EPISODE 2
NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR
What follows is a televised-hand-by-televised-hand account. Obviously, since it's only a one-hour show, most hands are not televised so you're going to see a lot 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? Why, you get CELEBRITY BLACKJACK!
Much like World Series of Blackjack, Celebrity Blackjack will be contested in five-player single-table matches with the winners getting $25,000 and advancing to the Final Table for a crack at the $100,000 first prize, all for their charities.
For rules on how blackjack is played, see the small tutorial in the first recap of the series. But know that this is a blackjack tournament, meaning every player starts with $100,000 in chips and must bet between $1000 and $25,000 on each hand to start. After 21 hands, the one with the most money wins $25,000 and a seat at the $100,000 Final Table. There is a "Dealer Button" which goes around the table, but it signifies who BETS and PLAYS first, not who the dealer starts dealing cards to first. This is significant, though, since betting is a HUGE part of tournament blackjack.
And for this special tournament, four 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.
Lets meet the five celebs competing tonight (and their charities):
Richard Belzer
(PAX)
Comedian; played Detective John Munch on Homicide: Life on the Street
and, now, on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Marissa Jaret Winokur
(Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS)
Broadway actress, currently starring as Tracy Turnblad in the musical "Hairspray"
Mark Steines
(Africa 2004)
He's been a correspondent on Entertainment Tonight since 1995
Chynna Phillips
(Tribe of Heart)
The blond singer of the group Wilson Phillips; also acted in Caddyshack
II and Say Anything...
Andy Dick
(PETA)
Comic actor; played Matthew Brock on NewsRadio; currently playing
Owen Kronsky on Less Than Perfect
We have you host Matt Vasgersian and Alex Boorstein calling the action. Our dealer tonight is the "bad boy of Blackjack", "Hollywood" Dave Stann...so let's get it on! Richard 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 | ||||
| Andy BANK: $100,000 |
Richard BANK: $100,000 |
Marissa BANK: $100,000 |
Mark BANK: $100,000 |
Chynna BANK: $100,000 |
| Bet: $3000 | Bet: $3000 | Bet: $2000 | Bet: $3000 | Bet: $4000 |
| A-6= 7/17 | A-J = 11/21 | A-8 = 9/19 | 4-6 = 10 | 6-5 = 11 |
| Richard doesn't HAVE to take the Blackjack. He can call the Ace a 1-point card and double-down. However, taking the promised 3-to-2 is much better than chancing it for a 2-to-1. | ||||
| DEALER: 7 | ||||
| HIT:
Q = 17 STAND |
BLACKJACK! | STAND | HIT:
7 = 17 STAND |
HIT:
Q = 21 AUTO STAND |
| Neither Chynna nor Mark seem to get the concept of double down. Shame; Chynna would've had a great chance at doubling her big bet. | ||||
| DEALER: 7-10 = 17 MUST STAND |
||||
| WIN | WIN 3-to-2 | WIN | WIN | WIN |
| BANK: $103,000 | BANK: $103,000 | BANK: $102,000 | BANK: $103,000 | BANK: $104,000 |
| HAND 2 | ||||||
| Richard BANK: $103,000 |
