CELEBRITY BLACKJACK

TOURNAMENT 2
EPISODE 10
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.

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) in the final qualifying table:

Carrie Fisher
(The Midnight Mission)
Princess Leia from the original Star Wars trilogy; writer of "Postcards From the Edge".

Kelli Williams
(CARE & The Young Stroytellers)
RWas Lindsay Dole Donnell on The Practice; is now Dr. Natalie Durant on NBC's Medical Investigation.

Eric Roberts
(Best Friend's Animal Society)
Will Butler on Less Than Perfect; brother to Julia Roberts

Chynna Phillips
(Tribe of Heart)
Singer in "Wilson Phillips"; won her prelim table last year but husband Billy Baldwin took her place in the Final Table.

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 going!  Carrie 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
Chynna
BANK: $100,000
Carrie
BANK: $100,000
Kelli
BANK: $100,000
Eric
BANK: $100,000
Bet: $2000 Bet: $2000 Bet: $2000 Bet: $5000
8-4 = 12
3-J = 13
7-7 = 14 (split)
4-5 = 9
DEALER: 4
HIT: A = 13
HIT: 5 = 18
STAND
STAND
SPLIT
$2000 apiece
HIT: K = 19
STAND
7-4 = 11
DOUBLE: $4000
7-10 = 17
STAND
Basic blackjack strategy (or "da book"): when the Dealer has a low card (2 through 6), stand on 13s and higher. Split 7s on a low card or a 7. And ALWAYS double-down on 11s.
DEALER: 4-6 = 10
HIT: 2 = 12
HIT: 9 = 21
MUST STAND
   
DD Card:K
Total: 21
   
LOSS
LOSS
PUSH
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $98,000
BANK: $98,000
BANK: $98,000
BANK: $95,000

 

HAND 2
Carrie
BANK: $98,000
Kelli
BANK: $98,000
Eric
BANK: $95,000
Chynna
BANK: $98,000
Bet: $2000 Bet: $3000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $4000
4-5 = 9
A-6 = 7/17
A-3 = 4/14
J-7 = 14
DEALER: 3
DOUBLE: $4000
HIT: 10 = 17
STAND
HIT: 5 = 9/19
STAND
STAND
When the Dealer has a LOW card (2 through 6), stand on 13s and higher. Also, NEVER split 10-point cards. Also doubling down on a 9 is good as long as it's not a Dealer 2.
DEALER: 3-K = 13
HIT: 9 = 22
BUST
WIN
WIN
WIN
WIN
BANK: $102,000
BANK: $101,000
BANK: $100,000
BANK: $102,000

 

HAND 3
Kelli
BANK: $101,000
Eric
BANK: $100,000
Chynna
BANK: $102,000
Carrie
BANK: $102,000
Bet: $4000 Bet: $25,000 Bet: $16,000 Bet: $4000
6-4 = 10
4-A = 5/15
3-2 = 5
4-9 = 13
DEALER: A
When the Dealer has an Ace showing, he must ask the players if they want "insurance" against a Blackjack by betting up to half their original bet and getting 2-to-1 back if the Dealer has a 10-point card underneath the Ace.
No Insurance
No Insurance
No Insurance
No Insurance
Insurance is a sucker bet in cash games, but might be useful in tournament play in later hands. The Dealer now checks his down card and, if he doesn't have a 10-point card, the hand continues as normal...
DEALER: A-Q = 21
BLACKJACK!
...but if the Dealer DOES have a 10-pointer, he shows the Blackjack and pays off the insurance bets while taking all the original bets. Since there WERE no insurance bets, everybody loses.
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $97,000
BANK: $75,000
BANK: $86,000
BANK: $98,000

OK, I've been telling you this all season long; let's see if you remember. Which of the following pairs do you ALWAYSA split? Aces, 7s or 2s. We'll tell you what "da book" says in a few hands.

