Infinite Fun Fun 21 is a new variant of Blackjack by Evolution.
Unlimited players can play this game using the table originally designed for Infinite Blackjack.
Fun Fun 21 is a modified version of Blackjack in which the 10s have been removed from the deck, and doubles are allowed at any time.
A pushed 21 with the dealer now becomes a player win in a game that offers more side bets and extra payouts with the Bonus 21 and Super Bonus 21 features.
The game also has its strategy, which I’ve documented before. It follows the Blackjack Basic Strategy but is modified to account for doubling anywhere and the reduced number of 10s in the dealing shoe.
In this article, I’ll review the game, explain how to play, and explain the Strategy so you can bet confidently.
If you’re an experienced blackjack player, you’ll probably be able to tell what this new game is all about from these key facts, Including the two significant rule changes.
Fun Fun 21 Blackjack has a couple of differences from regular Blackjack.
Firstly, and most crucially to strategy, there are fewer ten-value cards in the shoe than is usual.
A regular 8-deck dealing shoe has one hundred and twenty-eight cards with a value of ten if you include Jack, Queen and Kings. Fun Fun 21 has only Ninety-Six, a difference of thirty-two.
Fewer tens in a deck means fewer opportunities to make a Blackjack and draw a ten card when you need it most. The dealer will seem to bust less of the time, but the player will also benefit. It’s swings and roundabouts, as both the banker and player will benefit and lose out, rarely at the same time!
The second significant change is the dealer hitting on a soft seventeen.
Usually, Seventeen is the benchmark, and the dealer would typically stand on Seventeen, which is excellent for Players because you know that you push on seventeen and have four chances to beat the dealer’s hand with 18, 19, 20 and 21.
However, if the dealer plays a soft seventeen, he gets the opportunity to improve his hand. If he draws a ten card, the hand becomes a hard 17, and he has to stand. But he improves his hand with an Ace to four; if he draws a nine down to five, he gets to draw again.
It’s not a great situation for the player – this rule favours the house more.
The third rule change is the ability to double down anytime you’re playing.
Usually, you can only double down on your third card or once after you’ve split a pair. Now, you can double down on a third, fourth, or even fifth card if it takes your fancy.
A split still gets one double down. This is a significant rule change for the player, as now you hit, and if you make it to ten or eleven, you can double. Remember, though, that there are fewer tens in the deck, so the perfect double may illude you!
The fourth change is the player always wins with a hand value of Twenty-One. Even if it’s not a Blackjack, a twenty-one still wins, even if the dealer also has a twenty-one. This rule benefits the player the most.
The fifth change boosts payouts for hands that win with 21. It all depends on the cards that have made up the 21 and how many cards there are. The Bonus 21 pays between 2:1 and 5:1, while the Super Bonus 21 pays 50:1 for three Sevens, with the dealer having a Seven.
The cashout facility allows you to end your hand and take a cashout value instead of playing it to completion. The player’s two cards and the dealer’s up card determine the cashout value, which can be between 0.41 and 4.43 times your bet. If you take this option, the side bets will remain in play.
Cashout is a really useful feature that, if used carefully, can limit your losses. For example, if you have sixteen and the dealer is showing an eight or more, it’s worth taking the cashout offer.
Fun Fun 21 uses an Infinite Blackjack table, which allows unlimited players to play simultaneously.
Everyone plays the same hand while making their own decisions, which gives each player a personal playing experience. Your cards are shown in the playing interface as computer-generated cards. Once you’ve completed your hand, your cards are locked in until the dealer completes their hand. You only see the cards for your hand on the screen. Any further cards given to other players pass into the centre of the table and are shown in their playing interface.
The game round starts with betting time, during which you bet on the Ante spot and any or all of the Side Bets (Hot3, 21+3, Match, or Bust It).
The dealer deals two cards to the player position and two to the dealer position, with one facing down.
If the dealer shows an Ace, he offers insurance and checks for a Blackjack. If he has a BJ, the game round ends. If you have a BJ, you still win.
If the dealer shows a K, Q, or J, he doesn’t offer insurance but checks for a BJ. If he has one, the game ends. You still win if you have a BJ.
You then get five playing choices:
The aim is to build a hand as close to 21 as possible without busting to beat the dealer. The dealer must have a better hand value than the player to win. If he busts, the dealer loses. If there is a Tie, the game is called a Push, and players’ Ante bets are returned. If there is a Tie on 21, the player wins.
Once the game ends, betting time begins for the next game round.
Note: You can only play the Side bets if there is a main-hand bet. But they remain in play until the dealer finishes his hand, regardless of the outcome of the player’s main hand. So if you’ve lost your side bets, still play on.
Blackjack side bets are a fun way to make the game more exciting. They give bigger payouts than you’ll typically receive on the main hand, but they come at a cost. The RTPs are generally lower, so they are not a good long-term bet to play – as you’ll lose.
