It's Blackjack by Pragmatic Play Live, it's just like being at the physical casino (in some ways)!
In Blackjack by Pragmatic Play Live, you can engage in multiplayer mode with up to 7 players, take advantage of side bets, and utilize the Bet Behind feature. The game employs eight decks and typically has a deck penetration of 4 to 4.5 decks. Your goal? To achieve a higher card count than the virtual dealer without going over 21. The ultimate hand, of course, is Blackjack — when the sum of your first two cards equals 21.
Each bet placed in Blackjack, whether the main game or any of the side bets, is governed by a designated payout mechanism that ties the wager to a predetermined reward multiplier. Standard winning hands where a participant’s total exceeds the Dealer’s final hand in a non-detrimental manner are compensated at a 1 to 1 payout. An initial combination that achieves the ideal hand composition, known as a Blackjack, secures a payout of 3 to 2, provided that the Dealer does not match this combination.
In situations where the Dealer’s visible card is an Ace, the provision for an Insurance bet adds another layer of strategic defense. Should the Dealer’s concealed card conform to the criteria that completes a high-valued hand, the Insurance bet then yields an immediate payout at 2 to 1. This structured approach to compensatory betting ensures that participants have multiple, clearly defined pathways to secure favorable outcomes based on the card distributions.
Incorporating both the primary game and all supplementary betting options, Blackjack presents an overall theoretical Return to Player (RTP) of 99.28%. This figure is a reflection of the integrated payout structure and the stringent adherence to predefined rules governing card values, betting options, and supplementary wagers. The game stands as a study in design efficacy, where transparency in rules and clear numerical guidance are provided throughout play.
To begin your Blackjack experience, select your desired bet amount ($5 to $5,000) and place it on your preferred betting spots. During the betting time, you have the flexibility to adjust your original bet and add any additional wagers.
Once the betting period concludes, the virtual dealer will deal the cards, starting with the seat to their left and continuing clockwise until all players have received their cards. Each player will receive two cards face-up, while the virtual dealer will receive one card face-up and one card face-down.
After all cards are dealt, players will have several options to choose from: Hit, Stand, Double, or Split. These decisions will be made in order of the players' left to right sitting at the table.
Once all players have made their decisions, the dealer will reveal their hidden card and draw additional cards according to the rules, which state that the dealer must hit until reaching a total of 16 and must stand on 17.
If the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, players have the option to purchase Insurance to protect against the dealer having a Blackjack. After the Insurance betting time ends, the dealer's hand will be checked for a Blackjack. If the dealer has a Blackjack, the round concludes; if not, the game continues to the Blackjack Options phase.
Finally, the dealer's hand is compared to the players' hands to determine the winner. Once the round is complete, all cards are collected and discarded, and the betting for the next round begins.
Blackjack is played using eight standard 52-card decks. The values of the cards are as follows:
Your goal is to have a hand value that is closer to 21 than the virtual dealer's hand, or to win if the dealer busts.
Here are some example combinations:
7♣ + 4♦ = 11, 5♣ + 10♠ = 15, K♥ + Q♣ = 20, A♣ + 5♥ = 6 or 16, and A♥ + 10♠ = BJ.
The best possible hand in the game is called Blackjack, which consists of an Ace paired with a 10, Jack, Queen, or King.
A hand that includes an Ace and any card valued between 2 and 9 is referred to as a “soft hand,” as the Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11. For example, A♣ + 5♥ can equal either 6 or 16.
In Blackjack, the suit of the cards does not affect gameplay for main bets.
In Blackjack, players can enhance their gaming experience with optional side bets, specifically Perfect Pairs (PP) and Twenty-One-Plus-Three (21+3). These side bets allow you to win additional payouts regardless of the outcome of your main Blackjack bet, as they are based on different outcomes rather than the final hand result.
Side bet payouts are generally higher than standard Blackjack payouts, which means the minimum and maximum betting limits for these bets are typically lower. You can place side bets during the betting period, but only after you have made your main bet. For detailed information on side bet payouts, refer to the Bet Limits & Payouts window.
