TOURNAMENT 2
EPISODE 12 - SEMI-FINAL # 2
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.
It started with 40 celebs playing blackjack for their share of a million-dollar prize pool for charities. Through 10 weeks of grueling single-table games, they have whittled it down to 10. They'll need to knock it down to 4 before they can crown a champion of CELEBRITY BLACKJACK!
This year, a full 13-week season will be contested. There were ten four-player single-table matches with the winners getting $25,000 and advancing to these semi-finals. The top two from each of these two five-person semis will get more money for their charities ($75,000 for first, $25,000 for second) and go to the Final Table for a crack at the $100,000 first prize.
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 eight 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 five celebs competing tonight (and their charities) in the second semi-final and how they got here:
Jason Alexander
(Oakwood School Annual Fund)
Listen Up! Ricki Lake, Jeff Probst and Steve Howey didn't stand a chance against this guy.
Jamie-Lynn Discala
(Jamie-Lynn Discala Foundation & Ginger's House)
She "whacked" Tori Spelling, rocked Dave Navarro and spiked Gabby Reece to make it
Lance Bass
(Animal Avengers)
The singer/songwriter/lip-N'Sync-er somehow survived Chris Harrison, Kathy Najimy and Kevin Hart to arrive here
Giuliana DePandi
(Operation Smile)
She went all E! Live against Dennis Rodman, Adam Corolla and
Marissa Jaret Winokur
Coolio
(Heritage Begins Within)
He roared past Cheryl Hines, made mincemeat out of Meat Loaf and knocked the Irish out of Mathew St. Patrick
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! Jason 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 |
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Giuliana BANK: $100,000 |
Coolio BANK: $100,000 |
Jason BANK: $100,000 |
Jamie-Lynn BANK: $100,000 |
Lance BANK: $100,000 |
Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $4000 | Bet: $4000 |
Q-Q = 20 (split) | 8-3 = 11 | 3-J = 13 | 6-6 = 12 (split) | 3-4 = 7 |
DEALER: K | ||||
When a 10-point card is shown by the Dealer, he must check for an Ace in his down card. If he has it, he shows it and everybody loses. In this case, he doesn't, so the game goes on. |
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STAND | HIT: 2 = 13 HIT: 4 = 17 STAND |
HIT: 5 = 18 STAND |
HIT: K = 22 BUST |
HIT: 5 = 12 HIT: 2 = 14 HIT: K = 24 BUST |
"Da book" on basic blackjack stratgey says to NEVER split 10s or 5s and split 6s when the Dealer has a low card (6 or less). When the Dealer has a HIGH card, hit on 16 and less, stand on 17 and more. And ALWAYS double-down on an 11...although Coolio may have been in the right this time. |
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DEALER: K-5 = 15 HIT: 4 = 19 MUST STAND |
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WIN | LOSS | LOSS | LOSS | LOSS |
BANK: $110,000 | BANK: $95,000 | BANK: $95,000 | BANK: $96,000 | BANK: $96,000 |
HAND 2 |
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Coolio BANK: $95,000 |
Jason BANK: $95,000 |
Jamie-Lynn BANK: $96,000 |
Lance BANK: $96,000 |
Giuliana BANK: $110,000 |
Bet: $5000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $12,000 | Bet: $7000 | Bet: $10,000 |
9-K = 19 |
3-A = 4/14 |
7-10 = 17 |
Q-8 = 18 |
J-A = 11/21 |
DEALER: 10 |
||||
Remember, Giuliana can call the Ace a 1-point card and double-down, though it's more risky. |
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STAND |
HIT: 2 = 6/16 |
STAND |
STAND |
BLACKJACK! |
DEALER: 10-2 = 12 HIT: 5 = 17 MUST STAND |
||||
WIN |
WIN |
PUSH |
WIN |
WIN 3-to-2 |
BANK: $100,000 |
BANK: $105,000 |
BANK: $96,000 |
BANK: $103,000 |
BANK: $125,000 |
HAND 3 |
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Jason BANK: $105,000 |
Jamie-Lynn BANK: $96,000 |
Lance BANK: $103,000 |
Giuliana BANK: $125,000 |
Coolio BANK: $100,000 |
Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $8000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $10,000 |
10-2 = 12 |
3-2 = 5 |
3-10 = 13 |
K-7 = 17 |
3-7 = 10 |
DEALER: 2
|
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"Da book" says on a Dealer low card, stand on 13 and higher. If you have 12, hit on a Dealer 2 or 3 and stand on 4, 5 or 6. And double-down on a 10.
