Game Rules Specified for a No-Bust Finnish 27 ™ Game

Game Rules

Additional Information

Objective

In a no-bust Finnish 27 ™ game, a dealer and a player compete. The player makes a game wager. The objective of the player is to win the game wager. Each player acquires a hand of cards. The player with the highest value hand wins the game and the game wager.
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Number Of Decks, Composition Of Each Deck, And Shuffling Procedures.

The dealer uses a six deck shoe. Each deck includes thirteen ranks
of each of four suits and two Jokers. The thirteen ranks are Two,
Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen, King,
and Ace. The four suits are Spades, Clubs, Hearts, and Diamonds. The
dealer shuffles the cards before the first round of play. The dealer
reshuffles the cards after the shoe is depleted of about four and a
half decks. The player is notified whenever the dealer reshuffles.
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Scoring

Each card has a numeric value. The dealer adds up the numeric value of each card in a hand. Thereby, the dealer determines the hand total. The numeric values correspond to the rank of the cards in a poker game. An Ace can be played either as a high Ace or a low Ace.  Let us suppose. An Ace can be counted as 14 without causing the hand total to exceed 27. In that event, the Ace is a “high” Ace. The “high” Ace has a numeric value 14. Let us suppose. An Ace can not be counted as 14 without causing the hand total to exceed 27. In that event, the Ace is a “low” Ace. The “low” Ace has a numeric value of 1. A Jack has a numeric value of 11. A Queen has a numeric value of 12. King has a numeric value of 13. Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) count respectively as 11, 12, and 13. Let us suppose. A player’s hand consists of less than two cards. Let us suppose further. The dealer deals a Joker to the player’s hand. In that event, the hand total is 27. A numeric value is required to make a hand total of 27. The Joker counts as the numeric value. Let us suppose.  The player’s hand consists of at least two cards. Let us suppose further. The dealer deals a Joker to the player’s hand.  In that event, the joker counts as 0. All other cards are counted according to their numeric value.
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Playing Card Indices

Each card bears Finnish style indicia. The Finnish style has
indices 1, 13, 12, 11 appear on the Ace, King, Queen and Jack;
has no indices appear on the Joker; and has indices corresponding
to card rank appear on each of the remaining cards.

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Betting

To begin a round, the player places a bet.

Dealing Initial Hands

After the player places a bet, the dealer deals initial hands. The dealer forms the player’s initial hand and the dealer’s initial hand. The dealer deals a first card face up to the player. The dealer deals a first card face up to the dealer. The dealer deals a second card face up to the player. The dealer deals a second card face up to the dealer.
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Hard and Soft

There are two basic types of hands. Let us suppose. A hand of playing cards includes a “high” Ace. In that event, the hand is a “soft” hand. Let us suppose. A hand of playing cards does not include a “high” Ace. In that event, the hand is a “hard” hand. Let us suppose. The sum of the numeric values assigned to the cards in a “hard” hand does exceed twenty-seven. In that event, the holder of the hand does bust. Let us suppose. The sum of the numeric values assigned to the cards in a “soft” hand does exceed twenty-seven. In that event, the “high” Ace turns into a “low” Ace. The “soft” hand becomes a “hard” hand.

The rules assign numeric values to the cards in a hand. A hand total is equal to the sum of the numeric values. There are two basic types of hand totals. A “soft” hand has a “soft” total. For example, let us suppose. A “soft” hand consists of an Ace of Spades and a Jack of Diamonds. In that event, the “soft” hand has a “soft” total. The “soft” total is “soft twenty-five”. A “hard” hand has a “hard” total. For example, let us suppose. A “hard” hand consists of an Ace of Spades, a Nine of Diamonds, and a King of Clubs. In that event, the “hard” hand has a “hard” total. The “hard” total is “hard twenty-three”.
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Initial Hands That Have A Value Of Twenty-Seven

The following are three different types of initial hands. Each has a value of twenty-seven:

  • A “Jo Jo” is an initial hand consisting of a pair of Jokers,
  • A “Finnish 27” is an initial hand consisting of an Ace and a King,
  • A “Joanca” is an initial hand consisting of a Joker and a card of any rank other than Joker.

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Determine Whether A Predetermined Outcome Occurs

After the initial deal, the dealer determines whether a predetermined outcome occurs in accordance with the following set of rules.

