: $82,500

How should you play two 6s against a Dealer 6? "The book" says to split those 6s on any Dealer card 6 or lower, but HIT on a 7 or higher.

We return after a Hand 7 where everyone lost...except Coolio, who pushed.

HAND 8
Meat Loaf
BANK: $75,500
Mathew
BANK: $77,500
Cheryl
BANK: $91,000
Coolio
BANK: $100,000
Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $3000 Bet: $10,000
3-7 = 10
10-7 = 17
10-J = 20 (split)
3-5 = 8
DEALER: 3
When the Dealer has a LOW card (2 through 6), you should stand on 13 and higher, double-down 11 or 10 and double-down a 9 IF it's not a 2 (hit on a 2). The Dealer has to hit and MIGHT bust.
DOUBLE: $10,000
STAND
STAND
HIT: 8 = 16
HIT: 10 = 26
BUST
Thinking the next card was a 4, Coolio looked to increase his hand. Bad move.
DEALER: 3-J = 13
HIT: 8 = 21
MUST STAND
VERY bad move. Had he stood on 16, the Dealer would've busted and EVERYONE would've won! Meat Loaf can only be saved by an Ace for a push.
DD Card: K
Total: 20
   
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $65,500
BANK: $72,500
BANK: $88,000
BANK: $90,000

 

HAND 9
Mathew
BANK: $72,500
Cheryl
BANK: $88,000
Coolio
BANK: $90,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $65,500
Bet: $2000 Bet: $4000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $15,000
Q-J = 20 (split)
JOKER-4 = ??
5-7 = 12
3-K = 13
DEALER: 2
Coolio's 7
7-4 = 11
New Card: 7
5-7 = 12
STAND
DOUBLE: $8000
HIT: 3 = 15
STAND
STAND
12s are always tough...but basic strategy says to stand on a Dealer 4, 5 or 6 and hit on all others.
DEALER: 2-8 = 10
HIT:
K = 20
MUST STAND
 
DD Card: 6
Total: 17
   
PUSH
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $72,500
BANK: $80,000
BANK: $85,000
BANK: $50,500

 

HAND 10
Cheryl
BANK: $80,000
Coolio
BANK: $85,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $50,500
Mathew
BANK: $72,500
Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $2000
3-10 = 13
4-2 = 6
10-8 = 18
4-8 = 12
DEALER: 4
STAND
HIT: 7 = 13
HIT: 10 = 23
BUST
STAND
HIT: 7 = 19
STAND
DEALER: 4-J = 14
HIT: K = 24
BUST
Believe it or not, this is Dave's FIRST BUST of the night!
WIN
LOSS
WIN
WIN
BANK: $85,000
BANK: $80,000
BANK: $60,500
BANK: $74,500

Heading into the halfway point, the stakes are raised to no-limit.  The minimum bet is $5000...but there is NO maximum!

HAND 11
Coolio
BANK: $80,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $60,500
Mathew
BANK: $74,500
Cheryl
BANK: $85,000
Bet: $5000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $10,000
3-Q = 13
10-3 = 13
7-5 = 12
3-9 = 12
DEALER: 5
HIT: Q = 23
BUST
STAND
HIT: 7 = 19
STAND
STAND
Coolio has hit his last eight hands...busted FOUR of them.
DEALER: 5-5 = 10
HIT: 8 = 18
MUST STAND
LOSS
LOSS
WIN
LOSS
BANK: $75,000
BANK: $50,500
BANK: $79,500
BANK: $75,000

 

HAND 12
Meat Loaf
BANK: $50,500
Mathew
BANK: $79,500
Cheryl
BANK: $75,000
Coolio
BANK: $75,000
Bet: $30,000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000
Q-Q = 20
J-2 = 12
6-K = 16
K-JOKER = ??
DEALER: 9
New Card: 4
4-2 = 6
Mathew's J
K-J = 20 (split)
STAND
HIT: A = 7/27
HIT: Q = 17
HIT: 7 = 24
BUST
HIT: K = 26
BUST
STAND
Another failed attempt at a "Charlie".
DEALER: 9-K = 19
MUST STAND
WIN
LOSS
LOSS
WIN
BANK: $80,500
BANK: $74,500
BANK: $70,000
BANK: $80,000
Meat Loaf takes the lead despite only winning THREE hands!

