CELEBRITY BLACKJACK

EPISODE 4

NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR

What follows is a televised-hand-by-televised-hand account.  There were quick hands this time so, though it's only a one-hour show, every hand is televised.


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, remember, 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):

D.L. Hughley
(Batter Women's Center & Dorsey High School Band)
Comedian; star of ABC and UPN's The Hughleys; was recent host of Comedy Central's Premium Blend

Shannen Doherty
(American Diabetes Association)
Played child roles on Little House: A New Beginning and Full House and a young adult role on Beverly Hills 90210

Bijou Phillips
(Carol Baldwin Cancer Foundation)
Half-sister to CBJ winner Chynna, this singer/actor/model was in "Almost Famous"

Willie Garson
(IFP West)
"Evil Willie" from his CPS appearances; was Stanford Blatch on Sex & The City

Caroline Rhea
(Much Love Animal Rescue & Project ALS)
Comedianne; played Hilda Spellman on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch"; hosted "The Caroline Rhea Show"

We have your hosts Matt Vasgersian and Alex Boorstein calling the action. Our dealer tonight is "Bad Boy of Blackjack", "Hollywood" Dave Stann...so let's get it on!  D.L. 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
Bijou
BANK: $100,000
Willie
BANK: $100,000
Caroline
BANK: $100,000
D.L.
BANK: $100,000
Shannen
BANK: $100,000
Bet: $2000 Bet: $2000 Bet: $2000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000
5-3 = 8 K-7 = 17 Q-5 = 15 4-4 = 8 (SPLIT) 9-3 = 12
DEALER: K
When the Dealer has a 10-point card up, he must check his down card to see if he has an Ace. If he doesn't, play continues as normal...
DEALER: K-A = 21
BLACKJACK!
...but, if there IS an Ace, the Dealer shows the Blackjack and everybody LOSES!
LOSS LOSS LOSS LOSS LOSS
BANK: $98,000 BANK: $98,000 BANK: $98,000 BANK: $95,000 BANK: $95,000
Caroline: "What a HORRIBLE way to start a charity event!"



HAND 2
Willie
BANK: $98,000
Caroline
BANK: $98,000
D.L.
BANK: $95,000
Shannen
BANK: $95,000
Bijou
BANK: $98,000
Bet: $2000 Bet: $2000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $10,000
6-8 = 14 6-7 = 13 10-8 = 18 J-5 = 15 2-2 = 4 (SPLIT)
DEALER: 2
STAND STAND STAND STAND SPLIT
$10,000 apiece
2-5=7
H:10=17
STAND
2-6=8
H:4=12
H:2=14
STAND
Basic blackjack strategy time: when the Dealer has a low up card (2 through 6), it's best to stand on any hand 13 or higher. Normally, splitting 2s is not a good idea but, in this case, Bijou has a better chance.
DEALER: 2-3 = 5
HIT: 4 = 9
HIT:
Q = 19
MUST STAND
Never said it was a GREAT chance...just a BETTER chance than usual.
LOSS LOSS LOSS LOSS LOSS
BANK: $96,000 BANK: $96,000 BANK: $90,000 BANK: $90,000 BANK: $78,000



HAND 3
Caroline
BANK: $96,000
D.L.
BANK: $90,000
Shannen
BANK: $90,000
Bijou
BANK: $78,000
Willie
BANK: $96,000
Bet: $5000 Bet: $6000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $2000 Bet: $2000
JOKER-9 = ? 8-J = 18 8-6 = 14 A-10 = 11/21 K-7 = 17
DEALER: K
Bijou's A
A-9 = 10/20
    New Card: K
K-10 = 20 (SPLIT)
 
Bijou CAN split her hand (her cards have the same value)...but splitting 10-point cards isn't advisable, especially with a King showing for the Dealer.
STAND STAND HIT: K = 24
BUST
STAND STAND
DEALER: K-7 = 17
MUST STAND
WIN WIN LOSS WIN PUSH
BANK: $101,000 BANK: $96,000 BANK: $80,000 BANK: $80,000 BANK: $96,000
Bijou: "It's so cold in here."
Willie: "Yeah, my nipples are cutting through my shirt."
Bijou: "I can make ICE with my nipples."
Caroline: "She won! I can't top that."