|
||||
HIT: 8 = 20 STAND |
HIT: 8 = 13 |
STAND |
STAND |
HIT: A = 11/21 AUTO STAND |
That's the second time Coolio doesn't double when "da book" tells him to. THIS time he'd've won double |
||||
DEALER: 2-5 = 7
HIT: 5 = 12 HIT: 6 = 18 MUST STAND |
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WIN |
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
WIN |
BANK: $125,000 |
BANK: $88,000 |
BANK: $98,000 |
BANK: $115,000 |
BANK: $110,000 |
You have a "soft 16" (A-5) against a Dealer 3. Do you hit, stand or double-down? "Da book"'s answer later
HAND 4 |
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Jamie-Lynn BANK: $88,000 |
Lance BANK: $98,000 |
Giuliana BANK: $115,000 |
Coolio BANK: $110,000 |
Jason BANK: $125,000 |
Bet: $4000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $10,000 |
A-3 = 11/21 |
K-2 = 17 |
6-8 = 7/17 |
9-6 = 11/21 |
JOKER-5 = ?? |
DEALER: A
|
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The rule of the Joker states that Jason must trade BEFORE the Dealer asks for insurance or looks at his down card. But...taking the Dealer's Ace wouldn't help HIM as much as taking a 6 would. |
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New Card: 2 2-8 = 10 |
Giuliana's 6 6-5 = 11 |
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NOW, Dave asks for insurance bets, which gaurentee 2-to-1 on the bet (up to half of the original bet) if he DOES have a Blackjack. |
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No Insurance |
No Insurance |
No Insurance |
Insurance = $5000 |
No Insurance |
Insurance is a "sucker bet" in cash game...but the ever-cautious Coolio wants to defend his cash. Now Dave checks the down card... |
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DEALER: A-J = 21
BLACKJACK! |
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And wouldn't you KNOW it... |
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LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS INS: $10,000 |
LOSS |
BANK: $84,000 |
BANK: $88,000 |
BANK: $95,000 |
BANK: $110,000 |
BANK: $115,000 |
So, in essence, Coolio pushes. He lost his $10,000 bet but he gets PAID 2-to-1 on his $5000 insurance. |
HAND 5 |
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Lance BANK: $88,000 |
Giuliana BANK: $95,000 |
Coolio BANK: $110,000 |
Jason BANK: $115,000 |
Jamie-Lynn BANK: $84,000 |
Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $25,000 |
5-10 = 11 |
7-10 = 11/21 |
Q-4 = 13 |
J-4 = 14 |
6-6 = 17 |
DEALER: Q
|
||||
Dave: "You guys are NOT gonna believe this..." |
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DEALER: Q-A = 21
BLACKJACK! |
||||
And he's right; NOBODY believes this. The odds of two Dealer Blackjacks in this format are 441 to 1. |
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LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
BANK: $73,000 |
BANK: $75,000 |
BANK: $95,000 |
BANK: $100,000 |
BANK: $59,000 |
HAND 6 |
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Giuliana BANK: $75,000 |
Coolio BANK: $95,000 |
Jason BANK: $100,000 |
Jamie-Lynn BANK: $59,000 |
Lance BANK: $73,000 |
Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $6000 |
7-7 = 14 (split) |
5-7 = 12 |
6-6 = 12 (split) |
K-Q = 20 (split) |
4-K = 14 |
DEALER: A |
||||
Could it be three in a ROW?! |
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No Insurance |
No Insurance |
No Insurance |
No Insurance |
No Insurance |
And...nope. The hand continues (for once). |
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HIT: 3 = 17 STAND |
HIT: A = 13 |
HIT: 3 = 15 STAND |
STAND |
HIT: 4 = 20 STAND |
DEALER: A-3 = 4/14 HIT: 2 = 6/16 HIT: 4 = 20 MUST STAND |
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Dave MUST stand on all hands, soft (with an Ace) or hard (without), that are 17 points or more. |
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LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
PUSH |
PUSH |
BANK: $60,000 |
BANK: $90,000 |
BANK: $90,000 |
BANK: $59,000 |
BANK: $73,000 |
When having an A-5 and faced with a Dealer 3, "da book" says to only HIT. The only soft hands you double against a 3 are A-6 or A-7.