Marissa BANK: $102,000 |
Mark BANK: $103,000 |
Chynna BANK: $104,000 |
Andy BANK: $103,000 |
||
| Bet: $5000 | Bet: $3000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $4000 | Bet: $54000 | ||
| 3-JOKER= ? | 7-A = 8/18 | 9-Q = 19 | 5-J = 10 | 7-J = 17 | ||
| Marrisa's
7 3-7 = 10 |
New Card: A A-A = 2/12 (SPLIT) |
|||||
| Basic strategy says you shouls ALWAYS split Aces! HOWEVER, if a 10-point card appears on split Aces, it is NOT considered a Blackjack...just a 21. PLUS, when you split Aces, you only get ONE CARD for each. | ||||||
| DEALER: Q | ||||||
| HIT:
4 = 14 HIT: Q = 24 BUST |
SPLIT $3000 apiece |
STAND | HIT:
7 = 22 BUST |
STAND | ||
| A-A=12 (SP) SPLIT $3000 @ |
A-5=16 | |||||
| A-5 =16 |
A-9= |
|||||
| DEALER: Q-10 = 20 MUST STAND |
||||||
| LOSS | LOSS $6000 | LOSS | LOSS | LOSS | ||
| BANK: $98,000 | BANK: $96,000 | BANK: $95,000 | BANK: $100,000 | BANK: $95,000 | ||
| Marissa lost on two of her three hands...but the third was a push. So she lost $6000 instead of $9000 | ||||||
| HAND 3 | ||||
| Marissa BANK: $96,000 |
Mark BANK: $95,000 |
Chynna BANK: $100,000 |
Andy BANK: $95,000 |
Richard BANK: $98,000 |
| Bet: $5000 | Bet: $4000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $10,000 |
| 9-5 = 14 | 3-10 = 13 | Q-J = 20 (SPLIT) | Q-J = 20 (SPLIT) | Q-3 = 13 |
| Chynna and Andy CAN split their hands (each card is of the same VALUE, though not rank)...but it's not advisable. | ||||
| DEALER: A | ||||
| When a dealer gets an Ace, he asks the player if they want "insurance" against a dealer Blackjack for an extra half of their original bet. If they take it and the dealer DOES have Blackjack, they get twice the insurance back. If they don't and the dealer has Blackjack, they lose. If they take it and the dealer does NOT have Blackjack, their insurance bets are lost and the hand continues. | ||||
| No Insurance | No Insurance | No Insurance | No Insurance | No Insurance |
| Most pros no that insurance is a sucker bet in cash games. The celebs know it, too. The dealer then checks the down card for a 10-point card. If he doesn't have it, the hand continues. | ||||
| DEALER: A-K = 21 BLACKJACK! |
||||
| But, if the dealer DOES have Blackjack, the hand ends and EVERYBODY loses! | ||||
| LOSS | LOSS | LOSS | LOSS | LOSS |
| BANK: $91,000 | BANK: $91,000 | BANK: $95,000 | BANK: $90,000 | BANK: $88,000 |
| HAND 6 | ||||
| Andy BANK: $83,000 |
Richard BANK: $78,000 |
Marissa BANK: $90,000 |
Mark BANK: $79,000 |
Chynna BANK: $81,000 |
| Bet: $25,000 | Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $3000 | Bet: $8000 |
| 5-10 = 15 | 10-4 = 14 | 10-8 = 18 | JOKER-J = 10 | 6-A = 7/17 |
| DEALER: 9 | ||||
| Chynna's A A-J = 11/21 |
New Card: 9 6-9 = 15 |
|||
| HIT:
3 = 18 STAND |
STAND | STAND | BLACKJACK! | HIT:
5= 20 STAND |
| DEALER: 9-Q = 19 MUST STAND |
||||
| LOSS | LOSS | LOSS | WIN 3-to-2 | WIN |
| BANK: $58,000 | BANK: $58,000 | BANK: $85,000 | BANK: $83,500 | BANK: $89,000 |
| HAND 7 | ||||
| Richard BANK: $58,000 |
Marissa BANK: $85,000 |
Mark BANK: $83,500 |
Chynna BANK: $89,000 |
Andy BANK: $58,000 |
