Vegas Strip Blackjack

Progressive Blackjack is a very popular online casino game and is very similar to European Blackjack.

The cards are dealt from a deck of cards called a shoe containing 6 standard 52-card decks with all jokers removed from the decks. The dealer deals each player two cards face up. The dealer also receives two cards but one is dealt face up, the other is dealt face down.

Once all cards have been dealt you will then decide whether to hit or stand. If possible, you will also decide whether you want to split, double or buy insurance.

You win if you get a get a hand higher than the dealer without going over 21. For example, if the face value of your cards is a Blackjack (Ace and a face card), or if the dealer's cards are lower than yours you win.

There are also a few other things that you should be aware of when playing Vegas Strip Blackjack.

The dealer must hit on all hands totaling 16 or less and stand on all hands totaling 17 or more.

Face cards (the Jack, Queen and King) and 10s all have a value of ten.

An Ace can be used as either a 1 or an 11. If your hand contains an Ace and does not go over 21 it is referred to as a soft hand. An Ace automatically is used as the value that is best for your hand. For example, an Ace and eight is a 19. However, if a player wants another card and that card makes you go over 21, the ace would be used as a 1 so that the hand does not go over 21.

If your hand goes over 21 then you lose even if the dealer also goes over 21. If the dealer goes over 21 but your hand is under 21 then you win.

All hands that are dealt an Ace and a 10 or a face card win, unless the dealer also has a blackjack. If the dealer also has a blackjack then it is a tie which is more commonly referred to as a push.

All hands that purchased insurance win if the dealer has a blackjack – you will break even; if the dealer doesn't have a blackjack the insurance bet loses.

If the dealer's hand total and the player's hand total are the same then the hand is a tie or PUSH and the player's bet is returned.

If you are dealt an Ace and a 10 or face card this is called a blackjack and your hand will STAND automatically. If you beat the dealer with a blackjack you are paid out at 3 to 2.

If you are dealt a pair you may split your hand. This means that your pair is divided into two separate hands with two separate wagers. A second wager – equal to your original wager – is automatically placed on your second hand. You play both hands as separate hands. You are also allowed to re-split your hand twice but you can not re-split Aces.

If you have split a pair of aces and then draw a card with a value of ten then this is not a blackjack. Such a hand would have a value of 21. It beats the dealer's hand value less than 21 and ties – called a push – against the dealer's hand value of 21 except if the dealer's hand is a blackjack. This rule also applies to splitting pairs of cards with a value of ten. Should you split a pair of tens (or face cards) and then receive an ace this hand is not a blackjack.

If you split Aces you will receive only 1 more card to complete your hand and if the second card is a face card or 10 it is not a blackjack. You cannot split your hand(s) again.

A player may double on any of the first two cards that they are dealt. When you double your hand you will receive only one additional card. This is a wager that your hand total with your next card will be higher than the dealer’s completed hand. The wager costs as much as your original bet, but should you win you will be paid double of your total bet (or four times your original bet.)

If the dealer's face up card is an Ace you may purchase insurance. Insurance is purchased prior to playing your hand(s). If the player purchases insurance and then splits their hand, the hand will no longer be covered by insurance.  If the player purchases insurance and then doubles their hand, only the initial wager is doubled.

Progressive Blackjack Payouts

Winning hands pay 1 to 1

Insurance pays 2 to 1

Black Jack pays 3 to 2

Push Hands – original wager returned

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