HAND 4
Eric
BANK: $75,000
Chynna
BANK: $86,000
Carrie
BANK: $98,000
Kelli
BANK: $97,000
Bet: $5000 Bet: $7000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000
7-J = 17
8-2 = 10
JOKER-2 = ???
7-J = 17
DEALER: 6
 
New Card: Q
Q-2 = 12
Chynaa's 8
8-2 = 10
 
STAND
HIT: 3 = 15
STAND
HIT: K = 20
STAND
STAND
"Da book" says you should double-down a 10 against a Dealer card other than a 10-pointer or an Ace. Carrie missed a golden opportunity...and Matt says so. Carrie thanks Matt for his support..
DEALER: 6-A = 17
MUST STAND
It doesn't matter if it's a "soft" hand (with an Ace) or a "hard" one; the Dealer MUST stand on ALL hands 17 or more.
PUSH
LOSS
WIN
PUSH
BANK: $75,000
BANK: $79,000
BANK: $103,000
BANK: $97,000

 

HAND 5
Chynna
BANK: $79,000
Carrie
BANK: $103,000
Kelli
BANK: $97,000
Eric
BANK: $75,000
Bet: $8000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $10,000
2-9 = 11
Q-5 = 15
K-K = 20 (split)
5-A = 6/16
DEALER: 9
DOUBLE: $16,000
STAND
STAND
HIT: 10 = 16
STAND
"Da book" says, on a Dealer high card (7 or higher), you should hit on 16 and lower, stand on 17 and higher. just like the Dealer.
DEALER: 9-6 = 15
HIT:
8 = 23
BUST

DD Card: Q
Total: 21
     
WIN
WIN
WIN
WIN
BANK: $95,000
BANK: $108,000
BANK: $107,000
BANK: $85,000

 

HAND 6
Carrie
BANK: $108,000
Kelli
BANK: $107,000
Eric
BANK: $85,000
Chynna
BANK: $95,000
Bet: $6000 Bet: $15,000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $12,000
Q-2 = 12
J-4 = 14
J-A = 11/21
A-8 = 9/19
DEALER: 10
Eric doesn't have to call this a 3-to-2 Blackjack. In tournament play, he can call the Ace a 1-point card and double-down. However, the Blackjack is the safer bet. But FIRST, the Dealer must check for an Ace as the down card. If it is there, the hand ends, everybody loses and Eric will push. But, in this case, the Dealer DOESN'T have an Ace, so the hand continues.
HIT: 5 = 17
STAND
HIT: 5 = 19
STAND
BLACKJACK!
STAND
DEALER: 10-5 = 15
HIT:
J = 25
BUST
WIN
WIN
WIN 3-to-2
WIN
BANK: $114,000
BANK: $122,000
BANK: $100,000
BANK: $107,000

"The book" says that you should ALWAYS split Aces and eights.

HAND 7
Kelli
BANK: $122,000
Eric
BANK: $100,000
Chynna
BANK: $107,000
Carrie
BANK: $114,000
Bet: $20,000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $21,000 Bet: $10,000
JOKER-K = ???
6-8 = 14
10-3 = 13
9-5 = 14
DEALER: 6
Chynna's 10
10-K = 20 (split)
 
New Card: 10
10-3 = 13
 
STAND
STAND
HIT: K = 23
BUST
HIT: J = 24
BUST
DEALER: 6-3 = 9
HIT: 2 = 11
HIT: 10 = 21
MUST STAND
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $102,000
BANK: $90,000
BANK: $86,000
BANK: $104,000

 