HAND 4
D.L.
BANK: $96,000
Shannen
BANK: $80,000
Bijou
BANK: $80,000
Willie
BANK: $96,000
Caroline
BANK: $101,000
Bet: $7000 Bet: $20,000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $3000 Bet: $10,000
A-4 = 5/15 7-8 = 15 A-A = 2/12 6-5 = 11 7-K = 17
DEALER: 2
Two quick basic strategy tips:
1) ALWAYS split Aces. The only drawbacks in this case are that Bijou would only get ONE card for each Ace and a 10-point card would NOT count as a Blackjack.
2) ALWAYS double down on an 11, since the chances of getting a 10-point card to make 21 are very good.
DOUBLE: $14,000 STAND SPLIT
$10,000 apiece
DOUBLE: $6000 STAND
A-J=21 A-J=13
D.L. is NOT following basic strategy; doubling-down with a "soft" hand (one with an Ace) against a Dealer's 2 is not advisable.
DEALER: 2-7 = 9
HIT: J = 19
MUST STAND
DD Card: 5
Total: 20
    DD Card: Q
Total: 21
 
WIN LOSS WIN LOSS WIN LOSS
BANK: $110,000 BANK: $60,000 BANK: $80,000 BANK: $102,000 BANK: $91,000



HAND 5
Shannen
BANK: $60,000
Bijou
BANK: $80,000
Willie
BANK: $102,000
Caroline
BANK: $91,000
D.L.
BANK: $110,000
Bet: $10,000 Bet: $3000 Bet: $6000 Bet: $2000 Bet: $1000
6-Q = 16 6-Q = 16 K-A = 11/21 5-K = 15 J-Q = 20 (SPLIT)
Willie doesn't HAVE to call that a Blackjack; in tournament blackjack, he can call that 11 and double down. But an easy 3-to-2 is better than risking it for a 2-to-1.
DEALER: A
In this tournament (I'm only NOW figuring out), there is no insurance to buy against Blackjack. However, Willie can decide to take "even money" instead of the 3-to-2 a Blackjack usually pays.
    EVEN MONEY    
Now the Dealer checks his down card. If it's a 10-point card, the Blackjack is shown and everyone else loses. But Dave doesn't have Blackjack so the hand continues.
HIT: 7 = 23
BUST
HIT: J = 26
BUST
HIT: K = 25
BUST
STAND
DEALER: A-9 = 20
MUST STAND
It doesn't matter that it's a soft hand; Dealer MUST stand on ALL hands of 17 or higher.
LOSS LOSS WIN LOSS PUSH
BANK: $50,000 BANK: $77,000 BANK: $108,000 BANK: $89,000 BANK: $110,000
Shannen has not won a hand YET!



HAND 6
Bijou
BANK: $77,000
Willie
BANK: $108,000
Caroline
BANK: $89,000
D.L.
BANK: $110,000
Shannen
BANK: $50,000
Bet: $5000 Bet: $9000 Bet: $25,000 Bet: $12,000 Bet: $2000
3-K = 13 K-4 = 14 K-3 = 13 8-4 = 12 9-6 = 15
DEALER: Q
HIT: JOKER
D.L.'s 8 = 21
AUTO STAND
HIT: 10 = 24
BUST
HIT: 2 = 15
HIT:
3 = 18
STAND
New Card: Q
Q-4 = 14
HIT:
8 = 22
BUST
HIT: 6 = 21
AUTO STAND
DEALER: Q-J = 20
MUST STAND
WIN LOSS LOSS LOSS WIN
BANK: $82,000 BANK: $99,000 BANK: $64,000 BANK: $98,000 BANK: $52,000