HAND 7 |
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Coolio BANK: $90,000 |
Jason BANK: $90,000 |
Jamie-Lynn BANK: $59,000 |
Lance BANK: $73,000 |
Giuliana BANK: $60,000 |
Bet: $5000 | Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $11,000 | Bet: $10,000 |
5-7 = 12 |
9-4 = 13 |
5-10 = 15 |
Q-6 = 16 |
5-8 = 13 |
DEALER: 7 |
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HIT: J = 22 BUST |
HIT: 4 = 17 |
HIT: 8 = 23 BUST |
STAND |
STAND |
DEALER: 7-9 = 16 HIT: Q = 26 BUST |
||||
LOSS |
WIN |
LOSS |
WIN |
WIN |
BANK: $85,000 |
BANK: $110,000 |
BANK: $44,000 |
BANK: $84,000 |
BANK: $70,000 |
The moral of the story, boys and girls, is don't ALWAYS go by "da book"; sometimes, go by "da gut". |
HAND 8 |
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Jason BANK: $110,000 |
Jamie-Lynn BANK: $44,000 |
Lance BANK: $84,000 |
Giuliana BANK: $70,000 |
Coolio BANK: $85,000 |
Bet: $5000 | Bet: $4000 | Bet: $1000 | Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $7000 |
9-J = 19 |
9-4 = 13 |
9-A = 10/20 |
8-10 = 18 |
Q-K = 20 (split) |
DEALER: 7
|
||||
STAND |
HIT: 7 = 20 |
STAND |
STAND |
STAND |
DEALER: 7-9 = 16
HIT: 3 = 19 MUST STAND |
||||
PUSH |
WIN |
WIN |
LOSS |
WIN |
BANK: $110,000 |
BANK: $48,000 |
BANK: $85,000 |
BANK: $50,000 |
BANK: $92,000 |
That was Jamie-Lynn's first winning hand of the night...and even SHE can't believe it. |
HAND 9 |
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Jamie-Lynn BANK: $48,000 |
Lance BANK: $85,000 |
Giuliana BANK: $50,000 |
Coolio BANK: $92,000 |
Jason BANK: $110,000 |
Bet: $12,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $7000 | Bet: $10,000 |
Q-6 = 16 |
J-6 = 16 |
6-A = 7/17 |
K-9 = 19 |
A-JOKER = ?? |
DEALER: 9 |
||||
Coolio: "You take from me, that's racism, yo."
|
||||
New Card: 9 9-9 = 18 (split) |
Coolio's K A-? = 11/21 |
|||
HIT: 8 = 24 BUST |
STAND |
HIT: 2 = 9/19 STAND |
STAND |
BLACKJACK! |
"Da book" says to split 9s unless the Dealer has a 7, a 10-pointer or an Ace. |
||||
DEALER: 9-2 = 11
HIT: 10 = 21 MUST STAND |
||||
...but it might not have helped Coolio here if he had. |
||||
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
WIN 3-to-2 |
BANK: $36,000 |
BANK: $80,000 |
BANK: $40,000 |
BANK: $85,000 |
BANK: $125,000 |
HAND 10 |
||||
Lance BANK: $80,000 |
Giuliana BANK: $40,000 |
Coolio BANK: $85,000 |
Jason BANK: $125,000 |
Jamie-Lynn BANK: $36,000 |
Bet: $5000 | Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $5000 |
9-8 = 17 |
2-A = 3/13 |
10-3 = 13 |
10-5 = 15 |
A-8 = 9/19 |
DEALER: 2 |
||||
Matt: "We're only half-way through the might and the ladies already have one foot out the door. Oddly reminiscant of my fraternity days." (rimshot) |
||||
STAND |
HIT: 7 = 10/20 |
HIT: 4 = 17 BUST |
STAND |
STAND |
DEALER: 2-2 = 4
HIT: 3 = 7 HIT: J = 17 MUST STAND |
||||
PUSH |
WIN |
PUSH |
LOSS |
WIN |
BANK: $80,000 |
BANK: $55,000 |
BANK: $85,000 |
BANK: $120,000 |
BANK: $41,000 |
Heading into the halfway point, the stakes are raised to no-limit. The minimum bet is $5000...but there is NO maximum!