  • Let us suppose. An initial hand has a value of twenty-seven. In that event, the initial hand is a predetermined-win hand except as noted below.
  • Three types of initial hand have a value of twenty-seven. The predetermined set of game rules does rank the three types of initial hands in reverse order of their probabilities of occurrence.
    • The Jo Jo has the highest rank.
    • The Finnish 27 has a lower rank than the Jo Jo, and a higher rank than the Joanca.
    • The Joanca has the lowest rank.
  • Let us suppose. The dealer deals an initial hand to the player. The dealer deals an initial hand to the dealer. Let us suppose further. Both initial hands have a value of twenty-seven. In that event, the highest ranking initial hand is a predetermined-win hand.
  • Let us suppose. The dealer deals an initial hand to the player. The dealer deals an initial hand to the dealer. Let us suppose further. Both initial hands have a value of twenty-seven. Let us suppose still further. The player’s initial hand has the same rank as the dealer’s initial hand. In that event, the dealer wins ties.  The dealer’s initial hand is a predetermined-win hand.
  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand is a predetermined-win hand. In that event, a predetermined outcome does occur. The outcome of the game is the player’s hand wins.
  • Let us suppose. The dealer’s hand is a predetermined-win hand. In that event, a predetermined outcome does occur. The outcome of the game is the dealer’s hand wins.

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Form The Player’s Complete Hand

Let us suppose. A predetermined outcome does not occur. In that event, the dealer forms the player’s complete hand in accordance with the following method of play.

The player and the dealer take turns playing their hands. The player goes first. The dealer must play the player’s hand in a predetermined way under certain circumstances. Let us suppose. The dealer plays the player’s hand in a predetermined way. In that event, the dealer does not consult with the player for a decision on how to play the player’s hand. Let us suppose. The dealer does not play the player’s hand in a predetermined way. In that event, the dealer does consult with the player for a decision on how to play the player’s hand. Let us suppose. The dealer does consult with the player for a decision on how to play the player’s hand. In that event, the player has the following options.

The player has the option to stand.

Let us suppose. The player stands. In that event, the player’s hand is complete.

The player has the option to hit.

Let us suppose. The player hits. In that event, the dealer deals one additional card to the player’s hand. The one additional card has a numeric value. The numeric value adds to the player’s hand total.

Let us suppose. The dealer has a “hard” hand. Let us suppose further. The “hard” hand has a “hard” total of less than “hard twenty-four”.  In that event, the player must play the player’s hand in a predetermined way under certain circumstances.

Let us suppose. The dealer has a “soft” hand. Let us suppose further. The “soft” hand has a “soft” total of less than “soft twenty-five”. In either event, the player must play the player’s hand in a predetermined way under certain circumstances.

The player must play the player’s hand in a predetermined way under the following circumstances.

  • Let us suppose. The player has a “hard” hand. Let us suppose further. The “hard” hand has a “hard” total of less than “hard twenty-one”. In that event, the player must hit.
  • Let us suppose. The player has a “soft” hand. Let us suppose further. The “soft” hand has a “soft” total of less than “soft twenty-four”. In that event, the player must hit.
  • Let us suppose. The player has a “hard” hand. Let us suppose further. The “hard” hand has a “hard” total of at least “hard twenty-five”. In that event, the player must stand.
  • Let us suppose. The player has a “soft” hand. Let us suppose further. The “soft” hand has a “soft” total of “soft twenty-seven”. In that event, the player must stand.

Let us suppose. The dealer has a “hard” hand. Let us suppose further. The “hard” hand has a “hard” total of at least “hard twenty-four”.  In that event, the player must play the player’s hand in a predetermined way under certain circumstances.

Let us suppose. The dealer has a “soft” hand. Let us suppose further. The “soft” hand has a “soft” total of at least “soft twenty-five”. In either event, the player must play the player’s hand in a predetermined way under certain circumstances.

The player must play the player’s hand in a predetermined way under the following circumstances.

  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand total is not greater than the dealer’s hand total. In that event, the player must hit.
  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand is a “hard” hand. Let us suppose further. The player’s hand total is greater than the dealer’s hand total. In that event, the player must stand.
  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand is a “soft” hand. Let us suppose further. The player’s hand total is soft twenty-seven. In that event, the player must stand.

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Determine Whether A Predetermined Outcome Occurs

After the dealer forms the player’s complete hand, the dealer determines whether a predetermined outcome occurs in accordance with the following set of rules.