Perfect Pairs (PP) is a side bet that you can place before any cards are dealt. This bet rewards you if your first two cards form a pair, with three types of pairs available:
To win with a Perfect Pair side bet, simply place your bet in the designated PP area before the cards are dealt. Winning side bets are revealed immediately after the initial cards are dealt to each player. Importantly, a winning PP hand is unaffected by the virtual dealer’s hand. The payout for a Perfect Pair is calculated based on your bet multiplied by the odds of the combination type:
| Combination | Payout |
|---|---|
| Perfect Pair | 25 to 1 |
| Coloured Pair | 12 to 1 |
| Mixed Pair | 6 to 1 |
The Theoretical Return to Player for Perfect Pairs is 95.90%.
Twenty-One-Plus-Three (21+3) is another exciting side bet that combines your two initial cards with the dealer’s up-card to form a three-card poker hand. You can win if this combination results in any of the following:
To win with a 21+3 side bet, place your bet in the designated 21+3 area before the cards are dealt. Winning side bets are displayed immediately after the initial cards are dealt. If your hand contains two winning combinations, only the one with the higher payout will be awarded. The payout for the 21+3 side bet is calculated based on your bet multiplied by the odds of the combination type:
| Combination | Payout |
|---|---|
| Suited Trips | 100 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 40 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30 to 1 |
| Straight | 10 to 1 |
| Flush | 5 to 1 |
The Theoretical Return to Player for the 21+3 side bet is 96.30%.
Before diving into advanced topics like card counting, mastering basic blackjack strategy is a crucial first step. Basic strategy involves making mathematically optimal decisions based on your hand’s value and the dealer’s upcard. In Blackjack the following aspects are central to implementing basic strategy:
• Hard and Soft Totals: Make decisions based on whether your hand includes an Ace counted as 11 (soft) or not (hard). For example, a soft 17 (Ace and 6) might be handled differently than a hard 17.
• Doubling and Splitting: The ability to double on any two cards provides tactical doubling opportunities. However, note that the absence of Double after Split means you must carefully consider splitting decisions, especially on pairs that might later benefit significantly from doubling.
• Dealer’s Upcard: Strategies often vary depending on the dealer’s situation. For instance, if the dealer shows a weak upcard (typically 2 – 6), you might opt to stand even on borderline totals, expecting the dealer to bust.
• Adjustments for Bet Behind: When betting behind another player, you might adjust your settings in advance. Rather than making decisions in real time for that hand, you decide if you’ll mirror insurance or doubling moves, saving you time and effort.
By applying these fundamental concepts, players can reduce the house edge and position themselves more favorably in long-term play.
For players looking for an edge beyond basic strategy, card counting can be an invaluable tool. While card counting does not guarantee wins, it provides additional insights into the remaining high and low cards left in the shoe, helping you make more informed betting and playing decisions. It’s important to understand that Blackjack is played with eight decks, and the deck penetration tends to be around 4 to 4.5 decks used before a shuffle. This ratio plays a significant role in how effective card counting can be.
It’s also worth noting that casinos (or online platforms emulating the casino environment) have rules and monitoring to discourage card counting, but many players still study these strategies as an intellectual exercise, and some even use them to adjust bet sizes during favorable conditions.
Card counting is a skill-based system used to monitor the ratio of high cards to low cards remaining in a shoe. High cards—10s, face cards, and Aces—tend to favor the player, especially when it comes to hitting a natural blackjack, which pays out at 3:2. Conversely, low cards (2 through 6) benefit the dealer by increasing the likelihood of the dealer going bust. By tracking the distribution of these cards, a card counter can adjust their bet size and strategy accordingly.
Key points when card counting in Blackjack include:
• Timing and Penetration: With deck penetration at around 4 to 4.5 decks in an 8-deck shoe, a significant portion of the cards remain unseen. This requires consistency and precision in counting, as the effectiveness of your count depends on when the remaining cards are favorable. It's not favorable deck penetration at all.
