Ezugi Unlimited Blackjack Live Rules and Tips

How to play Live Unlimited Blackjack without freaking out!

Any educated blackjack player can appreciate the provision of effortless strategic game play. But when such decisions are stripped from the player’s control – decisions that could instantly double the amount the player is risking on a hand – it can bring on a little anxiety, to say the least. That’s kind of how Ezugi’s Unlimited Blackjack Live (not to be confused with Playtech Live’s Unlimited Blackjack) works.

As the name implies, this is a live dealer blackjack game that an unlimited number of players can enjoy. There is only one hand being dealt, and every player at the table gets to take part in it. Because some will choose to make moves that others might avoid, certain decisions must be made automatically. In this case, the choice to split pairs or leave them alone is not yours to make, although you can choose whether to play one or both hands after splitting.

For the most part, Ezugi employs basic strategy in deciding which pairs should be split, and which ones should not (see Auto-Splitting Conditions below). The end result is a none-too-shabby (all things considered) house edge of 0.42% (RTP 99.58% RTP).

How to Play Live Unlimited Blackjack (Ezugi)

This is one of the easiest blackjack games you’ll ever play; most certainly the easiest with such a low house edge. All you have to do is place a bet, then decide whether to stand, hit or double down. Splits are handled automatically based on house rules (see Auto-Splitting Conditions below). Every other play at the live dealer table does the same, but your decisions are your own.

If you stand and someone else hits, you’ll see the hit, but your total will remain the same as whence you stood, whether those players bust or not. Likewise, if you choose to hit and the hand busts, any player who stood before you keeps their total. In this way, the game will go on with or without you, so long as someone is still actively making decisions.

The problem with this game – if you didn’t figure it out already – is that even after you stand, other players who continue to hit will be drawing cards from the deck that would otherwise have gone to the dealer. This could work in your favor or against it. Since the next card is unpredictable, it does not impact the house edge, but it can sure cause mood swings among players!

Auto-Splitting Conditions

Now for the part you’ve all been waiting for… house rules for splitting a hand. In most blackjack games, you would split a hand based on the value of the pairs, plus the rank of dealer’s up-card. Ezugi’s live dealers do not take into account the dealer’s up-card. This means there are going to be a few occasions where the hand is or isn’t split, even though strategically speaking, it shouldn’t or shouldn’t be.

Fortunately, you will be given the choice whether or not to play only the first hand, or both hands. You’ll only have about 5 seconds to make this decision, so pay close attention and – for the best RTP – adhere to the splitting strategy chart at the bottom of this page.

The following pairs will/won’t be split automatically.

Pairs that Will be Split: 2-2, 3-3, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, A-A

Pairs that Won’t be Split: 4-4, 5-5, 9-9, 10-10

Specific Rules of Play

• Decks: 8
• Soft 17: Dealer Stands
• Doubling: Yes, on any 2 cards
• Splitting: Yes, Automatic on 2-2, 3-3, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, A-A
• Double after Split: Yes
• Resplit Aces: No
• Draw to Split Aces: No
• Dealer Checks for Blackjack: Yes, on Ace only
• Blackjack Pays: 3 to 2

Note that the dealer will not check for blackjack if he/she has a 10 showing. If the player doubles or accepts a split when the dealer is showing 10, and it turns out to be a blackjack, the player’s total bet is lost.

Unlimited Blackjack Live Side Bets

Ezugi supplies two of the most common side bets in its live dealer game – 21+3 and Perfect Pairs. These are both optional bets. The hand conditions and pay outs for each are detailed below.

21+3 Side Bet

This optional wager applies to the player’s first two cards, combined with the dealer’s up-card.

Player’s 2 Cards + Dealer’s Up-Card are…	Pays
3 of a Kind, All Same Suit	100 to 1
3-Card Straight Flush	40 to 1
3 of a Kind	25 to 1
3-Card Straight	10 to 1
3-Card Flush	5 to 1
House Edge = 6.29%

Perfect Pairs Side Bet

This optional side bet applies only to the player’s first two cards. If they are paired, the following payouts apply.

Player’s First Two Cards are…	Pays
Pair, Same Suit	25 to 1
Pair, Same Color	12 to 1
Pair, Mixed Suits	6 to 1
House Edge = 4.10%

Live Unlimited 21 Strategy

Below are three separate strategy charts. Each one applies to a different type of player hand – hard hand, soft hand or pairs. Refer to the correct chart for your hand type, choose your hand value from the left column, then follow the decision making guide in the right column based on the dealer’s up-card.

How to Decide a Hard Hand

A hard hand is any hand that does not contain an Ace that can be counted as 11 points.

Hard Total	Correct Action by Situation
8 & Under	Hit
9	Double against Dealer’s 3-6; otherwise Hit
10	Double against Dealer’s 2-9; otherwise Hit
11	Double against Dealer’s 2-10; otherwise Hit
12	Stand against Dealer’s 4-6; otherwise Hit
13-16	Stand against Dealer’s 2-6; otherwise Hit
17-21	Stand

How to Decide a Soft Hand

A soft hand is any hand that does contain an Ace that can be counted as 11 points.

Soft Total	Correct Action by Situation
13-14	Double against Dealer’s 5-6; otherwise Hit
15-16	Double against Dealer’s 4-6; otherwise Hit
17	Double against Dealer’s 3-6; otherwise Hit
18	Double against Dealer’s 3-6; Hit against 9-A; otherwise Stand
19-21	Stand

Conditions for Splitting Pairs

The dealer is going to split certain pairs, and leave other ones alone, whether you want them to or not. Your decision will be whether to stand, hit or double on non-splitting pairs, and whether to play only the first hand, or play the first and second hands, when the dealer auto-splits.

The following chart will teach you how to make the right decision in Ezugi’s Live Unlimited Blackjack when a pair is dealt.

Pair	Auto-Split?	Correct Action by Situation
A-A	Yes	Play 2 Hands
2-2	Yes	Play 2 Hands on Dealer’s 4-6; otherwise Play 1 Hand
3-3	Yes	Play 2 Hands on Dealer’s 4-6; otherwise Play 1 Hand
4-4	No	Hit
5-5	No	Double on Dealer’s 2-9; otherwise Hit
6-6	Yes	Play 2 Hands on Dealer’s 5-6; otherwise Play 1 Hand
7-7	Yes	Play 2 Hands on Dealer’s 4-6; otherwise Play 1 Hand
8-8	Yes	Play 2 Hands on Dealer’s 2-7; otherwise Play 1 Hand
9-9	No	Stand
10-10	No	Stand