Tag Archives: Blackjack

General

5 Best Blackjack Players of All Time

March 23, 2019 – 11:42 am

The five players presented below really made a difference when playing blackjack. It was their primary passion in life, and they devoted tens of thousands of hours to this game so that they could be at the top of their game and earn valuable cash prizes. They really made an impact back then, and they would probably do even better if they had an option to play USA online blackjack.

Don Johnson
One of the biggest achievements in Johnson’s life was winning $15 million when playing blackjack in three casinos in Atlantic City. He managed to do that in just six months, which is an insanely short period for that amount of money. His streak began when he placed a bet of $100,000 and won $800,000 in one hand, outsmarting the dealer with a wise decision and a little bit of luck. Naturally, they thought he was counting cards, but could not prove it!

Russ Hamilton
After moving to Vegas, Hamilton broke up with his old love called poker and fell in love with another card game called blackjack. He did not need blackjack bonuses to prove his skills, which were already established by playing poker. After showing what he was made of, he switched back to poker, only to return to blackjack once again. However, this time he was accused of cheating and lost respect in the gaming community.

Arnold Snyder
Snyder is a real gambling rockstar as he has written a couple of books on this topic, including one regarding blackjack. He would start off with small bets and learn more about a game that way, only to gradually increase and become proficient. He did not use card counting, per se, but combined it with a shuffling style in order to gain an advantage. His book is called The Blackjack Formula, so make sure to read it when you can!

Edward O. Thorp
Edward O. Thorp was popular because he basically invented the card counting technique and wrote a book about it called Beat the Dealer, which was the center of attention among casino lovers for a long time. The book significantly increased the popularity of blackjack in casinos. Apart from being a phenomenal blackjack player, Thorp was also a mathematics professor and a hedge fund manager.

Bryce Carlson
Carlson is a synonym for blackjack, as he has spent a lot of time not only researching and learning how to master the game, but also determining all of its rules and putting them down into a book he called Blackjack for Blood, which is the most comprehensive guide of this game ever written.

Tags , | Permalink | Comments Off on 5 Best Blackjack Players of All Time
Games

Where Did Blackjack Come From?

March 3, 2019 – 9:05 pm

Nowadays, every USA online blackjack site offers dozens of blackjack rooms where you can enjoy playing this interesting card game and even earn some money along the way if you are lucky and skillful enough.

Thousands of players who love blackjack play this game regularly either recreationally or for huge sums. If you love blackjack, you probably wondered at one point where the game came from. Who came up with the rules for blackjack? How come that it turned out to be so popular?

Just like many other popular card games, the exact origin and inventor remain unknown. However, historians speculate that blackjack appeared in a similar form in casinos in France that were popular back in 1700. The name for the game at that point was Vingt-et-Un, which means twenty-one.

However, some sources claim that the original actually appeared in Spain at the same time, in a game that was called One and Thirty. The Spanish version included reaching 31 instead of 21, which is the number we use today in blackjack.

There is a theory which claims that the actual rules for the game are dating back to ancient Rome. Although cards did not exist back then, Romans seem to have used wooden blocks marked with numbers in order to play this game.

Fast forward to the 20th century. Blackjack reached Nevada in the 30s, and it immediately became very popular among card players. The name was derived from a special bet offer that casinos came up back then in order to attract more players. They basically offered a hand that features both black jacks (Jack of Spades and Jack of Clubs). This offer did not turn out to be profitable and casinos discontinued it, but the name remained.

Therefore, it is safe to conclude that blackjack was not a game that was created by a single person at a single point of time. Instead, it involved centuries of playing it in one way or another to become what it is today.

But the game is still evolving, and that is the beauty of it. Many online casinos offer several versions of blackjack, and some even have special live casino sections where you can play the game against live dealers.

If you enjoy playing this game, make sure to check out USA blackjack reviews. There are dozens of platforms available on the web, and you are certainly going to enjoy this exciting and interesting card game. If you don’t have experience playing this game, feel free to check out tips for beginners!

Tags , | Permalink | Comments Off on Where Did Blackjack Come From?
Games

Play Blackjack with the Best Odds

September 29, 2018 – 11:47 am

Blackjack Strategy ChartWhen you decide to play blackjack, online or otherwise, be sure to always play with the best odds. Blackjack is one of the few casino games when played optimally can almost erase any casino advantage. There has been a lot of research on blackjack, and mathematicians especially have taken the time to research how to best play the game.

