Red Baron Was Created by James Ernest and Mike Selinker. © 2014 Cheapass Games

Red Baron: Basic Rules (Free Version)

Red Baron is a casino-style game, similar to 21. There is one dealer, and up to 6 players.

The deck contains 70 cards: ten each of the numbers 1 through 6, and ten Red Baron cards, which are worth 0 points. You can make your own Red Baron deck using the A-6 and King from three poker decks.

The goal is to “shoot down” the dealer, by having a total that is equal to, or not more than three points below, the dealer’s total.

Play begins with a bet. Each player receives one card, face up. The Dealer receives one up card and one down card. All wins pay 1:1.

Player Options:

Players complete their hands first, followed by the dealer. Players have different options, depending on what they hold:

• Hit: (Any time except with a Red Baron) Take another card. • Stand: (Any time) Stop taking cards. • Surrender: (On your first card only) Fold and take back half of your bet. • Split: (With a pair only) if your first two cards are the same, you can place a second bet of the same size, and split them into two hands. You can split again, if you get more pairs, up to a total of four hands. • Red Baron: If you have a Red Baron, you have only two options: To double or to stand. o Double: Double your bet, discard the Red Baron, and receive two more cards. You may play normally from this point, unless you receive another Red Baron, in which case you once again must double or stand. o Natural: If you get two Red Barons on a double, you immediately win.

Dealer Rules:

The dealer acts after all players, and plays by fixed rules. They are: Stand, unless you have a Red Baron, in which case, discard it and take two more cards.

• The dealer can get a natural (an instant win) on his first two cards, or any two-card draw. • The dealer never surrenders or splits.

Strategy:

Basic strategy is to hit until you exceed the value of the dealer’s upcard. That is, if your total is higher the dealer’s upcard, you should stop taking cards. This is a fairly clear and easy basic strategy.

Doubling: If you have a Red Baron, doubling is only correct if your total is at least two points under the dealer’s upcard. Stand with 4 or higher against dealer Red Baron; double with 3 or below.

Splitting: It is correct to split a pair unless your current total is one to four points greater than the dealer’s upcard, at which point you should stand. Never split against a Red Baron.

Examples of Play

Typical Hand:

1. The player bets $5. He receives a 5. The dealer shows a 6. 2. The player hits. He receives an Ace, and stands on a total of 6. 3. The dealer reveals his down card, which is a 2. The dealer stands on a total of 8. The player wins $5.

Play of Red Baron Cards:

1. The player’s first card is a Red Baron. The dealer’s upcard is a 4. 2. The player doubles. The Red Baron is removed, and replaced with two cards: a 3 and a 4. The player stands on a total of 7. 3. The dealer’s down card is an Ace, for a total of 5. 4. The player has overshot, and loses the hand.

Splitting:

1. The player’s first card is a 2. The dealer’s upcard is a 5. The player hits. 2. The player’s second card is also a 2. 3. The player splits, making a second bet and playing both hands. 4. Play continues normally on both hands, one after the other.

Natural:

1. The player’s first card is a Red Baron. The dealer shows a 4. 2. The player doubles. The first Red Baron is removed, and two more Red Barons are dealt. The player wins immediately.

Dealer Red Baron:

1. After the player stands on 6, the dealer reveals his hand to be 5 and Red Baron. 2. The dealer removes the Red Baron and takes two more cards: Ace and Red Baron. 3. The dealer removes the second Red Baron and takes two more cards: 2 and 5. 4. The dealer stands on a total of 12. The dealer wins.