But they keep your interest in the hand. Even if your main hand has busted out, the side bets remain active, so it’s still possible to win.
Fun Fun 21 has four side bets – Hot3, Bust It, 21+3 and Match.
Unless you’ve got a large bankroll, I don’t recommend you play the side bets, as in the long term, you’ll lose. There’s a reason why they’re called “Sucker Bets”.
The Hot3 Side Bet uses the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up card.
The bet pays when the three cards total 19 or more.
The higher the hand value, the better the payout.
There is some crossover between the Free Bonus 21 and Super Bonus 21 Payments, so if you’re playing the Hot3 and get the 21 with certain cards, you can expect to get a really decent payout.
The chance of winning this side bet is 23.78%, as shown in the table below.
The theoretical return to player (RTP) for Hot 3 side bet is 97.14%.
Hot 3 Bet | Payout | Probability |
---|---|---|
Three Sevens | 100:1 | 0.04% |
Suited 21 | 20:1 | 0.54% |
21 Points | 4:1 | 8.38% |
20 Points | 2:1 | 7.54% |
19 Points | 1:1 | 7.28% |
The Bust IT side bet is about how many cards the dealer will bust with. The more cards in his hand when he busts, the bigger the payout.
The payouts range from a 3 card bust at 1:1 to an eight-card bust at 250:1.
The RTP for this side bet is 98.15%, driven mainly by the fewer tens in the deck and the dealer having to take a card on a soft seventeen, leading to more bust opportunities.
Dealers Hand Busts with: | Usual Payout |
---|---|
8 Cards or more | 250:1 |
7 Cards | 100:1 |
6 Cards | 50:1 |
5 Cards | 6:1 |
4 Cards | 2:1 |
3 Cards | 1:1 |
The 21+3 side bet is found in virtually every game of Blackjack. It uses the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up card to make a 3-card poker hand.
The RTP stands at 97.53%.
You can win with five hands, a Three-of-a-kind, a Straight, a Flush, Straight Flush & Suited Trips.
Hand | Usual Payout | Probability |
---|---|---|
Suited three-of-a-kind | 100:1 | 0.02% |
Straight Flush | 40:1 | 0.02% |
Three -of-a-kind | 30:1 | 0.52% |
Straight | 10:1 | 3.10% |
Flush | 5:1 | 5.88% |
The Match Side bet uses the dealer’s up card and the player’s initial two cards.
You’re looking for at least a card match between one of the player’s cards and the dealers.
The combination of the match determines the payouts, with a double-suited match giving the highest payout of 24:1.
This side bet is a spin on the pair side bet; the pair is made across two hands rather than one.
The RTP for the Match bet is 97.01%.
Bet Type | Payout |
---|---|
Double Suited Match | 24:1 |
Suited + Non-suited Match | 15:1 |
Suited Match | 12:1 |
Double Non-suited Match | 6:1 |
Non-Suited Match | 3:1 |
Unusually, Fun Fun 21 comes with a payout bonus for hands that make twenty-one in total.
The bonus is free, unlike a side bet and occurs when the players make a total of 21 with three cards in the format of 6-7-8 or 7-7-7.
The combination of these cards determines the payouts, with a 6-7-8 of Spades getting a 4:1 payout and 7-7-7 of Spades getting 4:1. There are also payouts for multi-card twenty-ones, so if you have a six-card 21, you’ll receive a 3:1 payout. This also pays for a 5-card and seven-card 21.
The Super Bonus 21 pays when the player has 7-7-7, and the dealer also has a 7. This pays 50:1
Hand | Payout |
---|---|
Bonus 21 | |
6-7-8 Spades | 4:1 |
6-7-8 same suits | 3:1 |
6-7-8 mixed suits | 2:1 |
7-7-7 Spades | 5:1 |
7-7-7 same suits | 4:1 |
7-7-7 mixed suits | 3:1 |
Seven card hand 21 | 4:1 |
Six card hand 21 | 3:1 |
Five card hand 21 | 2:1 |
Super Bonus 21 | |
Player with 7-7-7 dealer with 7 | 50:1 |
Fun Fun 21’s RTP for the Blackjack part of the game is 99.37%. Any game with 99% or more RTP is worth playing, especially if you follow the documented strategy.
If you take the cash out when it’s offered, the RTP drops to a low 96.80%. The cashout option is worth taking, but only on certain hands, like when you have 15 or 16, and the dealer has an Ace, Jack, Queen or King showing. Cashing out on these hands may bring the RTP up to 99.37%, and if these bets go your way, it could improve your RTP to being positive for a while! In those instances, you should bank your winnings!
As you expect, the side bets perform poorly RTP-wise against the main hand. So play these carefully, as they have the habit of draining your bankroll before you know it!