 

HAND 13
Mathew
BANK: $74,500
Cheryl
BANK: $70,000
Coolio
BANK: $80,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $80,500
Bet: $9000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000
Q-Q = 20 (split)
9-8 = 17

Q-2 = 12

2-4 = 6
DEALER: 4
STAND
STAND
HIT: 5 = 17
STAND
HIT: J = 16
STAND
DEALER: 4-8 = 12
HIT: K = 22
BUST
WIN
WIN
WIN
WIN
BANK: $83,500
BANK: $75,000
BANK: $85,000
BANK: $85,500

 

HAND 14
Cheryl
BANK: $75,000
Coolio
BANK: $85,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $85,500
Mathew
BANK: $83,500
Bet: $10,000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000
6-9 = 15
K-9 = 19
J-6 = 16
J-5 = 15
DEALER: 10
HIT: 5 = 20
STAND
STAND
HIT: A = 17
STAND
HIT: 5 = 20
STAND

DEALER: 10-3 = 13
HIT: 9 = 19
MUST STAND

WIN
PUSH
LOSS
WIN
BANK: $85,000
BANK: $85,000
BANK: $80,500
BANK: $88,500

 

HAND 15
Coolio
BANK: $85,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $80,500
Mathew
BANK: $88,500
Cheryl
BANK: $85,000
Bet: $10,000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $20,000
7-6 = 13
6-6 = 12 (split)
9-2 = 11
8-2 = 10
DEALER: 9
HIT: J = 23
BUST
HIT: JOKER
Dealer's 9 = 21
AUTO STAND
HIT: 5 = 16
HIT: 9 = 25
BUST
HIT: A = 21
AUTO STAND
DEALER NEW CARD: A
DEALER: A-A = 2/12
HIT: J = 12
HIT: 5 = 17
MUST STAND
Since the Dealer can ONLY check for a Blackjack BEFORE all other hands, Dave couldn't check once he had the Ace. The Dealer also cannot split or double-down; their only options are hit and stand.
LOSS
WIN
LOSS
WIN
BANK: $75,000
BANK: $90,500
BANK: $83,500
BANK: $105,000
The lead has switched from Mathew to Meat Loaf to Mathew to Cheryl in four hands. But, like most "battleground states", it's too close to call...especially in no-limit.

 

HAND 16
Meat Loaf
BANK: $90,500
Mathew
BANK: $83,500
Cheryl
BANK: $105,000
Coolio
BANK: $75,000
Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $25,000 Bet: $15,000
Q-2 = 12
7-2 = 9
10-3 = 13
7-7 = 14 (split)
DEALER: A
No Insurance
No Insurance
No Insurance
No Insurance
No Blackjack, so the game continues as normal...so to speak.
HIT: 8 = 20
STAND
HIT: 2 = 11
HIT: 2 = 13
HIT: Q = 23
BUST
HIT: 3 = 16
HIT: 8 = 24
BUST
HIT: 8 = 22
BUST
DEALER: A-7 = 18
MUST STAND
WIN
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $95,500
BANK: $78,500
BANK: $80,000
BANK: $60,000

 

HAND 17
Mathew
BANK: $78,500
Cheryl
BANK: $80,000
Coolio
BANK: $60,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $95,500
Bet: $6000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $25,000 Bet: $5000
2-5 = 7
6-Q = 16
10-4 = 14
10-4 = 14
DEALER: 9
Meat Loaf complains that there's "something wrong with this game", arguing how Dealer Dave is the ONLY one with a decent hand. This prompts Matt to say, "Go Fight Club on him!" (Obviously, Matt has forgotten the first and second rules of Fight Club: you do NOT TALK about Fight Club!)
HIT: 9 = 16
HIT: 6 = 22
BUST
HIT: 2 = 18
STAND
HIT: A = 15
HIT: JOKER
Meat Loaf 's 4 = 19
STAND
New Card: 10
10-10 = 20
STAND
DEALER: 9-J = 19
MUST STAND
LOSS
LOSS
PUSH
WIN
BANK: $72,500
BANK: $75,000
BANK: $60,000
BANK: $100,500

