An Introduction to Vegas Strip Blackjack

Vegas Strip Blackjack Rules

In Vegas Strip Blackjack, the game is played with four decks of cards that are shuffled in the shoe at the table. In some variants of the game, six decks are used, but standard Vegas Strip Blackjack uses four decks. Just like in regular blackjack games, the aim of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it, which is called going bust. If the player’s hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand, the player wins.

Vegas Strip Blackjack is no different to the standard game as all picture cards (Jack, Queen and King) are worth 10. As for Aces, they can be worth either 1 or 11. Hence, to form Blackjack – the strongest hand in the game – the player is required to combine an Ace with a picture card or 10. This results in 21 and will beat all other hands, including those worth 21 but containing more than two cards.

Vegas Strip Blackjack Round

The start of any Vegas Strip Blackjack round begins with the dealer asking the player to place their bet and side bets. Once these have been placed, the dealer proceeds to serve two face up cards to the player and takes a face up card and face down card themselves. In some variants of Vegas Strip Blackjack, the player is allowed to take play than one hand. Such games are known as Multi-Hand Blackjack games.

If the dealer’s face up card is an Ace, the player will have the chance to place an Insurance Bet. Essentially, this means placing an additional wager worth half their stake that pays if the dealer has Blackjack. The payout is 2:1, basically meaning the player receives back their stake if the dealer has blackjack. If the dealer’s face up card is a 10-value card, they will also check for blackjack. However, in this scenario, there is no insurance bet available. If the dealer has blackjack in this case, the round ends in a loss, unless the player also has blackjack. This saves time and prevents the player placing any additional bets.

If there is no blackjack for the dealer, the round continues as usual. The player then makes the calls and decides how to play their hand. They can take one of the following actions:

• Stand – the player decides to keep their hand as it is, and the round continues.
• Hit – the player decides to take an additional card. There is no limit on how many cards the player can take, however, they must be cautious about not exceeding 21.
• Double Down – the player takes on a single additional card but doubles their bet in doing so. This is only available after receiving their two initial face up cards.

The other option that the player has is to split their cards. However, splitting is only available if the two initial cards are pairs. Splitting is allowed once, meaning a player cannot split a split hand. If the player has Aces, they can only receive one more card after splitting. By opting to split, the player will double their bet.

Once the player has finalized their hand, the dealer reveals their face up card. In Vegas Strip Blackjack, the dealer must follow a strict set of rules. Essentially, if the dealer has 16 or below, they must hit. If the dealer’s total is 17 or higher, they must stand.

After the dealer’s hand is complete, the round is over, and a payout is made. The player receives even money if their hand is stronger than the dealer’s. If the dealer’s hand is stronger, the player’s bet is claimed. If the hands are of equal strength, the bet is returned as a push. If the player has Blackjack – and the dealer does not – the payout is 3:2.

Vegas Strip Blackjack Side Bets

Vegas Strip Blackjack is one of the most popular blackjack games online. Thus, it will usually include two of the most popular side bets in blackjack. Namely, 21+3 and Perfect Pairs. Remember, a side bet is completely independent from the base game of Vegas Strip Blackjack. A player can win their side bet and lose their hand or visa-versa.

Perfect Pairs is played by looking at the player’s two face up cards and hoping for a pair. If the two cards are the same value but have different colours, they are considered a Mixed Pair. This pays 6:1. If the player’s two face up cards are pairs that have the same colour, they form a Coloured Pair, which pays 12:1. Lastly, if the player’s two initial cards are exactly the same, they are considered a Perfect Pair, paying 25:1 in the process.

21+3 is slightly different, as it considers three cards – the player’s two initial face up cards and the dealer’s face up card. The aim here is to form poker combinations. Thus, if the player can form a flush, they are paid 5:1. Forming a straight pays 10:1 whilst three of a kind pays 30:1. A straight flush will pay 40:1 whilst a suited three of a kind pays 100:1.

Vegas Strip Blackjack Strategy

Vegas Strip Blackjack is a popular choice among players because of basic strategy. This uses statistics to determine the best action to take in every scenario based upon the players’ two face-up cards and the dealer’s face up card. The strategy is shown in a chart and it is permissible to have this chart in front of you while playing.

In addition to strategy charts, many players will use betting systems to help manage their bankrolls. Below, we take a look at two betting systems, the 1-3-2-6 and the Oscars Blackjack Betting Strategy with examples.

1-3-2-6

The 1-3-2-6 strategy is a way of placing bets following the sequence of numbers. It is only possible to trigger the sequence after winning a bet.

Example

If you have a base bet of €1, after placing four bets, you will have lost €4 and remained at the start of the sequence.

If you had won your four bets, your bet sizes would have been €1, €3, €2 and then €6. After winning a bet, you move onto the next number in the sequence. After winning four bets in a row, the sequence ends. You then return to the start of the sequence, meaning your fifth bet will be €1.

If you win the first two bets but lose the third, your four bet sizes would look like this: €1, €3, €2 and €1. Once you have lost a bet, you return to the start of the sequence.

Using this betting strategy does not reduce the house advantage. However, it will give you a variety while playing and it will help ensure you do not burn through your funds too quickly if you hit a losing streak.

Oscars Blackjack Betting System

The second betting system to look at is the Oscars Blackjack Betting System. It is a progressive strategy that was developed in the 1960s. It was originally intended for Craps, but it is just as suitable for blackjack. The idea here is to make a unit of profit for a sequence. After winning a unit, you start from the beginning again.

Example

If your base bet is €1, after winning your first bet, your next bet will stay as €1.

If you lose your first €1 bet, your second bet is also €1. However, at this point, the system starts. As you have lost one unit, if your second bet wins, your following bet is doubled. For every successive winning hand, your bet continues to double until you have made a profit of one unit. When you recover your initially lost unit, you start from the beginning of the sequence again.

In short, when you lose a bet, you are down a unit. Thus, after winning, you must double your bet to recoup the initially lost unit. Once you have made a profit of one unit, you should stop the sequence. Here is how it looks:

• 1 Unit Bet – Hand Lost – Profit is -1 
• 1 Unit Bet – Hand Lost – Profit is -2
• 1 Unit Bet – Hand Lost – Profit is -3
• 1 Unit Bet – Hand Lost – Profit is -4
• 1 Unit Bet – Hand Won – Profit is -3
• 2 Units Bet – Hand Won – Profit is -1
• 2 Units Bet – Hand Won + Profit is +1
• Stop and start sequence again

Thus, as you can see, the sequence keeps the same sized stake so long as you are losing, keeping tabs of how many units you are in minus. As soon as the first hand is won, the bet is immediately doubled for following bet. On the final bet, the bet is 2 units, rather than 3, because the aim is to make a profit of exactly 1 unit.

When following this betting system correctly, you can certainly improve bankroll management. This can make Vegas Strip Blackjack a lot more fun to play.