jeudi 5 septembre 2013

Vegas Downtown Blackjack

Vegas Downtown Blackjack should not be confused with Vegas Strip Blackjack which in today’s world is otherwise just known as standard blackjack. While downtown and strip variations on normal blackjack are almost identical, there are a few differences between the two that create games that are sufficiently different enough as to be significant for the way that different strategies are employed.

However, the online casinos have done a good job of accentuating the differences between the two variants so that their players know for a fact that they have a choice between two completely different versions of the blackjack game.

As far as the basic rules for the game go, Vegas Downtown Blackjack is identical to the standard version of the game; of that there can be no doubt. The rules for dealer hitting, surrendering, blackjack payouts, splitting, doubling, insurance and insurance payouts are all exactly the same between the two versions of the game. This makes the job of the online casinos easier in the sense that they do not have to change as much to get to Vegas Downtown Blackjack but it also makes their job harder in the sense that accentuating difference is harder to do with less actual difference there.

In fact, the main difference between standard blackjack and this particular variant is the fact that this variant uses two decks of cards in the overall deck whereas the standard blackjack variant uses six decks of cards. With four less decks actually in use during this game of blackjack, the odds are shifted slightly towards the favor of the player. It is not shifted by that much however, as the house will still maintain an advantage of around 0.5% in the overall game. However, this is better than the advantage of around 1% the house has in standard blackjack. While card counting is not a feasible strategy in the online game because of the instant randomization factor of online blackjack, in the offline version of the game it is far easier to do because of the two deck rule.

All in all, Vegas Downtown Blackjack is a good game to play if you want the odds slightly better in your favor than with normal blackjack. It is not as widely available however, so it is possible that your casino might not have it.

Triple 7 Blackjack Review

Triple 7 Blackjack, unlike most of the other online blackjack games, is a game that was specifically created for the online arena. There are very few offline casinos that have this game and for the most part it is perhaps not even a game that many offline casinos are aware exist.

Triple 7 Blackjack was invented online, is played online and will likely continue to be an online game because of the fact that it does not have a large enough play base to be considered worthwhile as an offline game.

The main reason that Triple 7 Blackjack is not that popular as a blackjack game is because it is really not that different from normal blackjack. Blackjack pays at the same 3 to 2 odds that normal blackjack plays at and most of the rules regarding doubles, soft 17s, splits, surrenders and bets are exactly the same between standard blackjack and Triple 7 Blackjack. The major difference between the two blackjack variants is that there is a progressive jackpot option for Triple 7 Blackjack that you would not see in the original variant.

You have to pay to get into this jackpot, but if you are lucky enough to be dealt three seven of diamonds cards in a row, then you will end up winning the jackpot. For anyone that wanted to combine the fun of slot machines with the strategic excellence of Blackjack, then Triple 7 Blackjack is most definitely the game for you. For people that just want a nice game of blackjack without having to worry about anything else, Triple 7 Blackjack will probably not hold your interest very long. Because the majority of blackjack players tend to fall into the latter category, Triple 7 Blackjack is not as popular as it otherwise might be.

In the future if there are enough rule changes in the game to make it genuinely different from standard blackjack then this might change, but for now this is the situation as it stands.

Spanish Blackjack

There are many blackjack variants currently available on the market today in the online world, but there are few that offer a better all around gaming experience than Spanish Blackjack. It is also referred to as Spanish 21 in some places and in others it has also been called Pontoon. There are a number of different variants of Spanish Blackjack available on the market so the rules are not that precise and this is essentially one of the main problems that online casinos had when they were bringing the game into the online arena.

Spanish Blackjack has one notable difference from all of the other blackjack games around and that difference is that it removes the 10s from the deck, playing the game with 48-card decks instead of 52-card decks and in doing so creating an advantage for the dealer. However, at the same time it is also important to note that the game has many liberal advantages for the player to make up for this, making it one of the best games from the point of view of odds in the casino.

When the player gets twenty-one, they automatically win the game in Spanish Blackjack. In addition to that, player blackjack trumps dealer blackjack while a player can double at any time they want to. They can also even hit and double after splitting aces, something that is not usually allowed in the other variants. These are just some of the rules that you might see enacted in a Spanish Blackjack game, but the large amount of variation within the rules from casino to casino means that there is no single set of rules that universally applies to Spanish Blackjack.