Luckily all the hard work has already been done and players can simply use the research that has already been completed to play blackjack with the best odds. You can see our blackjack strategy chart which easily lays out different hand scenarios and recommends whether you should hit, stand, split or double. As a player all you need to do is reference the chart and you can play both online blackjack and standard blackjack using the optimal strategy.

When playing USA online blackjack you can have the chart right in front of you or pulled up on your computer on another screen. If your playing at a brick and mortar casino, you can use the chart as we have a printable version of the chart which is more pocket sized and easily referenced discreetly. While the dealer and pit bosses at brick and mortar casinos do not necessarily mind if you reference a strategy chart it is best to be a little discreet about it.

If you do want to play real money online blackjack, use any of our recommended USA online casinos which offer a great online experience. All online casinos accept USA players and also do a great job getting USA deposits approved. Also by using one of our links to visit the casino and sign up you will receive a bonus which is good for blackjack play. Combine the free money you receive via the bonus, and the optimal play provided by our blackjack strategy chart, and you can just about eliminate any casino advantage. Get even a small run of good luck and you can watch your chip stack grow quickly.

Get started playing online blackjack using our strategy chart and play with the best odds possible in your favor. Again all the online casinos we list and recommend accept USA players and all also do a great job getting USA deposits approved including credit cards. All casinos also have years of experience in the online gaming business and have solid track records for fair games and paying players quickly. BetOnline (our top online blackjack casino) for example has been in business since 2001. With over 15 years offering online casino games you can be confident they offer a great experience and treat their players well. Other wise they could not survive for so long in such a competitive industry.

Good luck at the tables, even though you will need a lot less luck by playing with the best odds and using the optimal strategy.

Tags , , , | Permalink | Comments Off on Play Blackjack with the Best Odds
General

Low Limit Blackjack

August 30, 2016 – 10:01 am

One of the biggest advantages of playing blackjack online, besides the fact that you can play it from the comfort of your home, is the low limits online casinos have to offer. When playing blackjack online you can find stakes as low as $1 making it affordable for almost everyone. Not all of us can comfortably afford $10+ minimum bets which can be found in land based casinos. It gets even more frustrating when you see an amazing single deck blackjack table with favorable rules, only to find out that the minimum stake is $50 or higher.

Online blackjack is a different world and you can find the most favorable USA friendly blackjack games with bets of just $1 and even lower. And we are not talking just about video blackjack, but live dealer tables as well.

How is it possible?

Some of you might ask: “How it can be?” Why can online casinos can have a 0.2% house edge game with such low bets and regular casinos not?

There are two main reasons for that. First, brick and mortar casinos are more expensive to manage. They have so many expenses to cover: dealers, waitresses, electricity, not to mention building the casino itself. You can see each table or slot machine as a piece of real estate. It’s “rented” to players and needs to bring the casino a certain amount per hour to make it profitable.

If the house edge is high – the casinos offer lower minimum stakes, but if they allow same bets on a favorable table, they just won’t make any money. That’s why all the high payout games have high minimum bets to compensate for that.

For online blackjack the situation is different. First, the expenses are lower. Second, there is no limit to how many players can enjoy the same game at the same time. There can be literally thousands of players on the same blackjack game from all around the country or even world. And the math is simple: better odds + lower stakes = more players.

Live dealer blackjack is a bit different, but even there, online casinos have the upper hand. With the recent addition of Bet Behind feature – the number of players that can play at a single live dealer table is almost endless. As a result, online casinos have started offering low limit bets on these games too.

The bottom line is that if you like playing blackjack, but not looking to bust the house, online low limit blackjack is the perfect place. You can still enjoy your favorite game, without risking much of your hard earned cash. Play USA online blackjack at any of our recommended casinos and play for as little as $1 per game.

Tags , | Permalink | Comments Off on Low Limit Blackjack
Featured Casinos

Play Online Blackjack at Silver Oak Casino

March 10, 2016 – 3:07 pm

Silver Oak Casino was founded back in 2008 and as they approach their 10 year anniversary we’re ready to take a closer look at what they offer to USA online blackjack fans. First, and clearly most importantly, is the simple fact that they accept, indeed, welcome, US players. Deposits and withdrawals are handled quickly with minimal fuss and getting into the action could hardly be easier.