HAND 8
Eric
BANK: $90,000
Chynna
BANK: $86,000
Carrie
BANK: $104,000
Kelli
BANK: $102,000
Bet: $10,000 Bet: $15,000 Bet: $6000 Bet: $5000
Q-Q = 20 (split)
2-3 = 5
7-6 = 13
7-5 = 12
DEALER: A
No Insurance
No Insurance
No Insurance
No Insurance
STAND
HIT: A = 6/16
HIT: 7 = 13
HIT: Q = 23
BUST
HIT: 10 = 23
BUST
HIT: 9 = 21
AUTO STAND
Dave: "It's on you (Carrie), baby."
Carrie: "Don't CALL me that...unless you're naked."
DEALER: A-A = 2/12
HIT: 10 = 12
HIT:
2 = 15
HIT:
3 = 18
MUST STAND
Dealers cannot split Aces...or ANY pair. And the five-card Charlie rule does not apply. He can only hit or stand.
WIN
LOSS
LOSS
WIN
BANK: $100,000
BANK: $71,000
BANK: $98,000
BANK: $107,000

 

HAND 9
Chynna
BANK: $71,000
Carrie
BANK: $98,000
Kelli
BANK: $107,000
Eric
BANK: $100,000
Bet: $23,000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $10,000
8-JOKER = 17
10-K = 20 (split)
J-K = 20 (split)
6-9 = 15
DEALER: J
Dealer's J
8-J = 18
     
DEALER: 9
STAND
STAND
STAND
STAND
DEALER: 9-8 = 17
MUST STAND
WIN
WIN
WIN
LOSS
BANK: $94,000
BANK: $103,000
BANK: $117,000
BANK: $90,000

 

HAND 10
Carrie
BANK: $103,000
Kelli
BANK: $117,000
Eric
BANK: $90,000
Chynna
BANK: $94,000
Bet: $10,000 Bet: $15,000 Bet: $15,000 Bet: $8000
7-6 = 13
3-J = 13
2-3 = 5
J-2 = 12
DEALER: 4
STAND
STAND
HIT: 7 = 12
HIT: 6 = 18
BUST
HIT: J = 22
BUST
"Da book" says to STAND on a 12 with a Dealer 4, 5 or 6...and Chynna should've listened.
DEALER: 4-10 = 14
HIT:
6 = 20
MUST STAND
HAD Chynna stood, Dave would've busted and EVERYBODY would've won. As it is...
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $93,000
BANK: $102,000
BANK: $75,000
BANK: $86,000

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

HAND 11
Kelli
BANK: $102,000
Eric
BANK: $75,000
Chynna
BANK: $86,000
Carrie
BANK: $93,000
Bet: $10,000 Bet: $25,000 Bet: $19,000 Bet: $7000
6-9 = 15
2-5 = 7
9-9 = 18 (split)
8-5 = 13
DEALER: 4
STAND
HIT: 4 = 11
HIT:
9 = 20
STAND
STAND
STAND
DEALER: 4-5 = 9
HIT:
K = 19
BUST
And, with that, Eric goes from worst to first! See for yourself...
LOSS
WIN
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $92,000
BANK: $100,000
BANK: $67,000
BANK: $86,000

 

HAND 12
Eric
BANK: $100,000
Chynna
BANK: $67,000
Carrie
BANK: $86,000
Kelli
BANK: $92,000
Bet: $5000 Bet: $13,000 Bet: $7000 Bet: $10,000
10-8 = 18
3-Q = 13
3-Q = 13
A-JOKER = ??
DEALER: 7
New Card: 5
5-8 = 13
   
Eric's 10
A-10 = 11/21
HIT: K = 23
BUST
HIT: Q = 23
BUST
HIT: 6 = 19
STAND
BLACKJACK!
DEALER: 7-Q = 17
MUST STAND
LOSS
LOSS
WIN
WIN 3-to-2
BANK: $95,000
BANK: $54,000
BANK: $93,000
BANK: $107,000

 

HAND 13
Chynna
BANK: $54,000
Carrie
BANK: $93,000
Kelli
BANK: $107,000
Eric
BANK: $95,000
Bet: $20,000 Bet: $9000 Bet: $20,000 Bet: $10,000
K-8 = 18
K-4 = 14
5-9 = 14
10-J = 20 (split)
DEALER: K
STAND
HIT: Q = 24
BUST
HIT: 6 = 20
STAND
STAND
DEALER: K-8 = 18
MUST STAND
PUSH
LOSS
WIN
WIN
BANK: $54,000
BANK: $84,000
BANK: $127,000
BANK: $105,000