HAND 7
Willie
BANK: $99,000
Caroline
BANK: $64,000
D.L.
BANK: $98,000
Shannen
BANK: $52,000
Bijou
BANK: $82,000
Bet: $3000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $2000 Bet: $4000 Bet: $3000
K-7 = 17 K-A = 11/21 7-6 = 13 10-Q = 20 (SPLIT) J-5 = 15
DEALER: A
  EVEN MONEY      
STAND   HIT: 10 = 23
BUST
STAND HIT: 8 = 23
BUST
Dealer only busts about 11% of the time with an Ace up.
DEALER: A-2 = 3/13
HIT: 9 = 12
HIT:
K = 22
BUST
Well, what do ya know?
WIN WIN LOSS WIN LOSS
BANK: $102,000 BANK: $74,000 BANK: $96,000 BANK: $56,000 BANK: $79,000



HAND 8
Caroline
BANK: $74,000
D.L.
BANK: $96,000
Shannen
BANK: $56,000
Bijou
BANK: $79,000
Willie
BANK: $102,000
Bet: $20,000 Bet: $20,000 Bet: $4000 Bet: $20,000 Bet: $6000
8-2 = 10 Q-10 = 20 (SPLIT) 10-6 = 16 K-4 = 14 4-7 = 11
DEALER: 5
DOUBLE: $40,000 STAND STAND STAND DOUBLE: $12,000
Dave: "You may want to try some crazy split action."
D.L.: "I may NOT. I'm good." (Good call, D.L.)
Doubling down on 10 is risky...but relatively safe when the Dealer has a low card.
DEALER: 5-Q = 15
HIT: 2 = 17
MUST STAND
DD Card: 2
Total: 12
      DD Card: 4
Total: 15
LOSS WIN LOSS LOSS LOSS
BANK: $34,000 BANK: $116,000 BANK: $52,000 BANK: $59,000 BANK: $90,000



HAND 9
D.L.
BANK: $116,000
Shannen
BANK: $52,000
Bijou
BANK: $59,000
Willie
BANK: $90,000
Caroline
BANK: $34,000
Bet: $2000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $4000 Bet: $2000
D.L. is utilizing something celebs rarely do in these kind of events: actual strategy. He has a decent lead, so he's betting small and forcing the others to try to catch up. Too bad nobody can with THOSE bets.
Q-A = 11/21 7-10 = 17 10-K = 20 (SPLIT) A-6 = 7/17 10-J = 20 (SPLIT)
DEALER: 9
BLACKJACK! STAND STAND HIT: 5 = 12
HIT: 8 = 20
STAND
STAND
More basic strategy: NEVER stand on a "soft" 17...since you really can't lose and there's ALWAYS a chance to better your hand.
DEALER: 9-K = 19
HIT: 10 = 23
BUST
WIN 3-to-2 LOSS WIN WIN WIN
BANK: $119,000 BANK: $47,000 BANK: $64,000 BANK: $94,000 BANK: $36,000



HAND 10
Shannen
BANK: $47,000
Bijou
BANK: $64,000
Willie
BANK: $94,000
Caroline
BANK: $36,000
D.L.
BANK: $119,000
Bet: $10,000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $8000 Bet: $4000 Bet: $1000
5-A = 6/16 3-8 = 11 4-Q = 14 9-3 = 12 10-6 = 16
DEALER: 9
HIT: J = 16
HIT: 6 = 22
BUST
DOUBLE: $20,000 HIT: 6 = 20
STAND
HIT: 5 = 17
STAND
HIT: 7 = 23
BUST
DEALER: 5-9 = 14
HIT: 10 = 24
BUST
LOSS WIN WIN WIN LOSS
BANK: $37,000 BANK: $84,000 BANK: $102,000 BANK: $40,000 BANK: $118,000

