Vegas Strip Blackjack is a variation of the classic blackjack that you will find at the most popular casinos on the Las Vegas strip. The Vegas Strip Blackjack is a popular blackjack variation that most gamblers play at the casinos mentioned above.
Microgaming developed the same game for online players. This means that you will only be able to play the Vegas Strip Blackjack game at online casinos that use Microgaming software. We have put together this guide to help you understand how the game works and what makes it so popular with gamblers in Vegas. We cover the rules, strategy, and an overall view of the Vegas Strip Blackjack.
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Rules of Vegas Strip Blackjack
Since this is a blackjack game, the objective is to get a hand total of 21 or close. You need to beat the dealer without going over a total of 21. What’s more, the same as the classic blackjack, Vegas Strip Blackjack uses four decks which are shuffled after each hand.
The cards from two to nine are valued at face value. The value of the Ace can be counted as one or 11 while the face cards, K, Q, and J are valued at ten. Tens also have the same value as the face cards.
The game has a payout percentage of 99.65% and its payout 3:2 for a natural blackjack. A natural blackjack will include an Ace counted at a value of 11 and a ten-valued card. However, at some of the Las Vegas casinos, the payout is at 6:5.
How to Play Online
As we have mentioned, the Vegas Strip blackjack uses four-deck of cards. The minimum bet you can make on the game is $5 while the maximum is at $500. After making your bet, you will be dealt two cards face up, and the dealer will have two cards with one face up and the other down.
If the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, you will have the option to make the insurance bet which pays out at 2:1. This payout will only be if the dealer hits 21. When the player has a card with the value of ten then can peek for blackjack, and if the hand is a natural blackjack, the hand is revealed, and the round ends.
You will have to decide what to do with the dealt cards. There is the option to hit (getting another card), stand with the current hand value, split the hand making it two separate hands and adding a bet on the second hand or doubling down by getting another card and adding a bet.
There is also the option to surrender, which means that you are giving up a hand you have as a loss. Once you have decided from the mentioned options, the dealer will reveal their hidden card and follow the rules. It is known that the dealer will stand on a soft 17. Should the dealer’s hand go over 21, you will be paid out 1:1.
Best Strategy for Vegas Strip Blackjack
It doesn’t matter what kind of blackjack variation you are playing; it always best to use the basic strategy to help improve your chances of winning and possibly reducing the house edge. However, the house edge on the Microgaming Vegas Strip blackjack is at 0.35%.
There is a basic strategy chart you can use when playing this variation of blackjack. It helps you with optimal moves based on the dealer’s up-card and your hand total. However, any strategy you use does not guarantee any win. See some of the Vegas Strip blackjack strategy decisions you can make below:
- If the dealer has an Ace an up-card don’t buy insurance because it increases the house edge, which means you will lose money systematically.
- Don’t split cards with a ten-value because your hand is already close to 21 and the dealer will have to outdraw a total of 21 or have natural blackjack to beat you.
- Split paired Aces because it will improve your chances of winning. The two hands will have a starting total of 11.
- Also, split the paired 8s for the same reason you would the paired Aces. However, with paired 8s, you will have a starting total of 8, which is better than having a hand total of 16.
- Hit Hard 16 when the dealer has a 7 through Ace up-cards. However, hard 16 does not include a pair of 8s.
- Double on 9, 10 and 11 totals when the dealer’s up-cards are 3 through 6.
- If a dealer has a weak up-card of 5 and 6, double on soft totals of A to2 through A to 7.
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