In addition, and this will be a major bonus for those that like long sessions at the table or who just like a bit of variety, Silver Oak Casino offer an excellent range of different blackjack games and variants.

As well as fairly standard single and multi-hand versions of the casino’s greatest game, you’ll also be able to play Double Exposure, Match Play 21 and Perfect Pairs, as well as Multi-Player blackjack, single deck games, European blackjack, Super 21 and Pontoon. That’s enough to keep even the most avid of blackjack players more than happy for a very long time.

In addition, the more “normal” variants use very favorable rules, offering a highly competitive house edge, not to mention a good staking range which goes from just a dollar right up to $250.

With excellent banking options and first class customer support, Silver Oak is an excellent choice for those looking for somewhere new to play online blackjack – and that’s before we even get to the bonuses they offer!

New customers at Silver Oak Casino can claim an unbeatable $10,000 in bonuses, with a 100% bonus on each of their first 10 deposits up to $1,000 each time. Use bonus code SILVEROAK1 through to SILVEROAK10 in order to claim this sensational offer.

What makes this offer so good is that whilst many online casinos reserve their best welcome bonuses for slots fans, this headline promotion is available to blackjack fans too (and video poker players too for that matter). In addition there is no maximum withdrawal and the bonus wagering is an incredibly generous 60 times for blackjack. That may sound like a lot but with some sites counting blackjack at just a 10% rate, they effectively have blackjack wagering of 300 times the bonus and deposit amount. Note that slots fans can play through just 30 times the deposit and bonus, whilst the wagering if you play video poker is the same as for blackjack.

With all these great reasons to try Silver Oak Casino, plus a load of other offers you’ll find on their promotions page, what are you waiting for?!

Tags , , | Permalink | Comments Off on Play Online Blackjack at Silver Oak Casino
Games

Staking Plans for Blackjack

February 26, 2016 – 9:55 am

Whether you play blackjack at your local casino, twice a year on holiday at Vegas or anywhere else, or every day of the week at any of the USA online blackjack sites we feature here, using a staking plan is highly advisable. Here we explain what a staking plan is and take a look at some of the main types of systems, also suggesting the one we feel is best for playing real money online blackjack.

First of all, let’s answer the obvious question: what is a staking plan? Many occasional blackjack players rock up to the table, online or in the real world, and simply bet as they like, changing their stake on each hand as the mood takes them or simply sticking with one bet regardless of the ongoing situation and without any thought having gone into the initial stake level.

A staking plan is a more deliberate and considered approach to deciding what to bet on any given hand and whilst it can’t guarantee delivering a profit, it can help you achieve your goals more efficiently when things do go your way.

In essence there are three main types of staking plan, ones that increase your stake after a loss, and/or as your bankroll decreases, ones that increase your stake after a win and/or as your bank grows and ones that essentially remain flat.

For many players the latter system is probably the best and a so-called level-stakes staking plan is a good way to keep things fun. As with all casino games, blackjack favors the house and so, theoretically, eventually the casino wins and the player loses. A level stakes plan, however, ensures that you can make your bank last for the period of time you are wanting it to, based on a reasonable worst case scenario. How much you stake on a given hand depends on your total bank, the average speed of the game and how long you want to play for.

In our opinion thee worst form of staking plan increases stake when you lose. Negative progression systems, the most notorious of which is the Martingale system, mean you are risking the most cash when you can least afford it and, moreover, when results suggest that maybe luck, the deck or your own emotions and thinking are against you.

The opposite system, increasing stakes when you win, can be a good option, essentially for all the opposite reasons listed above.

Ultimately we recommend you try a few variations of level stakes and positive progression plans but, however you stake be sure to check out our blackjack bonuses and promotions. Then head over to the best USA online blackjack sites and get started playing online for a chance to win some cold hard cash.

Tags , , | Permalink | Comments Off on Staking Plans for Blackjack
Games

What is the difference between pontoon and blackjack?