HAND 11 |
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Giuliana BANK: $55,000 |
Coolio BANK: $85,000 |
Jason BANK: $120,000 |
Jamie-Lynn BANK: $41,000 |
Lance BANK: $80,000 |
Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $11,000 |
As the bets are made, Coolio gets a call from another rapper...and he TRIES to make a joke about Jason being from "Jerry" or the such. |
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5-10 = 15 |
6-8 = 14 |
9-3 = 12 |
2-3 = 5 |
4-K = 14 |
DEALER: Q
|
||||
STAND |
HIT: JOKER |
HIT: 4 = 16 HIT: K = 26 BUST |
HIT: 9 = 14 HIT: 5 = 19 STAND |
New Card: 7 7-K = 17 STAND |
Giuliana is only 17% to win with a 15 against a 10. |
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DEALER: Q-10 = 20 MUST STAND |
||||
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
BANK: $45,000 |
BANK: $75,000 |
BANK: $110,000 |
BANK: $26,000 |
BANK: $69,000 |
HAND 12 |
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Coolio BANK: $75,000 |
Jason BANK: $110,000 |
Jamie-Lynn BANK: $26,000 |
Lance BANK: $69,000 |
Giuliana BANK: $45,000 |
Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $11,000 | Bet: $14,000 | Bet: $15,000 |
K-8 = 18 |
Q-7 = 17 |
4-5 = 9 |
9-K= 19 |
6-7 = 13 |
DEALER: A
|
||||
No Insurance
|
No Insurance
|
No Insurance
|
No Insurance
|
No Insurance
|
...and, thankfully, no Dealer Blackjack. |
||||
STAND |
STAND |
HIT: 8 = 17 STAND |
STAND |
HIT: 6 = 19 STAND |
DEALER: A-2 = 3/13
HIT: 8 = 21 MUST STAND |
||||
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
BANK: $60,000 |
BANK: $105,000 |
BANK: $15,000 |
BANK: $55,000 |
BANK: $30,000 |
HAND 13 |
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Jason BANK: $105,000 |
Jamie-Lynn BANK: $15,000 |
Lance BANK: $55,000 |
Giuliana BANK: $30,000 |
Coolio BANK: $60,000 |
Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $20,000 |
Jamie-Lynn is all-in. If she loses, she's out of the tournament. |
||||
10-7 = 17 |
J-4 = 14 |
3-8 = 11 |
Q-K = 20 (split) |
2-4 = 6 |
DEALER: 10
|
||||
STAND |
HIT: Q = 24 |
DOUBLE: $30,000 |
STAND |
HIT: K = 16 HIT: J = 26 BUST |
DEALER: 10-3 = 13
HIT: A = 14 HIT: 7 = 21 MUST STAND |
||||
DD Card: K Total: 21 |
|
|||
LOSS |
LOSS |
PUSH |
LOSS |
LOSS |
BANK: $95,000 |
OUT! |
BANK: $55,000 |
BANK: $15,000 |
BANK: $40,000 |
HAND 14 |
|||
Lance BANK: $55,000 |
Giuliana BANK: $15,000 |
Coolio BANK: $40,000 |
Jason BANK: $95,000 |
Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $5000 |
Q-A = 11/21 |
3-J = 13 |
A-4 = 5/15 |
2-6 = 8 |
DEALER: 4
|
|||
BLACKJACK! |
STAND |
HIT: 6 = 11/21 AUTO STAND |
DOUBLE: $10,000 |
"Da book" says to NEVER double-down on an 8. But, with the Dealer card, it might not be TOO bad a play... |
|||
DEALER: 4-5 = 9
HIT: Q = 19 MUST STAND |
|||
...but, in this case, it is. Jason needs an Ace just to push. |
|||
DD Card: K Total: 19 |
|||
WIN 3-to-2 |
LOSS |
WIN |
LOSS |
BANK: $70,000 |
BANK: $5000 |
BANK: $60,000 |
BANK: $85,000 |
HAND 15 |
|||
Giuliana BANK: $5000 |
Coolio BANK: $60,000 |
Jason BANK: $85,000 |
Lance BANK: $70,000 |
Bet: $5000 | Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $7000 | Bet: $10,000 |
K-10 = 20 (split)
|
Q-J = 20 (split) |
3-4 = 7 |
6-10 = 16 |
DEALER: A |
|||
No Insurance |
No Insurance |
No Insurance |
No Insurance |
DEALER: A-Q = 21 BLACKJACK! |
|||
That's Dave's THIRD Blackjack...and it knocks Giuliana out with five straight losing hands! |
|||
LOSS
|
LOSS |
LOSS |
LOSS |
OUT!
