House Option Description Windows Last updated: 8/9/2002
* House Option GUI Specs

1. Decks in the Shoe
   
   1. Determine the number of decks in the shoe from 1 to 8.
      
2. Dealer Hits Soft 17
   
   1. The dealer will take another card if the dealers hand totals 17, and has an ace being counted as 11.
      
3. Offer Surrender
   
   1. The player may give up or surrender after receiving their first two cards but before the dealer checks for an Ace in the hole. If surrendered, 1/2 the bet is forfeited
      
      1. Late Surrender - Surrender allowed only if the dealer does not have blackjack.
         
      2. Early Surrender - Surrender allowed before the dealer checks for blackjack.
         
      3. No Surrender - Surrender is not offered.
         
4. Even Money (BJ vs Ace)
   
   1. If the player was dealt blackjack and the dealer has an ace showing the player may take a one to one pay on their bet. Thus, the player forfeits the extra 50% pay for blackjack to avoid a push if the dealer also has blackjack.
      
5. Split any pair of face cards -- Killed for now (splitting face cards is a bad idea any ways, and none of the PlayStrategies recommend it!)
   
   1. The player may split any pair of face cards, such as a Queen and a King. (Not recommended)
      
6. Number of Resplits Allowed (Currently not enforced!)
   
   1. This sets the limit on the number of times a player may resplit their hand.
      
7. Double Down After Split
   
   1. Most casinos allow this, but not all.
      
8. Peeking
   
   1. Peek on Ace - If the dealer is showing an Ace, the dealer will look at the hidden card to see if it is a face card or 10 giving the dealer blackjack. If so, play is stopped and all hands that are not a blackjack loose, blackjacks push.
      
   2. Peek on 10 - If the dealer is showing a face card, the dealer will look at the hidden card to see if it is an Ace. If so, play is stopped and all hands that are not a blackjack loose, blackjacks push.
      
9. Player May Double Down
   
   1. Usually a player may double down on any first two cards. However, some casinos limit doubling down to hands in which the first two cards total 9, 10, or 11, OR only 10 or 11.
      
10. After Splitting Aces
    
    1. Current options are "Hit or Double Down", or "One Card Only". Would like to implement "Hit Only" after splitting Aces.
       
    2. Typically, the player is limited to a single card for each Ace after splitting. However, some casinos allow Hitting and/or Doubling Down after splitting Aces.
       
11. Bonus on Special Hands -- Killed (for now - this should be really easy to implement!)
    
    1. In some rare cases a casino will offer 3 to 2 pay for certain hands. Does not apply after splitting or if the dealer has a blackjack.
       
    2. Bonus hands:
       
       1. 6-7-8
          
       2. 7-7-7
          
       3. 6 cards that total 21
          
12. Charlie Variations -- Killed
    
    1. A rare variation in which the player is an automatic winner on any hand of the specified size (5 cards for '5 Card Charlie'). Does not apply after splitting or if the dealer has a blackjack.
       
13. Spanish 21 -- Very Killed
    
14. Dealer Takes Second Chances -- Killed
    
    1. A form of cheating by the house (suspected of some on line casinos). In cases where the player's hand total is between 17 and 21, and the dealer's hand total is between 12 and 16, the dealer "peeks" at the next card in the shoe. If taking the card would result in the dealer busting, the card is removed from play and the dealer takes the next card in the shoe, regardless of the impact on the dealer's hand. This increases the house edge dramatically in such situations.
       

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