Black Jack for the Family

Here's a family-friendly all-fun black jack with certain twists even kids would love. There are no money bets here but we have something better---chores turns. Everyone's to bet one's free time over the weekend plus a choice slice of mom's cherry-topped apple pie. How about it?

Each family member must have a house chore this weekend. Like, say, dad mows the lawn, mom washes the dishes, John cleans the house, and Mary machine washes and dries clothes. But mom bakes a nice, mouth-watering "Black Jack" apple pie or any pastry the family loves this weekend.

Prepare a chart. Record how many loses and wins each player has. Two players with highest number of losing get to play one last black jack round for a decision. The number of black jack busts of any player is also reflected here.

Play black jack with a rotating dealer---first it's dad, the next round its mom, and so on. The wagers are the chores one's supposed to do this weekend. Dad bets his morning of lawn mowing, mom her dishwashing after lunch, John his house cleaning, and Mary her clothes washing and drying.

Here's the new black jack twist: each time a player uses the ace as an 11 that player will have to do a simple errand or favor for the guy to the player's right. But each time the ace is used as 1, the card holder gets to have a simple errand or favor done to him by the player to his right. The short errands or favors ought to be done pronto.

Any black jack bust (when the sum total of the cards in hand exceeds 21) makes the guilty player do a short errand or favor to all. Say, mix them a juice drink, serve them soda, or open a box of cookies. A total of three busts make him an automatic assistant of the losers bound by the weekend chores.

The game proceeds until two losers are recorded. A last round of black jack for them decides who's first-place loser. Players with most number of busts, if any, will assist the two losers.

First-place loser gets to have most of the chores but also a choice slice of the apple pie. The second-place loser? Well, let him have two or one and half slices.

Black jack can be played in a new light, one that the family would love. It has new twists and gimmicks for everyone's delight---and no gambling harm---just thrills and bonding.