|
BANK: $45,000 |
BANK: $78,000 |
BANK: $60,000 |
Slide, slide, slippity slide/Ol' Coolio's stuck wit fourty-five. :) |
HAND 16 |
||
Coolio BANK: $45,000 |
Jason BANK: $78,000 |
Lance BANK: $60,000 |
Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $15,000 |
3-K = 13 |
9-10 = 19 |
J-2 = 12 |
DEALER: 7
|
||
HIT: 5 = 18 STAND |
STAND |
HIT: A = 13 HIT: 5 = 18 STAND |
DEALER: 7-8 = 15
HIT: A = 16 HIT: 9 = 25 BUST |
||
WIN |
WIN |
WIN |
BANK: $60,000 |
BANK: $88,000 |
BANK: $75,000 |
HAND 17 |
||
Jason BANK: $88,000 |
Lance BANK: $75,000 |
Coolio BANK: $60,000 |
Bet: $12,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $30,000 |
10-2 = 12
|
4-2 = 6 |
6-K = 16
|
DEALER: 5 |
||
STAND
|
DOUBLE: $10,000 |
STAND
|
It's official; between wanting to go into space and doubling on a 6, Lance has LOST it! |
||
DEALER: 5-5 = 10 HIT: 3 = 13 HIT: 4 = 17 MUST STAND |
||
DD Card: 9 Total: 15 |
||
LOSS
|
LOSS |
LOSS |
BANK: $76,000 |
BANK: $65,000 |
BANK: $30,000 |
HAND 18 |
||
Lance BANK: $65,000 |
Coolio BANK: $30,000 |
Jason BANK: $76,000 |
Bet: $5000 | Bet: $25,000 | Bet: $5000 |
4-5 = 9
|
5-6 = 11 |
A-4 = 5/15
|
DEALER: J |
||
HIT: A = 10/20
STAND |
HIT: 9 = 20 STAND |
HIT: Q = 15
STAND |
Coolio COULD have doubled for less and gone all-in...but we've SEEN how conservative his gameplay has been. |
||
DEALER: J-2 = 12 HIT: 8 = 20 MUST STAND |
||
PUSH
|
PUSH |
LOSS |
BANK: $65,000 |
BANK: $30,000 |
BANK: $71,000 |
HAND 19 |
||
Coolio BANK: $30,000 |
Jason BANK: $71,000 |
Lance BANK: $65,000 |
Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $5000 |
3-8 = 11
|
J-K = 11 |
Q-9 = 5/15
|
DEALER: A |
||
No Insurance |
No Insurance |
No Insurance |
DEALER: A-J = 21 BLACKJACK! |
||
LOSS
|
LOSS |
LOSS |
BANK: $10,000 |
BANK: $61,000 |
BANK: $60,000 |
The celebs are CHOKING tonight; they've won, as a group, only 22% of their hands! |
HAND 20 |
||
Jason BANK: $61,000 |
Lance BANK: $60,000 |
Coolio BANK: $10,000 |
Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $10,000 |
A-4 = 5/15
|
K-6 = 6 |
8-7 = 15
|
DEALER: Q |
||
HIT: 6 = 11/21
STAND |
STAND |
HIT: J = 25
BUST! |
Essentially, the tournament is over since the top two advance to the Finals...and there are only two left. However, we still have to see who gets $25,000 for his charity and who gets $75,000. |
||
DEALER: Q-5 = 15 HIT: 7 = 22 BUST! |
||
WIN
|
WIN |
LOSS |
BANK: $76,000 |
BANK: $65,000 |
OUT! |
It all comes down to this one hand. The winner gets $75,000 for his/her charity and a spot in the Semi-Final Table. Second place gets $25,000 and a spot. The others get the $25,000 they won in the prelims 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! |
|
Lance BANK: $65,000 |
Jason BANK: $76,000 |
Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $55,000 |
It's all up to Jason. If he wins the hand, he wins the game. If he loses the hand, Lance wins the game. A push by Jason will put it on Lance to win. |
|
Q-5 = 15
|
10-9 = 19 |
DEALER: 7 |
|
HIT: 6 = 22 BUST |
STAND |
DEALER: 7-8 = 15 HIT: 9 = 24 BUST! |
|
LOSS
|
WIN |
BANK: $45,000 RUNNER-UP! |
BANK: $131,000
WINNER! |
So Oakwood School Annual Fund goes up to $100,000 total thanks to Jason Alexander's exceptional play, and Animal Avengers jumps to $50,000 total thanks to Lance. They BOTH head for the Final Table to join Jeff Probst and Kelli Williams for a shot at another $100,000!