 

HAND 18
Cheryl
BANK: $75,000
Coolio
BANK: $60,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $100,500
Mathew
BANK: $72,500
Bet: $10,000 Bet: $30,000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $17,000
6-5 = 11
J-Q = 20 (split)
6-10 = 16
2-J = 12
DEALER: 3
Cheryl rubs Coolio's "spike-locks" for good luck.
DOUBLE: $20,000
STAND
STAND
HIT: 7 = 19
STAND
DEALER: 3-5 = 8
HIT: 6 = 14
HIT: 8 = 22
BUST

DD Card: ?
Total: ??

     
WIN
WIN
WIN
WIN
BANK: $95,000
BANK: $90,000
BANK: $105,500
BANK: $99,500
Matt: "Meat Loaf's in the lead, but objects in his rear-view mirror appear closer!" (One of Meat Loaf's "comeback" hit was "Objects In the Rear View Mirror (May Appear Closer Than They Are)".)

 

HAND 19
Coolio
BANK: $90,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $105,500
Mathew
BANK: $99,500
Cheryl
BANK: $95,000
Bet: $25,000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $17,000 Bet: $20,000
10-8 = 18
4-A = 5/15
4-9 = 13
9-A = 10/20
DEALER: 9
STAND
HIT: 10 = 15
HIT: 6 = 21
AUTO STAND
HIT: J = 23
BUST
STAND
DEALER: 9-7 = 16
HIT: K = 26
BUST
WIN
WIN
LOSS
WIN
BANK: $115,000
BANK: $110,500
BANK: $72,500
BANK: $115,000

 

HAND 20
Meat Loaf
BANK: $110,500
Mathew
BANK: $72,500
Cheryl
BANK: $115,000
Coolio
BANK: $115,000
Bet: $15,000 Bet: $17,000 Bet: $25,000 Bet: $10,000
10-9 = 10
9-8 = 17
3-A = 4/14
J-7 = 17
Coolio: ""We in da zone like Ashford and Simpson, BeBe and CeCe, Benny and Jenny, Bobby and Whitney, Micky and Mallory, Donald and Daisy, Billy and Hillary...I hope y'all hearin' me!"
Cheryl: "Word."
DEALER: K
STAND
STAND
HIT: 5 = 9/19
STAND
STAND
DEALER: K-4 = 14
HIT: 2 = 16
HIT: 4 = 20
MUST STAND
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $95,500
BANK: $55,500
BANK: $90,000
BANK: $105,000

It all comes down to this one hand.  The winner gets $25,000 for his or her charity and a spot in the Semi-Final Table.  The others get $10,000 for their respective charities.  For the final hand, the players all make blind bets, so nobody knows what the others have bet until its revealed!

FINAL HAND!
Mathew
BANK: $55,500
Cheryl
BANK: $90,000
Coolio
BANK: $105,000
Meat Loaf
BANK: $95,500
Bet: $55,000 Bet: $35,000 Bet: $25,000 Bet: $5000
Meat Loaf will win...but ONLY if everyone (or everyone else) loses. Other than that, it's ANYBODY'S game!
3-4 = 7
3-J = 13
Q-Q = 20 (split)
5-4 = 9
DEALER: K
The Dealer checks for Blackjack...which, for once, Meat Loaf is HOPING for...but he doesn't have it.
HIT: 4 = 11
HIT: Q = 21
AUTO STAND
HIT: 9 = 22
BUST
STAND
HIT: J = 19
STAND
Here's how it's going down. Cheryl is out of the running (obviously). If the Dealer has a 20, Mathew wins. If it's a 21, Meat Loaf wins. Otherwise, Coolio will "slide-slide-slippity-slide" to the Semis!
DEALER: K-6 = 16
HIT:
8 = 24
BUST!
WIN
LOSS
WIN
WIN
BANK: $110,500
BANK: $55,000
BANK: $130,000
WINNER!
BANK: $105,000

So Heritage Begins Within gains $25,000 thanks to the hip-hopper's "Fantastic Voyage" to the top. He's off to the Semi-Final Table to see about making this tournament a "rap"!