Category Archives: Games

Games

Can I Use The Martingale System Playing Blackjack?

June 18, 2015 – 11:25 am

In this article we take a look at the Martingale betting system and see if it can be used to make a profit from playing blackjack at any of the many USA online blackjack sites we feature.

The first question for many may well be, “What is Martingale?” Well, Martingale is a negative progression staking system, by which we mean that your stake increases after a loss. It was hugely popular in France in the 1700s and many believe it is a guaranteed way to beat the house.

Martingale is most commonly associated with roulette and betting on red or black but it can be used for any bet where the odds of success are approximately 50% and the payout is even money.

In roulette a player would bet $10 on, say, black and whenever they lose they would double that stake, whilst any win resets the stake back to the original $10. Assuming the first three spins are red, the player then bets $80, having previously staked $70 ($10+$20+$40). Black comes in and the player wins $80 for a profit of $10.

The Martingale system delivers a profit of one times your base unit WHENEVER the win comes in, even if that should be after eight, 20 or even 200 losing bets. Theoretically it is indeed a guaranteed way to make money but theory and practice are two different things and in practice you need a limitless bankroll, a casino with no limits and infinite time, not to mention nerves of steel to keep betting even when you are potentially thousands of dollars – or much more – down.

So, to get back to the central issue of this article, yes, Martingale can be used playing blackjack but crucially no, it cannot be used to make a long-term profit and certainly not to guarantee such an outcome.

You could double your stake after every loss but anyone who has played much online blackjack will have experienced a long, scarcely believable, run of defeats. If you use the Martingale System to play blackjack, at an online or real world casino, the only guaranteed outcome is that at some point you will suffer a huge, huge loss and that will outweigh any previous small profits you had made. So do yourself a favor and don’t even try it!

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Games

The Worst Blackjack Decisions Ever!

February 20, 2015 – 8:38 am

Blackjack is a hugely popular game and whether playing at an online casino, in your local bricks and mortar casino establishment, or at one of Vegas’ mega resorts, there is a right way to play and a wrong way. The right way is using basic strategy to optimize your returns and reduce the house edge to the bare minimum.

Throw in a few other little ideas, such as playing at a great casino that offers a nice welcome bonus, picking a blackjack variant with a low house edge and knowing when to stop (ideally when you’re winning) and it’s quite easy to win on a regular basis at this marvelous game.

However, far too many players make some simple, avoidable mistakes that ultimately mean they give more of their money than they should to the casino and here we take a look at some of the worst mistakes.

Splitting 10s

Oh dear! Never split 10s. No matter if the dealer is showing a six. Naturally, any deviation from basic strategy is bad for the house edge but this is one simple error that’s easy to cut out and easy to remember. Never split 10s! Unless you’re counting cards, but then if you’re a card counter you knew that already!

Insurance

Avoiding insurance, just like never splitting 10s, is one easy element of basic strategy to remember. It’s a bad bet, plain and simple.

Short Pay Blackjack

As well as how you play, what you play is important, and if you choose to play blackjack that pays a “natural” blackjack at odds of lower than 3/2 then you’re just throwing money away. On fairly standard rules, the difference between a 3/2 payout and a reduced 6/5 payout is that the house edge moves from, for example, 0.45% up to a relatively huge 1.8%!

Knowing When to Stop

When playing blackjack it’s advisable to have a maximum budget you are prepared to lose. When you reach this figure, which hopefully you won’t, just stop. Always avoid the temptation to chase your losses. Conversely, set yourself a target profit, for example 50% or 100% of your budget. Once you reach that result, walk away. If you keep playing and playing there is only one result: you walk away with nothing.

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Games

Betting Blackjack

July 15, 2013 – 10:31 pm

The most effective way to win at online blackjack is to simply play the very best strategy for the variation of the game that you are playing. By doing that you can reduce the house edge to as little as 0.28%, assuming you are able to take advantage of the most player-favourable rules out there.

That means that for every $1,000 you wager you would expect to lose slightly less than $3. But factor in some of the amazing bonuses on offer from the various online casinos as well as the loyalty schemes and comp points they run and you can soon shift the odds in your favour. Hell, with a little bit of help from Lady Luck and you might even make some serious money!