| Bet: $25,000 | Bet: $3000 | Bet: $7000 | Bet: $3000 | Bet: $3000 |
| 6-K = 16 | J-K = 20 (SPLIT) | K-4 = 14 | A-Q = 11/21 | 2-3 = 5 |
| DEALER: 2 | ||||
| More basic blackjack streategy: if the dealer shows a low card (2 through 6), stand on everything 13 and over since there is a good chance the dealer may bust. |
||||
| STAND | STAND | STAND | BLACKJACK! | HIT:
10 = 15 STAND |
| DEALER: 2-2 = 4 HIT: K = 14 HIT: 8 = 22 BUST |
||||
| Dealers cannot split, cannot double-down, cannot surrender. They must hit until they get over 17, whether they go over or not. | ||||
| WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN 3-to-2 | WIN |
| BANK: $83,000 | BANK: $88,000 | BANK: $90,500 | BANK: $93,500 | BANK: $61,000 |
| HAND 8 | ||||
| Marissa BANK: $88,000 |
Mark BANK: $90,500 |
Chynna BANK: $93,500 |
Andy BANK: $61,000 |
Richard BANK: $83,000 |
| Bet: $5000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $6000 | Bet: $25,000 |
| 7-9 = 16 | 8-7 = 15 | 8-3 = 11 | 9-K = 19 | 8-10 = 18 |
| Even more basic blackjack streategy: ALWAYS double-down on 11. There's a VERY good chance of getting a 10-point card to make 21. | ||||
| DEALER: 10 | ||||
| Dealers ALSO check their down card for an Ace when a 10-point card is turned up. Again, if it's not an Ace, the hand continues as normal. Else, the Blackjack is shown and everybody loses. In this case, Dave doesn't have Blackjack, so the hand goes on. | ||||
| HIT:
J = 26 BUST |
HIT:
J = 25 BUST |
DOUBLE: $20,000 | STAND | STAND |
| DEALER: 10-6 = 16 HIT: Q = 26 BUST |
||||
| DD Card: 8 Total: 19 |
||||
| LOSS | LOSS | WIN | WIN | WIN |
| BANK: $83,000 | BANK: $85,500 | BANK: $113,500 | BANK: $67,000 | BANK: $108,000 |
| HAND 9 | ||||
| Mark BANK: $85,500 |
Chynna BANK: $113,500 |
Andy BANK: $67,000 |
Richard BANK: $108,000 |
Marissa BANK: $83,000 |
| Bet: $4000 | Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $12,000 | Bet: $25,000 | Bet: $5000 |
| J-9= 19 | 7-A = 8/18 | 4-8 = 12 | 10-10 = 20 (SPLIT) | 4-K = 14 |
| DEALER: 9 | ||||
| STAND | HIT:
6 = 14 HIT: 8 = 18 STAND |
HIT:
8 = 20 STAND |
STAND | HIT:
Q = 24 BUST |
| DEALER: 9-7 = 16 HIT: Q = 26 BUST |
||||
| WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN | LOSS |
| BANK: $89,500 | BANK: $133,500 | BANK: $79,000 | BANK: $133,000 | BANK: $78,000 |
| That's Chynna's fourth straight win! Of course, that's no surprise since EVERYONE is helping her! | ||||
| HAND 10 | ||||
| Chynna BANK: $133,500 |
Andy BANK: $79,000 |
Richard BANK: $133,000 |
Marissa BANK: $78,000 |
Mark BANK: $89,500 |
| Bet: $25,000 | Bet: $25,000 | Bet: $25,000 | Bet: $6000 | Bet: $5000 |
| 9-J = 19 | 6-9 = 15 | 5-8 = 13 | 3-7 = 10 | 10-4 = 14 |
| DEALER: K | ||||
| STAND | HIT:
8 = 23 BUST |
HIT:
2= 15 HIT: 4 = 19 STAND |
HIT:
3 = 13 HIT: Q = 23 BUST |
HIT:
2 = 16 STAND |
| DEALER: K-7 = 17 MUST STAND |
||||
| WIN | LOSS | WIN | LOSS | LOSS |
| BANK: $158,500 | BANK: $54,000 | BANK: $158,000 | BANK: $72,000 | BANK: $84,500 |
Heading into the halfway point, the stakes are raised to no-limit. The minimum bet is $5000...but there is NO maximum!
