All the strategy decisions belonged to the dealer. The dealer won all ties, which added to the dealer edge. The dealer could even collect quadruple payouts from the players if the dealer had a 21. The dealer could decide whether to stand, hit or split after seeing how each player hand was completed. The dealer could require the players to double their wagers after the dealer saw his or her first card. The old gambling saloons of the Barbary Coast played a French game called “Vingt Et Un” or “21” which gave every advantage to the dealer.