February 12, 2016 – 5:17 am

Most of the best USA online blackjack sites will offer a number of different blackjack variants and included among these may well be pontoon and other similar games, for example Spanish 21. Here we take a look at the major differences between pontoon and blackjack so read on if you’ve never tried pontoon or aren’t sure what it is.

What actually confuses the matter somewhat is that different names are used for the same games in different places, whilst the same name can mean something slightly different in another country or region. For the sake of clarity, here we are talking about pontoon as it features at a number of excellent real money US casinos, especially those that use Realtime Gaming (RTG) software for their games. Elsewhere around the world, for example Australia and certain parts of Asia, pontoon is actually much more like Spanish 21 and, of course, to confuse matters further, all of these games are in many ways very similar and almost certainly share a common ancestor.

Anyway, sticking with RTG pontoon, it is a game where the object is to beat the dealer, ideally by recording 21. In general it uses eight decks and the best hand is “pontoon”, which is an ace with any 10 value card (even after splitting). Next, and as with pontoon paying out at 2/1, comes a five card trick, which is simply a non-busted hand containing five cards, irrespective of the overall total, followed by a non-pontoon 21 made with four cards or less. Hands then are simply ranked in descending numerical order, with a hand of 22 or more, bust in other words, being the worst hand.

There are lots of small rule differences that separate pontoon from blackjack and these are too many to detail here, however perhaps the most important thing to note is that pontoon offers a very low house edge. Subject to rule variants the house edge at pontoon is an impressive 0.38%, meaning that for every $1,000 staked you can expect, on average, to lose just $3.80. Note that unlike blackjack, where fewer decks are used in pontoon the house edge increases but even so, it’s clear that pontoon offers the player a great chance to profit with just the slightest swing in luck.

Perhaps the biggest difference between pontoon and blackjack not already covered is that the dealer receives two face down cards, only revealing these after all players have completed their turn. In addition the player can only stand on hands of 15 or more (or five card tricks). The final major difference is that tied hands lose.

Whilst that latter point may seem harsh, the fact remains that pontoon offers a hugely competitive house edge, as well as a new game to try. What are you waiting for? Use the USA online blackjack casinos we recommend to also play online pontoon.

Tags , , | Permalink | Comments Off on What is the difference between pontoon and blackjack?
Games

Using Blackjack to Clear Casino Bonuses

January 27, 2016 – 6:05 am

Just about every online casino and USA online blackjack site around offers a welcome bonus in order to attract new customers and persuade players to give them a try. In the olden days – which is probably pre-2005 when it comes to online casinos – it was very easy to use these bonuses to pretty much guarantee a profit, or at the very least one could say the offers had a positive expected value.

However, because some clever (or dishonorable, depending on your point of view) blackjack fans took advantage of these offers the casinos quickly got wise and introduced increasingly strict wagering requirements that had to be completed prior to making a withdrawal.

These bonus rollover terms were essentially designed to make sure that the bonuses were being used fairly by recreational players, as opposed to being exploited by professional and semi-professional gangs and individuals.

Nowadays the best US-friendly casinos and online blackjack sites have the balance just right, with bonuses that are difficult to guarantee a profit from but that also offer the player a decent chance of success and enough incentive to play.

Many casino players automatically assume that they should play slots in order to try and complete the bonus rollover requirements but this isn’t always the case and blackjack is still a valuable tool, especially, of course, if you love playing online blackjack.

The reason that slots are so often favored is because they almost always contribute at 100% towards any rollover conditions. By that, we mean that if you play $10 on slots, $10 comes off the remaining wagering requirement. In contrast blackjack very rarely, if ever, counts at such a high percentage. At many casinos, even the first class blackjack-focused sites we feature here at USABlackjackCasinos, it’s not uncommon to see blackjack count at as little as 5%, although 10%, 25% or even 50% are available at our favorite sites.

If blackjack only counts at 10%, that means that one $10 hand will only knock $1 off the remaining bonus wagering. That’s often enough for many players to automatically discount blackjack when trying to clear a bonus but they’d be wrong to do so because the low house edge of the game means it can still land you a nice profit.

The house edge (casino advantage) on blackjack can be less than 0.5% if you find favorable rules, although 0.7% is perhaps a more realistic figure. That means that for every $10,000 of blackjack you play you “should” only lose $70 (and obviously with just a little luck that figure could easily be smaller or even a profit).