This means also that online casinos can change the rules to their favor and many online casinos have done this for Spanish Blackjack. Many have not however, so you can still get a very good game of Spanish Blackjack in many different places online.

European Blackjack

Like European Roulette, European Blackjack is a game that the internet has brought to the rest of the world. In most of the casinos outside of Europe and even in some casinos in places like the United Kingdom, it is quite common for the European variants of games to never be offered. This is because most of the time European variants of games offer better odds to the player and therefore it is not really in the best interests of offline casinos to offer those games to their customers.

In the online world however the competition is fierce and through offering European variants online, casinos hope to attract players by giving them better odds.

The rules for European Blackjack are a little bit different than from most of the other games, most notably in the sense that only two decks are used and this in turn gives a much better odds advantage to the player (even though the house retains an overall advantage of around half a percentage point). The dealer is required to stand on all hands that are valued 17 or over and the player is only allowed to double when their starting hand value is nine, ten or eleven. There is additionally no double move available to the player after they have executed a split, no double-splitting and no surrender move at any time during the game.

All of these rules might seem harsh to some of the players that are familiar with blackjack variants, but keeping in mind that the house edge overall is frequently under half a percentage point, you will realize that the odds for European Blackjack are actually better than they are for most of the other poker variants. This is why the game is so popular and this is why online casinos can get players by offering it. And online casinos have done a very good job of staying true to the principles of the European Blackjack variant, which is another point in their favor.

Whether or not you have played European Blackjack before, giving it a shot in the online casino is definitely a good idea. Even if you end up not liking it, there are likely many other variants available right there for you to choose from, illustrating the great versatility of the average online casino.

Atlantic City Blackjack

There are many different versions of blackjack that are currently playable online but the Atlantic City Blackjack variant is perhaps one of the best known. As the name might imply, if you have only been to casinos in Las Vegas then you are perhaps not that familiar with this variant of blackjack but if you have been to Atlantic City or any casinos nearby in a geographical sense, you probably already know how the game works.

In Atlantic City Blackjack, the dealer is required to draw whenever their hand is sixteen or lower and is required to stand when their hand is seventeen or higher. People that are particularly perceptive will note that this is different from some blackjack variants, in which a soft seventeen (17 with an A worth 11 points) does not always mean a dealer has to stand. Players are allowed to double or split on initial hands and can double after their first split, but no second splits are allowed. Additionally, if the player splits on two aces, they will only be dealt one card for each of the new hands (i.e. splitting on an ace requires one hit and then a stay regardless of other circumstances).

While these rules for Blackjack are almost constant throughout the whole state of New Jersey, Atlantic City Blackjack is just one of many different variants of the game that you can find at online casinos. For the most part, online casinos have remained true to the rules of this variant and for that reason you can easily find a good game of Atlantic City Blackjack online. While the social element of the game is largely removed in the online theatre, at the same time a number of annoyances from the dealers and other players are also removed and so there is a trade-off involved.

If you enjoy Atlantic City Blackjack in the offline world, then it is highly recommended that you at least give it a try online. Most people that do are not disappointed.