| HAND 11 | ||||
| Andy BANK: $54,000 |
Richard BANK: $158,000 |
Marissa BANK: $72,000 |
Mark BANK: $84,500 |
Chynna BANK: $158,500 |
| Bet: $25,000 | Bet: $50,000 | Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $7000 |
| 9-3 = 12 | 4-7 = 11 | 2-5 = 7 | K-5 = 15 | 5-5 = 10 (SPLIT) |
| Richard doesn't HAVE to take the Blackjack. He can call the Ace a 1-point card and double-down. However, taking the promised 3-to-2 is much better than chancing it for a 2-to-1. | ||||
| DEALER: 3 | ||||
| STAND | DBLE: $100,000 | HIT:
5= 12 STAND |
STAND | DOUBLE: $14,000 |
| Hitting on 12, even WITH a low dealer card, is a risky proposition. Doubkling on 10 is likewise risky, though LESS so with a low dealer card. | ||||
| DEALER: 3-J = 13 HIT: K = 23 BUST |
||||
| WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN |
| BANK: $79,000 | BANK: $258,000 | BANK: $87,000 | BANK: $89,500 | BANK: $172,500 |
| HAND 12 | ||||
| Richard BANK: $258,000 |
Marissa BANK: $87,000 |
Mark BANK: $89,500 |
Chynna BANK: $172,500 |
Andy BANK: $79,000 |
| Bet: $100,000 | Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $50,000 | Bet: $50,000 |
| J-8 = 18 | 6-2 = 8 | JOKER-2 = ?? | 4-6 = 10 | 2-3 = 5 |
| DEALER: 3 | ||||
| New Card: 6 J-6 = 16 |
Richard's 8 8-2 = 10 |
|||
| STAND | HIT:
6 = 13 STAND |
HIT:
5 = 15 STAND |
DBLE: $100,000 | HIT:
2 = 7 |
| DEALER: 3-K = 13 HIT: 9 = 22 BUST |
||||
| WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN |
| BANK: $358,000 | BANK: $107,000 | BANK: $99,500 | BANK: $272,500 | BANK: $129,000 |
| HAND 13 | ||||
| Marissa BANK: $107,000 |
Mark BANK: $99,500 |
Chynna BANK: $272,500 |
Andy BANK: $129,000 |
Richard BANK: $358,000 |
| Bet: $25,000 | Bet: $30,000 | Bet: $17,000 | Bet: $112,000 | Bet: $200,000 |
| Andy, mad at Richard for him saying he'd "kick his @$$", just shoves a mess of chips in, leaving it for Dave to count them. Then, when Richard shoves $200,00 in, Andy yells, "Why do you have to one-up me?!" | ||||
| A-10 = 11/21 | 6-K = 16 | 5-5 = 10 (SPLIT) | A-8 = 9/19 | J-8 = 18 |
| DEALER: Q | ||||
| BLACKJACK! | HIT:
10 = 26 BUST |
HIT:
Q = 20 STAND |
STAND | STAND |
| Matt after Mark hits: "Mary Hart wouldn't have hit that..." | ||||
| DEALER: Q-K = 17 MUST STAND |
||||
| WIN 3-to-2 | LOSS | PUSH | LOSS | LOSS |
| BANK: $144,500 | BANK: $69,500 | BANK: $272,500 | BANK: $17,000 | BANK: $158,000 |
| The bad news for Richard: he lost $200G. The GOOD news...he's STILL in second. A DISTANT second,...but second noetheless. | ||||
| HAND 14 | ||||
| Mark BANK: $69,500 |
Chynna BANK: $272,500 |
Andy BANK: $17,000 |
Richard BANK: $158,000 |
Marissa BANK: $144,500 |
| Bet: $10,000 | Bet: $26,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $100,000 | Bet: $20,000 |
| 4-10 = 14 | J-A = 11/21 | 7-5 = 12 | 2-6 = 8 | Q-Q = 20 (SPLIT) |
| DEALER: 2 | ||||
| STAND | BLACKJACK! | STAND | HIT:
4 = 12 HIT: 8 = 20 STAND |
STAND |
| 12s are always tough. But basic strategy is to hit with such a low dealer card. Richard did...and it paid off. | ||||