 

HAND 14
Carrie
BANK: $84,000
Kelli
BANK: $127,000
Eric
BANK: $105,000
Chynna
BANK: $54,000
Bet: $9000 Bet: $25,000 Bet: $30,000 Bet: $26,000
J-10 = 20 (split)
9-5 = 14
7-3 = 10
4-2 = 6
DEALER: 10
STAND
HIT: 4 = 18
STAND
HIT: 10 = 20
STAND
HIT: 4 = 10
HIT: JOKER
Dealer's 10 = 20
STAND
All other hands were dead, so Chynna had to take the Dealer's card or the next card in the shoe.
DEALER NEW CARD: 8
DEALER: 8-Q = 18
MUST STAND
WIN
PUSH
WIN
WIN
BANK: $93,000
BANK: $127,000
BANK: $135,000
BANK: $80,000

 

HAND 15
Kelli
BANK: $127,000
Eric
BANK: $135,000
Chynna
BANK: $80,000
Carrie
BANK: $93,000
Bet: $15,000 Bet: $15,000 Bet: $22,000 Bet: $12,000
4-2 = 6
3-7 = 10
3-2 = 5
8-4 = 12
DEALER: 10
HIT: 9 = 15
HIT: 4 = 19
STAND
HIT: 3 = 13
HIT: 6 = 19
STAND
HIT: 6 = 11
HIT: 3 = 14
HIT: A = 15
5-CARD CHARLIE!
HIT: Q = 22
BUST
DEALER: 10-J = 20
MUST STAND
LOSS
LOSS
WIN
LOSS
BANK: $112,000
BANK: $120,000
BANK: $102,000
BANK: $81,000

 

HAND 16
Eric
BANK: $120,000
Chynna
BANK: $102,000
Carrie
BANK: $81,000
Kelli
BANK: $112,000
Bet: $15,000 Bet: $19,000 Bet: $12,000 Bet: $10,000
10-7 = 17
Q-3 = 13
9-Q = 19
10-8 = 18
DEALER: A
Insurance = $2000
No Insurance
No Insurance
No Insurance
If Dave has a Blackjack, Eric LOSES the $15,000 but gets BACK $4000. But he doesn't, so Eric's $2000 is taken.
STAND
HIT: 8 = 21
AUTO STAND
STAND
STAND
DEALER: A-8 = 19
MUST STAND
LOSS
WIN
PUSH
LOSS
BANK: $103,000
BANK: $121,000
BANK: $81,000
BANK: $102,000
In the last three hands, Chynna's jumped $67,000!

 

HAND 17
Chynna
BANK: $121,000
Carrie
BANK: $81,000
Kelli
BANK: $102,000
Eric
BANK: $103,000
Bet: $11,000 Bet: $12,000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $8000
A-J = 11/21
JOKER-8 = ??
3-K = 13
7-10 = 17
DEALER: A
The rules state that Carrie can replace her Joker BEFORE the Delaer checks for a Blackjack or asks for Insurance.
Dealer's A
A-8 = 9/19
   
DEALER: A
Can you @#$%ing BELIEVE THAT?! NOW, he asks for Insurance...and, in Chynna's case, "even money" instead of a push.
EVEN MONEY!
No Insurance
No Insurance
No Insurance
STAND
HIT: 9 = 22
BUST
STAND
DEALER: A-3 = 4/14
HIT: K = 14
HIT: 9 = 23
BUST
WIN
WIN
LOSS
WIN
BANK: $132,000
BANK: $93,000
BANK: $92,000
BANK: $111,000
In the last three hands, Chynna's jumped $67,000!

