Fun 21 on Carnival cruise ships

I played this game a few months ago on a cruise. It seems to have most of the features of Spanish 21, but even more positives for the player. The big negative of course is that they remove the queens from the six decks (the tens are removed in Spanish 21). But in comparing the rules between Fun 21 and Spanish 21, Fun 21 seems to have more that favor the player. (This is not the same game as Super Fun 21.)

Does anyone know if there is a basic strategy layout for Fun 21? Or a counting strategy? Using a very rudimentary ad hoc counting strategy, I was able to make several thousand dollars in just four days with a betting unit of $5. My max bet was only $20. It could very well have been positive short-term variance, but I got the sense that if there was ever a beatable game, this was it.

http://www.oceanplayersclub.com/documents/FUN21BJ.pdf

I found this online. The top half of the page talks about the rules. It says 8 decks, but they were definitely dealing six on my cruise.

Thanks for any help.

This game looks inferior to SP21. In SP, the bonuses extend to 2-1 for a 6-card 21 and 3-1 for a 7+ card 21. Additionally, 777 or 678 suited pay 2-1 in SP and 3-1 if they are spaded.

Also, surrender is available anytime in SP, not just on the first 2 cards.

The only advantage to SP I see with this variant is that you can re-split to 5 hands instead of 4. It seems to me that wouldn't make up for the added bonuses in SP though, particularly if redoubling is available.

Someone (Don??) please correct me if I'm wrong. This is just an off-the-top-of-my-head observation.

D

D

A cruise ship can simply TAKE your money, winnings included.

You have absolutely NO recourse.
You are in international waters.

Some cruise lines actually have posted signs that inform you that their intention is to confiscate your money if they SUSPECT you of Advantage Play.

Play at your own peril.

I would rather read a good book.

Cruise ships are owned by publicly traded companies. I have heard of problems on cruise ships. I have heard of them taking shots. I have never heard of a cruise ship getting away with theft like a Carribean island.

By POSTING that they will, indeed, confiscate your winnings and your bankroll, they signal that you have been duly warned. The bastards.

I'm not familiar with what's legal in international waters but I did hear once that even if you're in international waters that it isn't legal to commit murder and that you could be brought up on charges by a body of countries that agree to what's legal in the waters. I don't know how true that is. Maybe it's the United Nations that the show was talking about? I forgot, but if that is true, then I would think that theft of gambling winnings would also be against their laws.

Not sure if cruise ship casinos are covered by the rules of admiralty law, but in general:

"Under admiralty, the ship's flag determines the source of law. For example, a ship flying the American flag in the Persian Gulf would be subject to American admiralty law; and a ship flying a Norwegian flag in American waters will be subject to Norwegian admiralty law."

I have been on several Royal Caribbean cruises over the years and never considered their casinos more than just a diversion, not for serious play. In fact, gambling can be a lot of fun when you're not in your AP mode."Give me a two way hard 8" :)

Cobbson