lundi 2 septembre 2013

Blackjack: The Stairway to Heaven

it can be the stairway to heaven. A quick way to ease your money woes. And now, Gambling.com brings you tips on how to reaiise your dream. There are numerous ways you can make a lot of money playing blackjack online and there are some ways that are not as effective. Learning to tell the difference between the effective methods and those that are not so effective are a large part of determining what you should do to ensure that you come out on top and walk away from the casino, regardless of whether a physical or online version on top.
Your first step is always before you start playing read over carefully all of the blackjack rules. You do not want to start playing and suddenly come across some strange rules that you were not expecting. Instead, carefully read the rules so you know exactly what to expect rather than being surprised at the last minute. Small differences in rules can have a huge impact on your potential winnings.
Keep in mind that someone has to win at blackjack and you are playing the dealer so you want to come out ahead as much as possible. This means you need to really maximize your potential against the dealer and work to ensure that you are in the best position possible. This means never stay unless you have at least a 17, or unless the dealer is bust. However, there are always exceptions to the rule and they come in when the dealer starts with either a 6, 5, or 4. Most dealers are so determined to win that they will bust when they start with these cards so you should never hit over an 11 unless you absolutely have to.
If you have a set of aces or a pair of eights then you should always split them. This is no matter what the dealer is showing because you want to increase your chances of walking away a winner, and of course winning two different hands lets you really maximize your winnings quickly. Additionally, you should never split any face cards, tens, or fives that are in pairs as they are much more valuable to you when they are left together. If you have a set of eights or even sevens you should split them if the dealer is showing a card that is the same, or lower than your cards. This again helps to increase your chances of winning a nice sized pot.
Look for tables that require a minimum bid of no more than 5% of your bankroll. This will allow you to play as much as possible and increase your chances of winning numerous online gambling games. Of course, the less you can bet, the more you can play, but playing at a table with a high minimum bet is not a wise idea and can result in you leaving empty handed quite quickly. Protect your bankroll and always stick to the low side of bets until you have more experience and can afford the more expensive bets.
By taking advantage of some rules and strategies, it is possible to outsmart the dealer and make a lot of money. However, be careful that you do not make careless mistakes or become reckless in how you play or you will be ultimately harming your bankroll and your potential profits. Always keep your eye on the potential profit and do your best to protect that profit whenever possible.

The Blackjack Breakdown

Smart gamblers who know a thing or two about blackjack games have discovered there are differences between the land-based game and the one on your computer. The good news is that with a little help, you’ll be ready to take advantage of a classic game that still offers the best odds in the house. Ignore the differences and you’ll be giving away odds and your hardearned cash.
As thousands of online gambling players have already discovered, blackjack in the gambling.com community is a great way to play for real money and tournament cash prizes. The graphics are sharp and games feature just-like-being-there sounds. Use the Ultimate Online Blackjack Breakdown get to know gambling.com blackjack with winning in mind.

Basic Strategy

Basic blackjack strategy is even more important online that it is in a casino. Basic strategy is a system of “perfect play” devised by computer scientists in the 1950s. It tells you what to play and when to play it, and shaves the house edge to next-tonothing (for an in-depth look at basic strategy, gambling.com magazine’s resident blackjack genius Les Golden takes readers through its finer points). When playing blackjack online, whatever intuition factored into a land-based game goes out the window. There are no newbies hitting when they shouldn’t and sucking your cards out of the deck. Find a chart that covers the 2 game variations offered at gambling.com (more on that later) and don’t deviate. And if you hit a cold run stick with it, give the maths a chance to do its work.

Card Counting Doesn’t Work

In casinos, card counters wait until the deck is in their favour to break the rules and increase their bets. Online players have no such luxury. This means basic strategy is more important than ever. gambling. com blackjack uses 8 decks for both their blackjack variations and “reshuffles” after 10% of the cards have come out (you will actually hear the dealer shuffling the cards when the deck is recalculated.) So you can expect to see 42 cards come out before the computer starts again (52 x 8 x 0.1).
Just in case you are worried that you’re missing something by not card counting, don’t worry. Card counting may be simple, but it’s not easy. If it were, everyone would be getting rich. Stick to the basics and avoid irrational judgments on what you think “should” happen. gambling.com blackjack employs a Random Number Generator (RNG) that ensures every hand is completely random. So even if 5 aces come out in a row, there is no reason to expect – or not expect – a sixth.

Learn the Rules

If you have ever read a book on blackjack by any number of “experts”, you will note that they spend a considerable amount of time discussing basic strategy, what to play and when. Of course for casino gamblers they must have this memorized before sitting at the table. But for online players, simply make sure you stay on course by printing off a basic strategy chart and keep it in front of you while you play. With your charts prepared, you need to ensure you are familiar with game rules. gambling.com offers two exciting blackjack variations - Vegas rules and London rules. Ensure you are familiar with which version you are playing, as it will change your decisions as to how you follow basic strategy. The added bonus of learning the rules and applying them to basic strategy is that it will help your land-based game the next time you visit a casino – and you may not need that self-help book.
Vegas: this version lets players split pairs, buy insurance, and double on any initial two-card combination. Blackjack pays 3:2. Split on any pairs (but re-splitting is not allowed). The game also offers Insurance.
London: the dealer in the London game stands on soft 17s, players can only double on hard totals of 9-11 and can only double after a split. Because the dealer deals his second card after the player is done betting, there is no “peeking”. So beware of aces. If the dealer hits a blackjack, you lose your entire bet regardless of doubling or splits.