However, whilst playing basic (optimum) strategy and perfect blackjack is one thing, many players like to vary their stake and think that can give them an edge. Here we take a look at some popular ploys and see if there is any real benefit to using them.

Doubling up on a loss

One of the most popular and abiding theories and betting strategies is to double your stake after losing, a form of negative progression. This, especially when applied to roulette, is known as the Martingale system, and is 100% doomed to failure in any game where a house edge exists.

It will invariably lead to a series of small wins but over time it is a mathematical certainty that one big loss will come along and wipe out all your wins… and more besides. Say you play $10 per hand and win the first hand. Great, you bank the $10 and bet $10 again. If that loses, you bet $20, then $40 if you lose again, then $80: in fact losing just six hands in a row has you staking $640 on the next hand, which is pretty big stakes when your wins are only scraping you $10 here and there.

Increasing stake as you win

This is a positive progression system whereby you increase your bet after a win. This funds bigger stakes from money you have won and is also less likely to wipe you out as you will only lose a large stake after a succession of wins. This is a more conservative method but certainly a better one in our opinion.

Flat stake

To go right back to the start, the best betting system to use in online blackjack is a flat stake with basic strategy. It’s not exciting but it is mathematically proven and winning is more exciting than anything else! Keep it simple and give yourself the best chance of success.

Find the best USA online blackjack sites available and also see other blackjack strategy articles.

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Games

What is Pontoon?

February 9, 2013 – 9:06 pm

We asked the same question for many months but never took the time to learn about the game. We finally dedicated some time to research the rules and strategy of Pontoon and we are very glad we did. We have been playing Pontoon for the last few weeks and really enjoy the game and think you may as well.

Pontoon is similar to European Blackjack in that the dealer only deals himself one card up to start. The players is dealt both cards up but not until the player finishes their hand does the dealer draw his second card. This is advantageous to the player because if the player gets blackjack or draws to 21 he is paid immediately regardless of the dealer’s next card is.

Pontoon is also similar to Spanish 21 blackjack with a few more differences. One notable difference is the house edge for Pontoon is actually lower than Spanish 21 and traditional blackjack! Just as in Spanish 21 all the ten’s are removed from the deck making it little more difficult for the player and dealer to get blackjack but if the player does get a blackjack it always wins. Also if you draw to 21 it always wins and in some cases you even receive odds.

Draw to 21 with your cards being 678 or 777 and receive 3-2 odds. If your cards are all the same suit you get 2-1 odds and if they are all spades you get 3-1 odds.

Another great rule is when you draw 5 cards without busting (going over 21) you also automatically win. This is called a “5 card trick”. Because doubling down is also always available regardless of how many cards you have, if you have an 11 or less with four cards always double as you win automatically.

Pontoon is a fun game once you get the hang of it. For more details see our full Pontoon explanation and see the USA online blackjack sites that offer pontoon. Currently there are only two casinos that do offer pontoon and they are the BetOnline Casino and the WinPalace Casoino. Both are great USA casinos and do a good job getting USA credit cards approved. Be sure to use our link in our BetOnline review or the WinPalace review to claim the best bonus available.

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Games

Learn and Play Spanish 21

February 6, 2013 – 4:59 pm

As I often walked through the casino floor I would always see Spanish 21 tables but never sat at one because I didn’t know the rules of the game. Well after doing a little research I will be sitting at the Spanish 21 tables the next time I am in the casino and will also be playing more often online.

Spanish 21 is a great variation of traditional blackjack and if played properly even has a lower house edge than regular Blackjack. Spanish 21 is played very similarly to blackjack with two big variations. First all the 10’s are removed from the deck and second you receive odds on certain hands.