Heading into the halfway point, the stakes are raised to no-limit.  The minimum bet is $5000...but there is NO maximum!
HAND 11
Bijou
BANK: $84,000
Willie
BANK: $102,000
Caroline
BANK: $40,000
D.L.
BANK: $118,000
Shannen
BANK: $37,000
Bet: $5000 Bet: $12,000 Bet: $15,000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $20,000
7-9 = 16 10-2 = 12 5-4 = 9 3-7 = 10 A-6 = 7/17
DEALER: 5
STAND STAND DOUBLE: $20,000 DOUBLE: $20,000 DOUBLE: $37,000
Caroline and Shannen become the first players in the tournament to "double-down for less". In tournament blackjack, you don't HAVE to put twice your bet in when you double-down. By the way, doubling down on a 9 is even riskier than doubling down on a 10. But, again, the low dealer card helps improve the odds. Now Shannen is all-in; if she doesn't at least tie the Dealer, she's out of the tournament.
DEALER: 5-2 = 7
HIT: 3 = 10
HIT:
J = 20
MUST STAND
    DD Card: 4
Total: 13
DD Card: 6
Total: 16
DD Card: 5
Total: 12
LOSS LOSS LOSS LOSS LOSS
BANK: $79,000 BANK: $90,000 BANK: $20,000 BANK: $98,000 OUT!
Alex: "Lady Luck can be such a filthy whore..."



HAND 12
Willie
BANK: $90,000
Caroline
BANK: $20,000
D.L.
BANK: $98,000
Bijou
BANK: $79,000
Bet: $10,000 Bet: $12,000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $10,000
4-A = 5/15 6-K = 16 8-A = 9/19 9-5 = 14
DEALER: 9
HIT: J = 15
HIT: Q = 25
BUST
HIT: 3 = 19
STAND
STAND HIT: 3 = 17
STAND
DEALER: 9-2 = 11
HIT: 8 = 19
MUST STAND
LOSS PUSH PUSH LOSS
BANK: $80,000 BANK: $20,000 BANK: $98,000 BANK: $69,000



HAND 13
Caroline
BANK: $20,000
D.L.
BANK: $98,000
Bijou
BANK: $69,000
Willie
BANK: $80,000
Bet: $10,000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $10,000
A-7 = 8/18 J-8 = 18 2-K = 12 6-9 = 15
DEALER: K
STAND STAND HIT: 8 = 20
STAND
HIT: 4 = 19
STAND
Even more basic strategy: hit a soft hand against a face card.
DEALER: K-5 = 15
HIT: J = 25
BUST
WIN WIN WIN WIN
BANK: $30,000 BANK: $103,000 BANK: $74,000 BANK: $90,000
This is the first time all night everyone has won the same hand.



HAND 14
D.L.
BANK: $103,000
Bijou
BANK: $74,000
Willie
BANK: $90,000
Caroline
BANK: $30,000
Bet: $6000 Bet: $10,000 Bet: $15,000 Bet: $20,000
4-3 = 7 6-3 = 9 6-K = 16 5-Q = 15
DEALER: 2
HIT: 10 = 17
STAND
HIT: 3 = 12
HIT:
4 = 16
STAND
STAND STAND
DEALER: 2-10 = 12
HIT: A = 13
HIT:
3 = 16
HIT:
8 = 24
BUST
WIN WIN WIN WIN
BANK: $109,000 BANK: $84,000 BANK: $105,000 BANK: $50,000



HAND 15
Bijou
BANK: $84,000
Willie
BANK: $105,000
Caroline
BANK: $50,000
D.L.
BANK: $109,000
Bet: $20,000 Bet: $25,000 Bet: $30,000 Bet: $25,000
9-5 = 14 9-10 = 19 3-8 = 11 2-J = 12
DEALER: 7
HIT: 9 = 23
BUST
STAND DOUBLE: $40,000 HIT: 7 = 19
STAND
DEALER: 7-2 = 9
HIT: 3 = 12
HIT:
7 = 19
MUST STAND
    DD Card: Q
Total: 21
 
LOSS PUSH WIN PUSH
BANK: $64,000 BANK: $105,000 BANK: $90,000 BANK: $109,000



HAND 16
Willie
BANK: $105,000
Caroline
BANK: $90,000
D.L.
BANK: $109,000
Bijou
BANK: $64,000
Bet: $25,000 Bet: $30,000 Bet: $29,000 Bet: $25,000
J-2 = 12 K-A = 11/21 Q-10 = 20 (SPLIT) 2-J = 12
DEALER: 9
HIT: 5 = 17
STAND
BLACKJACK! STAND HIT: 7 = 20
STAND
DEALER: 9-Q = 19
MUST STAND
LOSS WIN 3-to-2 WIN PUSH
BANK: $80,000 BANK: $135,000 BANK: $138,000 BANK: $64,000
Caroline has gone from $20,000 to $135,000 in the span of four hands! She's only $3000 behind the lead!



