Objective of the Game
Dutch Bank is a card game in which players aim to get as close as possible to the value 23 with their cards without exceeding it. The goal is to beat the bank, which also tries to reach or exceed this value.
Game Materials
- A standard deck of 52 cards
- Chips or play money for betting
Number of Players
The game requires at least two players, but any number of players can join.
Game Setup
One player is designated as the banker. They manage the bank and play against the other players. The remaining participants are point players.
Game Play
-
Betting Phase: At the beginning of the round, point players place a bet of choice, within previously agreed upon limits, onto the table.
-
Dealing Cards: Each point player receives two open cards, which they place face up in front of them. The banker also receives two cards, but one is dealt face down and the other face up.
-
Card Values:
- Ace: 1 or 11 points, depending on what is more advantageous.
- Face Cards (King, Queen, Jack): worth 10 points each.
-
Number Cards: worth their face value.
-
Player Turn: Starting with the player to the left of the banker, each point player decides whether to
- take a hit (one more card per turn), trying to get closer to 23,
-
or stand and keep their current cards.
-
Bank Turn: After the point players, the banker reveals their face-down card and can choose to take additional cards until they voluntarily stand or reach 23 or more.
-
Outcome:
- A point player winning with exactly 23 receives double their bet from the bank.
- If a point player has a higher value than the bank without exceeding 23, they win back their bet.
- Should the point player exceed 23, they lose their bet to the bank.
- If the banker exceeds 23, all remaining point players receive their bets back.
Strategies
- Card Counting: Since each card appears only once in the deck, players can attempt to observe which cards have already been played to make better decisions.
- Bet Management: Players should keep an eye on their bets and place larger bets when the victory odds are in their favor.
The mix of strategy and luck makes the game both engaging and challenging.