As such, for those that love blackjack, this great game can be well worth playing if you’re looking to clear a bonus, although of course you should always check the exact terms before you accept such a bonus.

Tags , , | Permalink | Comments Off on Using Blackjack to Clear Casino Bonuses
Games

Our Blackjack Wishes for 2016

December 18, 2015 – 5:13 am

We love playing blackjack online and if you stick to the top US online blackjack sites we recommend then playing should be a fun, slick and safe experience. However, some sites are not so honest or professional, whilst even the best of the best could get, well, a little better! Here’s what we’re wishing for in 2016 when it comes to the world of online blackjack …

House Edge

The house edge in blackjack is the casino’s advantage over the player expressed in percentage terms. It isn’t a secret and we’d like online casinos to become a little more open about it. Some of the best blackjack sites offer a range of blackjack variants and we’d like to see the house edge clearly marked for each, allowing comparison between different sites and within the same site between different rule-sets.

In addition, we’d like to see casinos lower the house edge in general. Things like short paying blackjack (some unscrupulous sites pay at 6/5, not 3/2) are just unacceptable, whilst more favorable rules generally, at least on some tables, would be a nice little gift for 2016.

Blackjack Bonuses

When it comes to casino bonuses, blackjack players are treated a little like second class citizens. Slots fans get all the love, with 300% or even 400% bonuses whilst we have to settle for 100% or maybe 200% at best. We understand why that is but what really irks us is that as well as the lower bonus percentage, we then also see blackjack not counted at 100% in the rollover terms!

Not only does this make things very complicated, with blackjack sometimes counting as little as 5% of your stake, it’s also very unfair. In 2016 we’d like to see blackjack treated more fairly compared to slots, at least when it comes to the wagering percentages.

Better Mobile Options

Mobile casinos have been around for some time and in the last few years they’ve really improved a lot. However, when it comes to blackjack, most mobile casinos still offer very little, with just standard blackjack offered at most. In 2016 would it be too much to ask for a few different blackjack variants and maybe even some live dealer blackjack?

Tags , | Permalink | Comments Off on Our Blackjack Wishes for 2016
General

Latest Blackjack and Casino News – December 2015

December 2, 2015 – 10:41 am

We love playing blackjack and with so many great options for USA online blackjack (check out our reviews and bonus info for the latest great sites and promotions) you don’t even need to leave the house to have a game. However, whether we’re on a run of bad luck, waiting to get paid or just fancy a change, sometimes we like to take a break from playing the great game of blackjack. At times like these we take a look at the news – blackjack news, of course!

MIT Blackjack Legend Sells Vegas Mansion for $9m

Andy Bloch, the 46-year-old poker and blackjack ace who was part of the infamous MIT blackjack team that inspired the movie 21, has put his Vegas mansion on the market. If you fancy living in the former house of Bloch, who won more than $100,000 in a single blackjack session in his MIT glory years, you’ll need some big bucks of your own, with the asking price just a shade under $9m. Who said you can’t make a living playing cards?

The six bedroom palace has, naturally enough, a games room with in-built poker table, a prime view over the Vegas strip from the outdoor pool and even a media room. It’s a bit rich for us but maybe one day …

Cheating at the Tables in Southbridge

A 52-year-old dealer, Roy Mariano, and a 36-year-old woman, Marlene Rivera, have been charged with larceny after surveillance footage from the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut allegedly showed them conspiring to cheat. It is said that on 16 times in August this year Mariano overpaid Rivera by substituting $100 chips for $5 chips when he paid out. The pair are alleged to have split the $78,000 profit 50/50 and Mariano says he took part in the scam after his hours and pay were cut. The case continues.

Delta Corp Shares Surge

Shares in Delta Corp jumped 6% today after it was announced they had been granted permission to operate blackjack and other casino games at one of their Indian hotels in Goa. This is the first time Delta Corp have been granted an on-shore license and they hope this will pave the way for further expansion into the potentially huge Indian market, where they already own three offshore casinos in the state of Goa.

Tags , | Permalink | Comments Off on Latest Blackjack and Casino News – December 2015

« Previous Page — Next Page »

« Previous Page — Next Page »