  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand total is equal to twenty-seven. In that event, the player’s hand is a predetermined-win hand. A predetermined outcome does occur. The outcome of the game is the player’s hand wins.
  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand total does exceed hard thirty-five. In that event, the player’s hand is a predetermined-lose hand. A predetermined outcome does occur. The outcome of the game is the dealer’s hand wins.

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Form The Dealer’s Complete Hand

Let us suppose. A predetermined outcome does not occur. In that event, the dealer forms the dealer’s complete hand.

  • Let us suppose. The dealer has a “hard” hand. In that event, the dealer makes a decision on how to play the hard hand in accordance with the following predetermined strategy.
    • Let us suppose. The “hard” hand has a “hard” total of less than “hard twenty-four”. In that event, the dealer must hit.
    • Let us suppose. The “hard” hand has a “hard” total of at least “hard twenty-four”. In that event, the dealer must stand.
  • Let us suppose. The dealer has a “soft” hand. In that event, the dealer makes a decision on how to play the “soft” hand in accordance with the following predetermined strategy.
    • Let us suppose. The “soft” hand has a “soft” total of less than “soft twenty-five”. In that event, the dealer must hit.
    • Let us suppose The “soft” hand has a “soft” total of at least “soft twenty-five”. In that event, the dealer must stand.

Let us suppose. The dealer hits. In that event, the dealer deals one additional card to the dealer’s hand. The one additional card has a numeric value. The numerical value adds to the dealer’s hand total. Let us suppose. The dealer stands. In that event, the dealer’s hand is complete.
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Determine The Outcome Of The Game

Let us suppose. A predetermined outcome does not occur. In that event, the dealer determines the outcome of the game in accordance with the following set of rules.

  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand total is closer to twenty-seven than is the dealer’s hand total. In that event, the outcome of the game is the player’s hand wins.
  • Let us suppose. The dealer’s hand total is closer to twenty-seven than is the player’s hand total. In that event, the outcome of the game is the dealer’s hand wins.
  • Let us suppose. The dealer’s hand total is as close to twenty-seven as is the player’s hand total. In that event, the outcome of the game is the dealer’s hand wins.

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Resolution Of The Game Wager

The dealer resolves the game wager in accordance with the following set of rules.

  • Let us suppose. The outcome of the game is the player’s hand wins. In that event, the dealer pays the player one to one odds on the game wager.
  • Let us suppose. The outcome of the game is the dealer’s hand wins. In that event, the dealer collects the game wager.

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Bonus Payouts For Predetermined Combinations Of Cards

Let us suppose. The outcome of the game is the player’s hand wins. In that event, the dealer examines the player’s hand in search of a predetermined combination of cards in accordance with the following set of rules:

  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand consists of an Ace and a King. In that event, the dealer finds. The player’s hand does include a predetermined combination of cards.
  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand consists of a pair of Jokers. In that event, the dealer finds. The player’s hand does include a predetermined combination of cards.
  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand does consist of a card assigned a value of eight, a card assigned a value of nine, and a card assigned a value of ten. In that event, the dealer finds. The player’s hand does include a predetermined combination of cards.
  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand does consist of three cards. Let us suppose further. Each of said three cards is a card assigned a value of nine. In that event, the dealer finds. The player’s hand does include a predetermined combination of cards.
  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand consists of at least five cards. In that event, the dealer determines whether the player’s hand does include a qualifying-five-card-poker hand. The dealer uses memory of a predetermined set of hand-ranking rules. Any five of the at least five cards in the player’s hand can make a five-card-poker hand. The dealer identifies the highest-ranking-five-card-poker hand. Let us suppose. The category of said highest-ranking-five-card-poker hand is better than a high card. In that event, the dealer finds. The player’s hand does include a qualifying-five-card-poker hand. The qualifying-five-card-poker hand is said highest-ranking-five-card-poker hand.
  • The predetermined set of hand-ranking rules does. Specify ten categories of five-card-poker hand.  Assign a rank to each of the ten categories of five-card-poker hand.  When arranged in order from lowest ranking to highest ranking, the ten categories of five-card-poker hand are high card, one pair, two pair, three-of-a-kind, straight, full house, four-of-a-kind, flush, straight-flush, and five-of-a-kind. The predetermined set of hand-ranking rules does rank individual cards. When arranged in order from lowest ranking to highest ranking the individual cards of each suit are Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. An Ace can appear as the lowest ranking card as when part of a hand selected from a group consisting of an Ace-2-3-4-5 straight and an Ace-2-3-4-5 straight flush. The predetermined set of hand-ranking rules does specify the use of individual card ranks to rank hands in the same category. The predetermined set of hand-ranking rules does specify use of suits to determine whether a hand belongs to a category of five-card-poker hand selected from a group consisting of a flush and a straight-flush. The predetermined set of hand-ranking rules does specify the step of assigning a wild card value to each Joker in a hand. Said each Joker can be used to represent the rank and suit of any card. The numeric value of said each Joker remains zero.
  • Let us suppose. The player’s hand does include a qualifying-five-card-poker hand. In that event, the dealer finds. The player’s hand does include a predetermined combination of cards.

