Sette e mezzo

Last updated

Sette e mezzo
SetteMezzo.jpg
A sette e mezzo reale
Alternative namesSeven and a half
TypeComparing
Players2–12, usually 4–6
SkillsProbability
Cards40
Deck Italian
PlayCounterclockwise
ChanceHigh

Sette e mezzo (Italian for 'seven and a half') is an Italian comparing card game similar to blackjack. In Spanish it is known as siete y media. [1] [2] [3] [4] It is traditionally played in Italy during Christmas holidays. The game is also known in English as seven and a half. [5]

Contents

Rules

Sette e mezzo is played with a 40-card deck, a standard deck with eights, nines, and tens removed. The value of cards ace through seven is their pip value (1 through 7), face cards are worth 12 point each. Players compete against the dealer, but not against each other. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer in one of the following ways:

The score of each player’s hand is calculated by adding the points of their cards.

Players must bet before receiving their first card, which is dealt face down. After receiving it, they must decide whether to stand (end their turn) or hit (receive another card). Players may stand or hit as long as they do not go bust (exceed 712). When a player goes bust they must show their face down card and immediately lose their bet, regardless of whether the dealer goes bust later. When a player achieves 712 they must announce it and show their face down card.

After all players had their turn, the dealer shows their face down card, then plays with the same rules as the other players. If the dealer goes bust, they must match the bet of all players who didn’t go bust. If the dealer doesn’t go bust, all players must show their face down card. The dealer wins against all players who scored lower or tied, collecting their bets, and loses against all players who scored higher paying them back 1:1. Whether a player with a natural 712 beats a dealer with a regular 712 depends on the variant being played.

If the role of dealer is not fixed, it is handed over in the direction of play after each hand. The new dealer shuffles the cards before dealing them.

Variants

References

  1. "Rules of Card Games: Seven and a Half" . Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  2. Scarne, John (1986). Scarne's new complete guide to gambling (Fully rev., expanded, updated ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN   0-671-63063-6.
  3. Snyder, Arnold. "The History of Blackjack". www.blackjackforumonline.com. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  4. Golick, Margie (1998). Card games for smart kids . New York: Sterling Pub. Co. ISBN   978-0806948874.
  5. "Seven and a half - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary" . Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  6. "Sette e mezzo". www.eurobet.it. Retrieved 2018-12-22.