Quickly here are some bullet points on Spanish 21

  • All 10’s are removed from the Deck
  • You always win if you are dealt Blackjack, even if the Dealer also has Blackjack
  • Make 21 and always win
  • Draw to 21 with 5 cards or more and receive odds
  • Double Down on any amount of Cards – 2,3,4,5 etc
  • Some Casinos will even allow a Double, Double Down (double down twice on the same hand)
  • Surrender is allowed after a double down
  • Split up to 4 hands including Aces
  • Be able to hit and double after splitting Aces and even split them again

If you receive 21 with a certain combination of cards you receive odds

  • Make 21 with 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 get paid 3-2 odds
  • If the cards are the same suit receive 2-1 odds
  • If the cards are all spades receive 3-1 odds

Because of these odds the house edge actually is less than traditional blackjack if you play it properly. See our Blackjack Strategy Chart for the proper time to hit, stand, double and split. Also be sure to make sure the Dealer always stand on all 17’s. This helps to lower the house edge as well.

While you can find Spanish 21 at many if not all the land based casinos, the BetOnline Casino is the online USA online blackjack site that offers Spanish 21. The BetOnline casino is one of our top recommended casinos as they have a great selection of blackjack games as well as all the other casino games you may enjoy. They also offer high limits and also offer Live Deal Blackjack, Baccarat and Roulette. BetOnline also does an outstanding job getting USA credit cards approved and offers speedy payouts.

See our BetOnline review and play Spanish 21. It is truly a fun a game and a lower house edge makes it all the more reason to play!

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Games

Learn to Play Super 21

February 3, 2013 – 2:29 pm

You have probably seen the blackjack variation “Super 21” being offered in many online casinos. If you are not familiar with the game learn how to play Super 21. It is a fun variation of Blackjack and if played well can be extremely profitable.

Super 21 starts just like normal Blackjack with the dealer and player being dealt 2 cards. The dealer has 1 card dealt down and the players cards are both up. The goal in Super 21 is just like regular blackjack where you want to come as close to 21 as possible without going over and also beat the dealers hand. In Super 21 there are some differences to note and also some bonuses that the player can receive. The only down side to Super 21 is that blackjack pays even money instead of 3-2 but the Super 21 bonuses make up for that.

In Super 21 the main differences are that you can double down at any time. Have 3, 4 or even 5 cards in front of you and doubling is allowed. How many times have you doubled on 9 and got a 2? In Super 21 you can double on your third card. You can also split any hand up to 4 times in Super 21. This is where the doubling on any number of cards comes in handy. Sometimes normal Blackjack Strategy will say not to split 4’s and 6’s, but in Super 21 you should. This is because you may have the chance to double after receiving your third card. Split 4’s and get a 3 for example. You hit the 7 and receive a 4. Whoo hoo! In super 21 you can now double on that 11!

In Blackjack the majority of your winnings comes from doubling and splitting and Super 21 gives you the chance to do both more often.

Other bonuses in Super 21 include: Hit to 21 with 5 or more cards your winnings are doubled. Also if you hit and have 6 cards in front of you without busting you automatically win regardless of what the dealer has. Also in Super 21 if the player gets Blackjack it is always a winner. Even if the dealer has Blackjack the player still gets paid.

Super 21 is a fun variation of regular blackjack and can be very profitable. For more information on this game see our Super 21 page and also find USA online blackjack casinos that offer Super 21.

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Games

Play at High Limit Blackjack Tables

January 24, 2013 – 9:47 pm

If you are a high roller and want to play at high limit blackjack tables, check out either BetOnline or the GoldenCherry Casino. Both offer the highest limits for USA online blackjack with $500 being the maximum bet per hand at either casino.

BetOnline is the only USA casino to offer live dealer blackjack which has limits higher than most standard online casinos. The limits for the live dealer blackjack is a $10 minimum bet and a $500 maximum bet. Obviously the play is a slower being more like a brick and mortar casino. You can actually see the dealer through a live streaming feed and watch as him or her deal the cards as you watch. Check out the BetOnline review for more information and play at the highest blackjack limits available.

If you want fast play but also want to bet at high limits, the GoldenCherry is your top place to play. At GoldenCherry you can also bet up to $500 per hand for Blackjack. The minimum bet is just $1 unlike the Live Casinos and GoldenCherry offers a 50% match bonus on your first two deposits for blackjack and all other table games. If you want to play high limits see the GoldenCherry Review to sign up and claim your bonus.

Playing at high limit blackjack tables gives you a little more flexibility in your betting. Most casinos only allow up to a $100 as the maximum bet and if you use a progressive betting system it really limits what you can win of you get on a good winning streak. By playing at the highest limits for Blackjack you can wager up to the table maximum of $500 and really take down some serious money by getting on a roll.