HAND 17
Caroline
BANK: $135,000
D.L.
BANK: $138,000
Bijou
BANK: $64,000
Willie
BANK: $80,000
Bet: $15,000 Bet: $17,000 Bet: $45,000 Bet: $30,000
3-4 = 7 5-7 = 12 10-7 = 17 8-3 = 11
DEALER: 4
HIT: JOKER
Willie's 3 = 10
HIT: 3 = 13
STAND
HIT: 10 = 22
BUST
STAND New Card: Q
8-Q = 18
STAND
DEALER: 4-J = 14
HIT: 10 = 24
BUST
WIN LOSS WIN WIN
BANK: $150,000 BANK: $121,000 BANK: $109,000 BANK: $110,000



HAND 18
D.L.
BANK: $121,000
Bijou
BANK: $109,000
Willie
BANK: $110,000
Caroline
BANK: $150,000
Bet: $50,000 Bet: $30,000 Bet: $40,000 Bet: $5000
6-Q = 16 6-2 = 8 2-2 = 4 (SPLIT) J-A = 11/21
DEALER: 9
HIT: 9 = 25
BUST
HIT: 3 = 11
HIT:
K = 21
AUTO STAND
HIT: 7 = 11
HIT:
9 = 20
STAND
BLACKJACK!
DEALER: 9-9 = 18
MUST STAND
Unlike the celebs, the Dealer only has two options: hit and stand. No splits or double downs allowed.
LOSS WIN WIN WIN 3-to-2
BANK: $71,000 BANK: $139,000 BANK: $150,000 BANK: $157,500



HAND 19
Bijou
BANK: $139,000
Willie
BANK: $150,000
Caroline
BANK: $157,500
D.L.
BANK: $71,000
Bet: $75,000 Bet: $50,000 Bet: $15,000 Bet: $71,000
Q-9 = 19 Q-J = 20 (SPLIT) A-10 = 11/21 3-5 = 8
DEALER: J
STAND STAND BLACKJACK! HIT: Q = 18
STAND
DEALER: J-4 = 14
HIT: 7 = 21
MUST STAND
LOSS LOSS WIN 3-to-2 LOSS
BANK: $64,000 BANK: $100,000 BANK: $180,000 OUT!
In deep contrast to Caroline, D.L. went from first to dead in the course of three hands.



HAND 20
Willie
BANK: $100,000
Caroline
BANK: $180,000
Bijou
BANK: $64,000
Bet: $45,000 Bet: $5000 Bet: $64,000
8-9 = 17 4-8 = 12 10-8 = 18
DEALER: 4
STAND STAND STAND
DEALER: 4-8 = 12
HIT: 8 = 20
MUST STAND
LOSS LOSS LOSS
BANK: $55,000 BANK: $175,000 OUT!

It all comes down to this one hand.  The winner gets $25,000 for his or her charity and a spot in the $100,000 Final Table.  The others (including the chairties of those that are out) get $10,000 for their respective charities.  For the final hand, the players all make blind bets, so nobody knows what the others...ah, hell, we KNOW who's gonna win! Unless Caroline bets big and loses, she's gonna take it!
FINAL HAND!
Willie
BANK: $55,000
Caroline
BANK: $175,000
4-10 = 14 A-9 = 10/20
DEALER: J
Dave (after checking the hole card): "How about we finish it off like THAT..."
DEALER: J-A = 21
BLACKJACK!
LOSS LOSS
Bet: $55,000 Bet: $5000
BANK: $0 BANK: $170,000
WINNER!

So Much Love Animal Rescue and Project ALS split $25,000 thanks to the witch Caroline Rhea!  While D.L. and Willie plot her demise, she'll be going to the Final Table and a shot at $100,000 more!