Progressive Blackjack

One of the many variations of Blackjack is Progressive Blackjack. The main difference from standard Blackjack is that the player is allowed to place a side bet before receiving any cards from the dealer. After placing your side bet, which can be as low as $1 you are dealt your first two cards.

In order to win the total value of the cards in your hand must be as close to 21 as possible without going over. The player closest to 21 wins the hand. If you bust and the dealer also busts, you lose.

• Progressive Blackjack is played with 8 decks of cards. One deck has 52 cards, and all cards are re-shuffled after each hand

• The dealer will always stand if the total value of his cards is 17

• Players are allowed to double a split hand

• Re-splitting an already split hand is not allowed

• Surrender is not allowed

• If the player splits an Ace he will only get one extra card.

How to Play Progressive Blackjack

Progressive Blackjack is played with 8 decks of cards. One deck has 52 cards, and all cards are re-shuffled after each hand is played.

Face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) have a denomination of 10. 2-10 cards are denominated as indicated. Aces are either 1 or 11. The value taken in consideration will be the best value for the hand. The value of the players hand will be the combined values of the individual cards. A hand with a King, a 2 and a 3 will have a value of 15.

Above your user label, at the bottom of the screen you will find your chips. Chips have different values ($1, $5, $25, $100, $500) and are sorted by denomination. Simply right click on the chip with the value you want to bet. Also if you want to increase or decrease your betting amount simply place the mouse over the stack you want to add or subtract from your bet. Left clicking a pile will add to your betting amount and right clicking your mouse button will lower it.

You may qualify for a Bonus Jackpot, but to do so you must first place a $1 bonus bet. Placing the bonus bet can be done even before the game begins, before your first two cards are dealt. If the first card dealt to you is an Ace for multiple games you may win a bonus payout. Make sure to check out the Bonus Payout Table to find out more details about qualifying for a bonus payout. The amount of money in a Jackpot is always displayed on the screen.

Once you place a $1 side bet at the Blackjack table the game starts. You are initially dealt only two cards face up. The dealer also deals himself two cards, but one is face down. Now that you have been dealt your cards, you can do one of these actions by simply left clicking the icon:

Hit: Ask the dealer to give you another card. Ask him for as many cards as you want, but be careful not to go over 21 and lose the game.

Stand: If you have a good hand and you're happy with it then you won't need to ask the dealer for any more cards. Keep this hand and see if any of the other players or the dealer can beat it.

Split: You have the option of splitting your hand if you are dealt two cards of the same denomination. You will then have two separate hands to play, but must place a second bet, equal to the one of the first hand. This option is available right after you have been dealt your first two cards, and if you have been dealt two cards of the same denomination and want to split the game just click the Split icon. The rules when playing a split hand are the same as playing a regular one. The only difference is when splitting aces, because you will only get one extra card per hand. Make sure to check out your card total in the white box over the active hand, and remember that if you get a 21 in a split hand it only pays 1-to-1.

Double Down: Another option after being dealt your first two cards is to double down. If you do so your betting amount will be doubled, but the dealer will give you only one more card and then you have to stand and see if your hand beats the dealer.

Insurance: You have the option of buying insurance only if the dealer's first up card is an Ace. So if your gut, instinct or skill tells you that the dealer will get a Blackjack, just click the "Insurance" icon. If not, just click "Pass" and go on with the hand as usual.

It is important to remember that you need to buy insurance only if you think the dealer will get a 10. If you're right and he does get a Progressive Blackjack your insurance will pay 2-to-1, but unfortunately you will lose your initial bet. The only way not to lose your initial bet is for you, the player, to get a Progressive Blackjack too. In this case the game will tie and all bets are pushed. If the dealer doesn't get a ten, then he doesn't have a Blackjack and the game continues as usual. You will loose your insurance.

Progressive Blackjack Payout Schedule

A simple winning hand, that is when you are closer to 21 than the dealer but do not have 21, or a Blackjack pays 1-to-1. Blackjack (an Ace and a ten valued card) - pays 3-to-2. Insurance pays 2-to-1, but you lose your initial betting amount.

Bonus Payout If the first card dealt to you is an Ace for multiple games you may win a bonus payout. There are different combinations of Aces that pay differently. You will receive the corresponding amount the first hand you do not get an Ace as a first card. The payoffs are as follows:

• 2 Unsuited Aces pay $25;
• 2 Suited Aces $100;
• 3 Unsuited Aces $250;
• 4 Unsuited Aces $1500;
• 3 Suited Aces $2500;
• 4 Red Aces OR 4 Black Aces you win the jackpot.
  

In Progressive Blackjack the minimum bet is $5 and the maximum is $300.

Basic Progressive Blackjack Strategy

Basic Progressive Blackjack strategy represents the manner in which the player handles himself when he can only see his cards and the dealer's up card. You do not need to be a card counter to use this strategy. You do not even have to remember what cards where dealt in the last hands.

The creation of Basic Progressive Strategy is computer assisted. The computer analyzes tens of thousands of "plays" and takes the best decision for the player. You will see these indications as a table, and you can see the computers suggestions on what to do in that table. The computer can tell you to: S- Stand, H- Hit, D- Double, Y- Yes, split, N- No, don't split.

• 8 decks of cards are used in this game;
• Dealer will always stand if he hits 17;
• You can double on any first two cards;
• You may double a split hand;
• Re-splitting is not allowed;
• You may not surrender.