Bet | RTP |
---|---|
Blackjack | 99.37% |
21+3 Side Bet | 97.53% |
Hot3 Side Bet | 97.14% |
Bust IT | 98.15% |
Match | 97.01% |
Early Cashout | 96.80% |
The best way to play Blackjack is to follow the Basic Blackjack Strategy, which details the options you should take depending on the cards you hold and the dealers-up card.
However, Basic Strategy won’t work for Fun Fun 21 Blackjack because of the options to Double any time and the chances you have to win one of the bonus payouts.
So, Evolution has produced a modified strategy for Fun Fun 21, which you should follow to make the most of the game and improve your chances of meeting or exceeding the RTP.
The strategy doesn’t cover the Cashout option, which you should consider using if the dealer has an Ace or Face Card while you have 14 to 16.
Below, I have replicated the strategy for Fun Fun 21 Blackjack, which Evolution makes available in the Games Help file. I’ve provided a link to it, should you want to access it directly.
Your Cards | Dealers Cards | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | |
Hand 5 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Hand 6 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Hand 7 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Hand 8 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Hand 9 | H | H | H | H | D34 | H | H | H | H | H |
Hand 10 | D45 | D45 | D5 | D5 | D5 | D45 | H | H | H | H |
Hand 11 | D45 | D45 | D45 | D45 | D45 | D45 | D345 | H | H | H |
Hand 12 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Hand 13 | H | H | H | H | S456(1) | H | H | H | H | H |
Hand 14 | H | H | S456(1) | S456(1) | S456(1) | H | H | H | H | H |
Hand 15 | S456(1) | S456(1) | S456(1) | S56(2) | S56 | H | H | H | H | H |
Hand 16 | S456 | S56 | S56 | S6 | S6 | S | H | H | H | H |
Hand 17 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S56 | S56 | S56 | H |
Hand 18 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Hand 19 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Hand 20 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Soft 13 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Soft 14 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Soft 15 | H | H | H | H | D345 | H | H | H | H | H |
Soft 16 | H | H | H | H | D456 | H | H | H | H | H |
Soft 17 | H | H | D456 | D456 | D456 | H | H | H | H | H |
Soft 18 | D3456 | D456 | D456 | D456 | D56 | D56 | D3456 | H | H | H |
Soft 19 | S | S | S | S | S6 | S | S | S | S56 | S56 |
Soft 20 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Soft 21 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Pair 2 | P | P | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | N |
Pair 3 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | H | H | H |
Pair 4 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Pair 5 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H | H |
Pair 6 | H | H(3) | P | P | P | H | H | H | H | H |
Pair 7 | H | P(2) | P | P | P | H | H | H | H | H |
Pair 8 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | H |
Pair 9 | S | P | P | P | P | S | P | P | S | S |
Pair 10 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Pair 11 (Aces) | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | H |
Key:
H(x) – Hit except if the number of player cards is equal to any of the numbers; in that case, Stand.
D(x) – Duble except if the number of player cards is equal to any of the numbers, in that case Hit.
S(x) – Stand except if the number of player cards is equal to any of the numbers, in that case Hit.
P(x) – Split.
x – Can be 3, 4, 5, and/or 6
Additional Exceptions
(1) – and except if having the possibility of any 3 card 21 bonus, in that case, Hit.
(2) – (and) except if there is the possibility of a suited (including Spades) 3 Card 21 Bonus, in that case, Hit.
(3) – except if having two player cards of the same suit (including Spades), in that case, split.
Reproduced from the Original created by Evolution.
Fun Fun 21 is a variant of regular Blackjack played on an Infinite Table.
The rules for playing are the same, so if you can play Blackjack, you can enjoy Fun Fun 21 without much adjustment. The aim is still to beat the dealer with a better hand, and you do that using a sensible strategy.
However, because there are fewer 10s and you can Double at any point, a modified strategy has been produced that is more specific to Fun Fun 21.
The other notable difference is the ability to cash out your hand if the playing options don’t look great.
The Side Bets RTPs are lower than you’d find in a regular game of Blackjack due to the impact of fewer ten cards in the deck. A slight adjustment to the paytable for a five-card bust has also been made from 9:1 to 6:1.
And the last difference is that Player 21 always wins even if the dealer has 21!
As games go, this is a nice variant with a good RTP that you can enjoy. The Bonus payouts for specific hands of 21 are excellent because they are free—just don’t hold your breath waiting for them!
Infinite Fun Fun 21 Blackjack is a variant of Blackjack where the 10s have been removed from the deck. You can double at any time, and a player 21 always wins! The game is designed to be played by multiple players, hence the Infinite part of the name, and it’s played on an Infinite Blackjack Table. Four side bets make the game more interesting, but the RTPs are low, so steer clear of them if you want to make a profit.
Evolution has created a modified strategy for the game to account for the reduced number of 10s and the ability to double at any time. A version of the strategy chart is here.
Infinite Fun Fun 21 Blackjack has an RTP of 99.37%, slightly less than Infinite Blackjack.
All online casinos with Evolution Games have Fun Fun 21.