| DEALER: 2-A = 13 HIT: 4 = 17 MUST STAND |
||||
| It doesn't matter that it's a "soft" 17 (one with an Ace); the dealer MUST stand on ALL hands 17 and over. | ||||
| LOSS | WIN 3-to-2 | LOSS | WIN | WIN |
| BANK: $59,500 | BANK: $311,500 | BANK: $12,000 | BANK: $258,000 | BANK: $164,500 |
| Had Richard stayed on 12, the dealer would have had 21 and EVERBODY (but Chynna) would have lost! | ||||
| HAND 15 | ||||
| Chynna BANK: $311,500 |
Andy BANK: $12,000 |
Richard BANK: $258,000 |
Marissa BANK: $164,500 |
Mark BANK: $59,500 |
| Bet: $60,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $200,000 | Bet: $25,000 | Bet: $5000 |
| K-6 = 16 | 9-8 = 17 | Q-Q = 20 (SPLIT) | A-6 = 7/17 | 10-6 = 16 |
| DEALER: 2 | ||||
| STAND | STAND | STAND | DOUBLE: $50,000 | STAND |
| Neither Chynna nor Mark seem to get the concept of double down. Shame; Chynna would've had a great chance at doubling her big bet. | ||||
| DEALER: 2-A = 13 HIT: A = 14 HIT: 2 = 16 HIT: 2 = 18 MUST STAND |
||||
| BOAT! Or...it WOULD be if this were poker. | ||||
| DD Card: 3 Total: 20 |
||||
| LOSS | LOSS | WIN | WIN | LOSS |
| BANK: $251,500 | BANK: $7000 | BANK: $458,000 | BANK: $214,500 | BANK: $54,500 |
| And Richard regains the lead...and Marissa, with her successful double-down, is right behind Chynna for second place! | ||||
| HAND 16 | ||||
| Andy BANK: $7000 |
Richard BANK: $458,000 |
Marissa BANK: $214,500 |
Mark BANK: $54,500 |
Chynna BANK: $251,500 |
| Bet: $7000 | Bet: $250,000 | Bet: $20,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $30,000 |
| 4-4 = 8 (SPLIT) | 9-3 = 12 | 4-K = 14 | 3-8 = 11 | 5-2 = 7 |
| Andy HAD to go all-in. Had he just bet the minimum $5000 and lost, he would not have had enough to bet the minimum in the next hand and, thus, would be out anyway. | ||||
| DEALER: 8 | ||||
| HIT:
4 = 12 HIT: 2 = 14 HIT: J = 24 BUST |
HIT:
J = 22 BUST |
HIT:
4 = 18 STAND |
DOUBLE: $10,000 | HIT:
7 = 14 HIT: 6 = 20 STAND |
| Andy is out of the match. | ||||
| DEALER: 8-2 = 10 HIT: 4= 14 HIT: J = 24 BUST |
||||
| LOSS | LOSS | WIN | WIN | WIN |
| OUT | BANK: $208,000 | BANK: $234,500 | BANK: $64,500 | BANK: $281,500 |
| HAND 17 | |||
| Richard BANK: $208,000 |
Marissa BANK: $234,500 |
Mark BANK: $64,500 |
Chynna BANK: $281,500 |
| Bet: $208,000 | Bet: $15,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $80,000 |
| Now RICHARD is all-in! | |||
| 8-5 = 13 | 3-9 = 12 | 9-7 = 16 | 7-4 = 11 |
| DEALER: 3 | |||
| STAND | STAND | STAND | DOUBLE: $160,000 |
| Chynna is 3-for-3 so far in double-downs. If she goes 4-for-4, she'll STILL be in the lead even if Richard DOES win. | |||
DEALER: 3-10 = 13 |
|||
| WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN |
| BANK: $416,000 | BANK: $249,500 | BANK: $69,500 | BANK: $441,500 |
| Richard: "Just when I thought I was
out...they pull me back in!" (A line from "Godfather Part III"
by Al Pacino) Mark: "But does that mean you're going to bet $416,000 in the next hand?!" |