• Bet Sizing: When the count indicates a surplus of high cards, wagering may be a good idea. When the count indicates a surplus of low cards, wagering may not necessarily be a good idea. The count can impact the decisions you make as well when you actually play a hand.
In Blackjack, you can swoop in at any time and just start betting at the end of a shoe when the True Count is most accurate (relatively speaking), but you may have difficulty getting in at a particular table. Your approach is that of a vulture, playing the last two or three hands at a time when the True Count is favorable and Expected Value is in your favor. You will be hopping from table-to-table, so don't expect to stay long. A service like Gambling Counting can help you with being a vulture at Blackjack tables.
The Hi-Lo system is by far the most popular card counting method due to its simplicity and effectiveness. It assigns a value to each card to simplify tracking:
• Low Cards (2 – 6) Count as: +1
• Neutral Cards (7 – 9) Count as: 0
• High Cards (10, J, Q, K, A) Count as: –1
How it works:
– As each card is dealt, the counter adds the designated value to a running count. When the count is significantly positive, it signals that there is a higher proportion of high cards remaining in the deck. This situation is favorable because it increases the probability of hitting a blackjack or a strong hand.
– Once the running count is calculated, the count is usually converted to a “true count” by dividing by the number of decks remaining to be dealt. For instance, if your running count is +8 and there are 4 to 4.5 decks left, your true count is +2—a measure of how favorable the remaining cards are.
Advantages:
– Easy to learn and implement.
– Provides a good balance between accuracy and simplicity.
– Works effectively in an 8-deck game when used in conjunction with deck penetration awareness.
The KO system is similar to Hi-Lo but eliminates the need to convert to a true count, making it somewhat more straightforward in practice:
• Low Cards (2 – 7) Count as: +1
• High Cards (8 – Ace) Count as: 0 or differently in variant systems (often the 10s and face cards are counted as -1)
Key Features:
– The KO system is “unbalanced,” meaning that the sum of the values in a full deck is not zero. Because of this, card counters do not have to adjust the running count by dividing by the decks remaining, which simplifies the counting process considerably.
– It still alerts players to when the deck becomes rich in high cards, but with a system that might feel more intuitive for some players.
Advantages:
– Simpler calculation due to the absence of true count conversion.
– Allows some players to maintain a continuous count from one shoe to the next.
– Particularly effective when used with predetermined betting strategies.
Betting Guidelines: In an 8-deck shoe with typical 4 deck penetration, a running count of +3 or higher is generally considered a good point to either enter the game or raise your bets. Using the KO system in these conditions, a running count of +3 implies that there is a slightly higher proportion of high cards left, which elevates the chance of receiving favorable hands. When the running count reaches +5 or more, it is advisable to raise your bets significantly (as long as you’re comfortable with variations in bankroll).
The Omega II system is more advanced and slightly more complex than the Hi-Lo or KO systems. It employs a multi-level approach with different values assigned to different cards:
• Cards are given values that are not confined to a simple +1 or –1. For example, low cards might be assigned a value of +1, while 4s and 5s might be counted as +2. High cards still carry negative values.
• The system is considered “balanced” (meaning the total sum of the card values in a full deck equates to zero), so it does require conversion to a true count, similar to the Hi-Lo system.
Advantages:
– Increased precision in counting, as it accounts for the differing effects that various low cards have on the outcome.
– Some players believe that the nuanced approach of the Omega II provides a more accurate reflection of the upcoming deck composition.
Disadvantages:
– More complex to learn and requires higher concentration and rapid mental calculation.
Betting Guidelines: With the Omega II system, the optimal time to increase your bets is when the true count reaches +2. In scenarios where the true count climbs to +3 or higher (after calculating with the 4 to 4.5 decks penetration), the advantage becomes significant, and increasing your wager dramatically may help to capitalize on the favorable deck composition. Despite the system’s complexity, these absolute numbers can serve as an effective baseline.
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