 

HAND 18
Carrie
BANK: $93,000
Kelli
BANK: $92,000
Eric
BANK: $111,000
Chynna
BANK: $132,000
Bet: $12,000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $30,000 Bet: $22,000
2-7 = 9
Q-6 = 16
6-K = 16
2-K = 12
DEALER: 3
DOUBLE: $24,000
STAND
STAND
HIT: 6 = 18
STAND
Carrie, still acting depressed from how badly the Dealer's been treating her, tries to eat the money chips in front of her! Dave apologizes for everything... and Carrie gets advice from Matt on how to play this by "da book".
DEALER: 3-7 = 10
HIT:
9 = 19
MUST STAND
Carrie needs an Ace to win this hand. She flips Dave off (for the umpteenth time this game) and Dave tells her to "use the Force"...
DD Card: A
Total: 20
     
Well, well...the Force is STRONG in this one! :)
WIN
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $117,000
BANK: $82,000
BANK: $81,000
BANK: $110,000

While Carrie thanks Dave and talks about her drug of choice...let's move on...

HAND 19
Kelli
BANK: $82,000
Eric
BANK: $81,000
Chynna
BANK: $110,000
Carrie
BANK: $117,000
Bet: $20,000 Bet: $30,000 Bet: $32,000 Bet: $16,000
8-J = 18
K-K = 20 (split)
Q-5 = 15
2-2 = 4 (split)
DEALER: K
Only split 2s against a Dealer 2 through 7.
STAND
STAND
STAND
HIT: 2 = 6
HIT: 6 = 12
HIT: 6 = 18
5-CARD CHARLIE!
DEALER: K-7 = 17
MUST STAND
WIN
WIN
LOSS
WIN
BANK: $102,000
BANK: $111,000
BANK: $78,000
BANK: $133,000
Carrie's won 52 "large" in the last three hands!.

 

HAND 20
Eric
BANK: $111,000
Chynna
BANK: $78,000
Carrie
BANK: $133,000
Kelli
BANK: $102,000
Bet: $35,000 Bet: $73,000 Bet: $27,000 Bet: $35,000
Chynna will JUST have enough to bet in the Final Hand if she loses...unless she "doubles-down for less".
5-A = 6/16
Q-K = 20 (split)
2-5 = 7
J-A = 11/21
DEALER: 9
HIT: 8 = 14
STAND
STAND
HIT: 10 = 17
STAND
BLACKJACK!
DEALER: 9-3 = 12
HIT: 9 = 21
MUST STAND
Uh....ICK!
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
WIN 3-to-2
BANK: $76,000
BANK: $5000
BANK: $106,000
BANK: $154,500

It all comes down to this one hand.  The winner gets $25,000 for his/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 it's revealed.

FINAL HAND!
Chynna
BANK: $5000
Carrie
BANK: $106,000
Kelli
BANK: $154,500
Eric
BANK: $76,000
Bet: $5000 Bet: $30,000 Bet: $44,000 Bet: $76,000
Carrie and Kelli's bets knocks Chynna out of the running. Everybody else are still in it.
5-J = 15
7-2 = 9
J-7 = 17
8-8 = 16
Eric can't split those 8s because he has no money left to be ABLE to split 'em.
DEALER: 2
HIT: Q = 25
BUST!
DOUBLE: $60,000
STAND
STAND
Eric lost the game by standing on that 16. He had to beat Kelli to have a chance... but "da book" tells him to stand and he did. If the Dealer busts or gets 20 or 21, Kelli wins. Else it'll come down to Carrie's double-down card.
DEALER: 2-Q = 12
HIT: 9 = 21
MUST STAND!
No matter WHAT Carrie's double-down card is, she can't beat the Dealer.
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
LOSS
BANK: $0
BANK: $46,000
BANK: $114,500
WINNER!
BANK: $0

So CARE & The Young Stroytellers split $25,000 thanks to Kelli's...well, let's face it, it was her sheer dumb luck that won this crazy game for her! She's off to the Semi-Final Table to join nine other semi-finalists for more 21, more fun and, with ANY luck, more money!