Be sure to check out our Blackjack strategy chart if you haven’t seen one on the past. The chart gives instructions of when to hit, stand, double and split. It is a must follow and you can find yourself on much longer winning streaks and by playing at high limit blackjack tables you can really feel the winnings in your pocket.

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Games

Play at USA Friendly Sites

December 23, 2012 – 1:44 pm

If you live in the United States we have the best listing of USA friendly online blackjack sites. All the casinos we recommend accept USA players and deposits. Our top USA friendly blackjack site is Grand Parker. Grand Parker offers all new blackjack players up to a $5000 blackjack bonus.

Grand Parker offers a deposit bonus on your first 4 deposits. Receive a 125% match bonus up to $1250 on your first 4 deposits. We like this option as it give you the chance to try the casino with a smaller deposit and if you like the casino you still have 3 more deposits available for a great match bonus. If you also like slots you can claim a 250% match bonus on your first 2 deposits.

Grand Parker has a selection of USA online blackjack games. Play classic Blackjack with single hand games, multi player games, single deck or a 6 deck shoe. European blackjack is also available as well as some popular variations that include Super 21, Double Exposure Match Play 21 and Perfect Pairs. For more information and to get started see our Grand Parker Blackjack review and claim a great bonus. Grand Parker has excellent USA credit card deposit success rates. Deposit with your Visa or MasterCard and get it approved.

If you want to play Blackjack against Live Dealers, your only option if you live in the USA is BetOnline. BetOnline is a great online casino, sportsbook and poker room and is the only USA Live Dealer Blackjack casino. They have been in business since 2001 and have a great reputation. You can claim a 25% match unlimited bonus and also receive 10% cash back on any losses weekly. While no one likes to lose money at least at BetOnline you can look forward to receiving 10% back every Monday. See our BetOnline Blackjack review for more details and sign up.

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Games

Play Live Online Blackjack

November 27, 2012 – 9:47 pm

We all have the fears that online casinos somehow may cheat and have the computer rigged in a way that you will lose when betting big money playing blackjack. While this is not true of any of the online casinos that we have listed here on our website, it is just human nature to have those thoughts.

A new revolution in online casino play is the advent of Live Dealers to help ease this worry. Only a few online casinos offer Live Dealers and even fewer accept USA players. We have put together a listing of Live Dealer Blackjack casinos which all accept USA players.

At Live Dealer Casino you can see the dealer and other players via a live stream from the Internet. This is virtually just like sitting at a brick and mortar casino. You can even chat with the dealer and other players sitting at the table. Often many times the limits allowed at the Live Blackjack tables is increased as well. You can find online casinos that will offer up to $3000 a hand!

Obviously with the time it takes to allow other players to make decisions and the dealer actually dealing the cards the play is slower than playing against the computer software. The time it takes to play is very similar to the time you would accustomed to sitting at a Blackjack table at a casino.

So if you want to experience the latest in online casino technology and play against a live dealer check out BetOnline or the Legends Casino. At this time these are the only two USA online blackjack casinos that offer Live Dealers.

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Games

Check out Super21

October 3, 2012 – 11:40 am

If you like playing Blackjack, check out Super21. It is a popular variation of standard Blackjack that gives you a few options when choosing what to do. There are many different options in Super21 so before playing make sure you understand the game.

In Super21 Blackjack only pays even money but there are several variations that we like. For example when you receive a Blackjack you are paid automatically. There is not insurance offered and the Dealer does not even take a second card. If you get a Blackjack you get paid no matter what.

In Super21 you can also double at any time. Say you are dealt a total of 5 on your first two cards. You hit and receive a 6 making your hand 11. In standard Blackjack you can only hit but in Super21 you can still double. Another option we like is that when you split Aces you can double or hit. Unlike standard Blackjack where you are only dealt one card you have options in Super21. When we split Aces it one of our favorite hands because your chances are so great to make a hand. Splitting Aces is one of the best hands to make some serious money on.

Check out the complete explanation of Super21 and then get started at the best USA friendly blackjack casinos. Super21 is a fun game and we think you will enjoy it.

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