[vingt-et-un] the french way to blackjack

Blackjack or Pontoon. For differences between French and English court cards, click here.

If you’re at a loose end this day or you have an extended lunch or you make one, try French vingt-et-un, the expanded version, played by any number of persons. The first deal is played as in the ordinary game.

In the second, [Imaginary Tens], each player is supposed to hold a ten-card and receives one card from the dealer, face downwards; he is then considered to hold a ten-card plus the one dealt, and stands or draws, receives or pays, as in the ordinary game. If he receives an ace he holds a natural.

In the third deal, [Blind Vingt-et-un], each player receives two cards, and draws or stands without looking at either.

The fourth deal is Sympathy and Antipathy, each player staking, and declaring which of the two he backs: two cards are then dealt to him: if they are of the same color, it is sympathy; if of different colors, antipathy.

At the fifth deal, [Rouge-et-noir], each player, having received three cards, bets that the majority will be either black or red, as he chooses.

In the sixth, [Self and Company], every one stakes but the dealer, who then sets out two cards, face upwards, one for himself and one for the players. If the two cards are pairs, the dealer wins; if not, he deals till one of the cards exposed is paired, paying or receiving according as that card belongs to himself or the company.

The seventh deal is Paying the Difference. Each player receives two cards, face upwards. The dealer pays or receives a stake for the difference in number between the pips on his own cards and those of each player. The ace counts as one.

The eighth deal is Clack. The stakes are pooled. The dealer deals the cards out, face upwards, calling one for the first, two for the second, and so on, the knave being II, queen 12, and king 13. If any of the cards dealt correspond to the number called, the dealer takes the pool; if none correspond, he forfeits that amount. At the end of this (the eighth) deal, the next player deals.