Seventeen and Four

Objective

The goal of Seventeen and Four, also known as Twenty-One or Pontoon, is to get as close as possible to 21 points with your cards without exceeding this number.

Cards and Point Values

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck, with the cards having the following values: - Ace: 1 or 11 points, at the player's choice. - Cards 2 through 10: correspond to their face value. - Jack, Queen, King (all face cards): each 10 points.

Gameplay

1. Dealer and Players: One player acts as the dealer, while the others are players. The dealer shuffles the cards and initially deals two cards to every player, including themselves. The players' cards may be dealt face up or down based on agreement, while the dealer's cards remain face down.

2. Player Turns: Starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player chooses whether to draw additional cards ("hit") to come closer to 21 points.

3. A player can draw as many cards as desired as long as they do not exceed 21 points.

4. If the player decides not to draw more cards, they "stand."

5. Blackjack (Natural 21): If a player reaches 21 points with the first two cards (an Ace and a 10-point card), this is "blackjack" and traditionally offers a higher payout (depending on local rules).

6. Dealer's Turn: Once all players have completed their turns, the dealer reveals their cards and draws additional cards until reaching at least 17 points.

7. If the dealer exceeds 21 points, all remaining players automatically win.

8. If the dealer reaches 17 to 21 points, the player closest to 21 without exceeding it wins if their total exceeds the dealer's.

9. Ties: If the dealer and a player have the same total, it is a draw, and the player retains their stake.

Strategic Considerations

• Card Valuation: The flexible value of the ace is crucial – combined with a high card, it gives you dual options.
• Drawing Decisions: It's typically wise to stop drawing around 17 points to avoid busting.
• Card Counting: While the game is predominantly luck-based, keeping track of played cards can inform future drawing probabilities.

Conclusion

Seventeen and Four is simple and fun, ideal for social gatherings, with its quick learning curve and often significant luck factor making it highly popular.

Note: Variations in rules and the game's name are common locally, so confirm specific rules before starting to play.