|||
| HAND 18 | ||||
| Marissa BANK: $249,500 |
Mark BANK: $69,500 |
Chynna BANK: $441,500 |
Richard BANK: $416,000 |
|
| Bet: $40,000 | Bet: $5000 | Bet: $90,000 | Bet: $300,000 | |
| 2-8 = 10 | 6-6 = 12 (SPLIT) | Q-J = 20 (SPLIT) | Q-9 = 19 | |
| DEALER: 9 | ||||
| DOUBLE: $80,000 | SPLIT $5000 apiece |
STAND | STAND | |
| 6-9=15 HIT: 2=17 STAND |
6-A=7/17 HIT: 4=21 STAND |
|||
DEALER: 9-A = 20 |
||||
| DD Card: 5 Total: 15 |
||||
| LOSS | LOSS | WIN | PUSH | LOSS |
| BANK: $169,500 | BANK: $69,500 | BANK: $441,500 | BANK: $116,0500 | |
| Now I think you see why most PRO tournaments don't HAVE no-limit rounds! Much like no-limit poker, your bank can swing so fast from big money to junk! | ||||
| HAND 19 | |||
| Mark BANK: $69,500 |
Chynna BANK: $441,500 |
Richard BANK: $116,000 |
Marissa BANK: $169,500 |
| Bet: $69,000 | Bet: $100,000 | Bet: $116,000 | Bet: $40,000 |
| Both Mark and Richard are all-in! Mark can't make a minimum bet if he loses and Richard...he says he's had enough of "these people". If the dealer gets Blackjack, we'll be down to TWO PLAYERS! | |||
| J-9 = 19 | Q-5 = 15 | J-7 = 17 | Q-7 = 17 |
| DEALER: 10 | |||
| STAND | HIT: 3 = 18 |
STAND | STAND |
| If the dealer makes 17 or busts, everybody stays. 18 or 19 means Mark stays and Richard leaves. 20 or 21 means both Richard AND Mark leave! | |||
DEALER: 10-4 = 14 |
|||
| LOSS | LOSS | LOSS | LOSS |
| OUT | BANK: $341,500 | OUT | BANK: $129,500 |
| And, just like that, we're down to two! | |||
| HAND 20 | |
| Chynna BANK: $341,500 |
Marissa BANK: $129,500 |
| Bet: $119,000 | Bet: $5000 |
| While Marissa ponders, Andy and Mark (Richard had left the set) gives her seperate advice; Andy says "all-in" while Mark says to bet the minimum. Talk about your "unmarried marriage counselors". | |
| K-7 = 17 | 7-8 = 15 |
| DEALER: 2 | |
| STAND | STAND |
DEALER: 2-J = 12 |
|
| LOSS | LOSS |
| BANK: $222,500 | BANK: $124,500 |
It all comes down to this one hand. The winner gets $25,000 for her charity and a spot in the $100,000 Final Table. The others (including those eliminated) get $10,000 for their respective charities. For the final hand, Chynna and Marissa make blind bets, so neither knows what the other has bet until its revealed! And, remember, there's STILL a joker out there!
| FINAL HAND! | |
| Marissa BANK: $124,500 |
Chynna BANK: $222,500 |
| Bet: $124,000 | Bet: $153,000 |
| If Marissa wins and Chynna losses, Marissa will win big time. Otherwise, Chynna wins. Chynna starts chanting "Tribe of Heart", the name of her charity. | |
| 8-Q = 18 | 10-Q = 20 |
| DEALER: 5 | |
| That's it. And Marissa knows it. Even if Marissa beats the dealer, so will Chynna. The only thing Marissa can do is hit...and PRAY for a 3... | |
| HIT: J = 26 BUST |
WINNER! |
Chynna: "Did...did I just win?" |
|
So Tribe of Heart gets $25,000 thanks to Chynna Phillips...even if she had zero-point-nada idea how she DID it! Chynna also goes to the Final Table and a shot at $100,000 more!