Black Jack pinball rules and strategy

The Strategy

Black Jack grows end-of-ball Bonus X through winning hands at the right saucer. When Player Wins is lit, collect the saucer three times for 2x, 3x, and 5x; otherwise use the spinner and top suit lanes to change the hand and build base bonus.

The goal

When Player Wins is lit, shoot the right saucer for 2x, 3x, then 5x Bonus. Otherwise, complete the four suit lanes to light the left spinner at 1,000 per spin, then repeat the spinner to build bonus and change the player hand.

  1. If Player Wins is already lit, soft-plunge off the upper-left rubber toward the saucer; otherwise plunge a missing suit.

  2. Compare the player hand with the dealer hand. When Player Wins is lit and the saucer return is controlled, shoot the right saucer from the left flipper.

  3. Collect the first three winning saucers for 2x, 3x, then 5x Bonus.

  4. When Player Wins is not lit, shoot the left spinner. It feeds the top suit lanes, changes the player hand, and builds base bonus.

    • Confirm player and dealer hand changes, winning-saucer order, 29K base-bonus maximum, suit lamps, lit spinner, bumper, and 50K outlane behavior.
  5. Complete all four suits to light the spinner at 1,000 per spin. Repeat the lit spinner while its feed remains controlled.

  6. Hit a red player target or yellow dealer target only when one exact hand change is needed.

  7. After reaching 5x Bonus, take another winning saucer only when Extra Ball or Special awards useful tournament points.

Alternative route: Spinner recovery

Use this plan when the saucer rejects repeated shots or its eject is uncontrolled.

  1. Shoot the spinner and use the top lanes to change the hand.
  2. Use a direct red or yellow hand target only when one exact change is necessary.
  3. Return to the saucer when Player Wins lights.
Need to know
Main route
When Player Wins is lit, shoot the right saucer for 2x, 3x, then 5x Bonus.
Long goal
Collect three winning saucers for 5x bonus.
Safer fallback
Spinner recovery: Use this plan when the saucer rejects repeated shots or its eject is uncontrolled.

Machine setup

  • Confirm the four-player 1977 Bally solid-state Black Jack, not the two-player EM; verify ball count, tie rule, tilt, Extra Ball, Special, and award conversions.
  • Test the right-saucer entry and eject, soft-plunge rebound, left spinner and post, hand-target rebounds, suit-lane feeds, and tap or Shatz transfer.
Sources and references7 source links and outbound references.
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Playbooks

Black Jack playfield

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