Let us suppose. The outcome of the game is the player’s hand wins. Let us suppose further. The player’s hand does include a predetermined combination of cards. In that event, the dealer pays the player a bonus in accordance with the following pay table.

Predetermined Combination of Cards Bonus Payout
Finnish 27 (an Ace and a King) 1:2 odds
Jo Jo (a pair of Jokers) 1:1 odds
8-9-10 mixed suits 1:2 odds
8-9-10 hearts, clubs, or diamonds 1:1 odds
8-9-10 spades 2:1 odds
9-9-9 mixed suits 9 times the table minimum
9-9-9 same suit 99 times the table minimum
9-9-9 and any 9-9 initial dealer’s hand 999 times the table minimum
Two Pair 1:1 odds
Three of a Kind 2:1 odds
Straight 3:1 odds
Full House 4:1 odds
Four of a Kind 5:1 odds
Flush 6:1 odds
Straight Flush 7:1 odds
Five of a Kind 8:1 odds

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House Edge

The house can expect to retain an average portion of the game wager in the long term with strictly average luck. People refer to the average portion of the game wager as a house edge. The house edge is expressed as a percentage of the game wager. A positive percentage indicates a long term gain for the house. A negative percentage indicates a long term loss for the house.

Let us suppose. A player consistently uses the basic strategy to make decisions on how to play the player’s hand.  In that event, this particular set of game rules gives the house an edge of about 1.3%. Accordingly, each ten dollar bet would cost the player about thirteen cents on average.

Let us suppose. A player does not consistently use basic strategy to make decisions on how to play the player’s hand. In that event, the house edge could be much higher than 1.3%.

Let us suppose. A player has the ability. The player can consistently predict the outcome of the game before even placing a game wager. In that event, the player would have an edge over the house. The house should probably invite the player to play a different game.
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Basic Strategy

Players make decisions on how to play their hands. Let us suppose. A player uses a basic strategy.  In that event, the basic strategy enables the player.  The player loses the least amount of money to the house in the long run with strictly average luck.

Basic strategy varies in accordance with the chances of the player making a qualifying-five-card-poker hand, and varies in accordance with the dealer’s hand total.

Let us suppose. The player’s initial hand does consist of two high-numeric-value cards. In that event, the chance of making a qualifying-five-card-poker hand is relatively low. The basic strategy for the play of the player’s hand can be summarized using five rules. The five rules are displayed in the following table.

Let us suppose. The dealer’s hand total is In that event, hit to target-numerical sums
any hard total from 4 to 19 hard 25 and soft 26 (25/AQ)
any hard total from 20 to 23 hard 24 and soft 25 (24/AJ)
any hard total from 24 to 26 greater than the dealer’s hand total
soft 25 or soft 26 greater than the dealer’s hand total
any soft total from 15 to 24 hard 25 and soft 26 (25/AQ)

Let us suppose. The player’s initial hand does consist of two low numeric value cards. In that event, the chance of making a qualifying-five-card-poker hand is relatively high. The basic strategy for the play of the player’s hand can be summarized using five rules. The five rules are displayed in the following table.

Let us suppose. The dealer’s hand total is In that event, hit to target-numerical sums
any hard total from 4 to 22 hard 25 and soft 26 (25/AQ)
hard 23 hard 25 and soft 27 (25/AK)
any hard total from 24 to 26 greater than the dealer’s hand total
soft 25 or soft 26 greater than the dealer’s hand total
any soft total from 15 to 24 hard 25 and soft 26 (25/AQ)

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