Gameplay

Anyone may volunteer to deal then shuffles and offers a cut.

Deal clockwise giving each player a card face-down.  Dealer gets the last card (also face down).  All players are free to look at their cards.

Dealer plays first person clockwise head-to-head:

1)    Place bet:  opponent wagers a drink amount (can be no larger than the dealer’s max bet).

2)    Hit or stay:  dealer gives the opponent as many cards as requested.  The opponent loses on a bust.  If the opponent stays before busting, then the dealer’s card is turned face up and the dealer can hit or stay.  The dealer loses on a bust. If the dealer stays before busting, the opponent’s down card is turned face up.  Loser drinks the wager.

Play continues clockwise.

After each person has played, the dealer gives each player a new card and continues play until the cards run out.

Rules

• 8s, 9s and 10s are all taken out of the deck with one exception (the 8-of-hearts)
• Face cards are worth a half
• Aces are worth 1
• If you bust (go over 7^1/2) you lose and must tell – no bluffing on this
• If you get 5 cards without busting you automatically win.
• If you get the 8-of-hearts you automatically lose
• A deal is completed when the cards run out (No re-shuffling is allowed to complete a hand.  Once the cards run out, play it as is.)
• A round of the game is completed when each player has dealt once

Nuances

The dealer sets a maximum per-hand bet at the beginning of the deal (i.e. a third of a beer).

When dealing, the objective is to get through the deck efficiently (i.e. have a high cards-per-hand ratio) as the dealer is at risk of frequently losing - leaving little time to “absorb” losses.

The dealer is afforded two advantages:

1)    Wins in the case of a tie.

2)    May keep or discard (drawing a new card) when an opponent busts and the dealer’s card has not been shown.

It is a best practice for the dealer to keep track of used cards by placing them face-up on the bottom of the deck.