Manage Your Stack: Loss Minimization - Basics

Money management in online blackjack is more important than luck. Set win/loss limits. Know how much you would need to win to make your night a success – and if it happens sooner than expected, walk away. Always wager within your limits and stick to them. Don’t overbet because you are on a streak or trying to play catch-up. When angry or excited, it’s so much easier to mash buttons on your computer screen than it would be to count chips in a casino. Avoid swinging betting patterns that don’t make sense in terms of your bankroll. An undisciplined player can win 30 hands, lose 20, and still be in the red.

Define a Bankroll: Loss Minimization - Advanced

The online game moves quickly. There is no dealer, shuffling and other players to slow you down. A session that may have lasted 30 minutes in Vegas could be over in 15 online. Also critical is the bankroll you bring to the table. Any experienced player knows that $50-$100 is not enough to bring to a $25 table. If bad luck comes early, you need a stack to roll with the punches – and you need to be able to double or split when the maths says it’s time. Internet gaming makes it too easy to simply click a few buttons and replenish your account balance. Don’t. Treat every evening of gaming at your computer the same way you would walking into a casino. Bring the right amount of cash, and if it’s gone, it’s gone.

Tournaments Are More Than Luck

gambling.com blackjack tournaments maybe the web’s best gambling value. For a small entry fee, you are guaranteed a large number of hands that would cost a bundle in Vegas and isn’t over sooner than you’d like. You pay a flat fee so you know exactly how much an evening of gambling will cost you. And of course, there are those cash prizes…
Playing at gambling.com with a real money account means access to monthly freerolls (using Ludos). These are tournaments with free entry and real cash prizes. They are also a great way to learn gambling.com blackjack and tournament structure. Once you are in the tournament lobby, there will be a number of different tournaments listed, each with their own prize structure, time allotment, and are organized by either the Vegas or London blackjack variations. To the right, each tournament’s rules and leaderboard is displayed. Also check the payout structure to see where you need to place to win cash. Enter tournaments for as little as a dollar.
Remember that you are playing the competition and not just the house – even if the competition is not staring you down. The goal of tournaments is to win and not to protect your bankroll. Every time you win a hand, your winnings are kept in a separate “score” column. So because there are a finite number of hands you can play, the object is to win as many hands as possible. There are usually only prizes for first, second and third, so you have to make your chips count. Tournaments move faster than you think, so familiarize yourself with basic strategy before the tournament starts.
Two Approaches to Winning
Because you are given a large balance to begin the game, there are two schools of thought as to how to win a gambling.com blackjack tournament.
One method is to wager as much as possible, all the time. The theory is, if you are going to win, you might as well win big, and there is no point betting smaller amounts with the clock ticking. If you have an above average session at the table (winning more than half your hands and/or several wins on doubles and splits) you will be very tough to beat. Of course the risk is busting early due to bad luck. The other method is to bet smaller increments until you feel you are “due” for a streak – either when the cards turn hot for you or when you guess you are likely to come out of a cold run. This will require more patience and is not recommended for beginners. Also pay attention to tournaments already in progress and check their leaderboards. If a tournament leader has a lower score and the tournament is about to expire, this offers a good value entry.
(DISCLAIMER: tournament strategies should not be employed during standard table games.)

General Tips

No matter what strategy you employ, it cannot be said enough that you must adhere to basic strategy. Also remain free of distractions (unplug the phone if you have to) and be prepared to concentrate for the tournament’s time allotment.
Play for fun as often as you can to become familiar with the gambling. com casino interface. Review keyboard shortcuts that can save you time clicking on your mouse. Enter as often as you wish, and of course, relax and remember to have fun.