Online Blackjack Progressive Strategy Posted by Fajardo , Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 4:06 AM, in Labels: blackjack, gambling, online backjack cassinos, online blackjack, online casino games, online casinos

One of the great advantages of having online blackjack so easily accessible over the internet today, is that even for the busy executive, distressed housewife or traveling businessman, fun online casino games are available for all! And the good news about a lot of the different types of online blackjack casinos available that there is no need to strike a balance on the kind of fun and excitement one is adcquainted to at traditional blackjack casinos.

One of the many variations of blackjack is Progressive Blackjack. The main difference from standard online blackjack is that the player is allowed to place a side bet before receiving any cards from the dealer. After placing your side bet, which can be as low as $1 you are dealt your first two cards.

In order to win the total value of the cards in your hand must be as close to 21 as possible without going over. The player closest to 21 wins the hand. If you bust and the dealer also busts, you lose.

Just like blackjack in online casinos, the player in Progressive Blackjack is always competing against the dealer. The objective is to draw cards until your hand comes as close to 21 as possible, without going over.

If your first two cards total 21 points, you have “blackjack.” However, in Progressive Blackjack you don’t need to hit 21 or beat the dealer to become a winner. You can win over $5,000 on a single $1 bet, no matter what the dealer has!

BLACKJACK BETTING STRATEGY

In the game of blackjack, bets are placed at the beginning of the game. When you participate in blackjack gambling there are various blackjack stakes that you can play for. Some gamblers who don’t like the pressure of playing for big bucks there are low-limit blackjack tables where you can play with a low maximum bet. Playing for low blackjack stakes ensures that you won’t lose more money than you can afford.

TIPS AND STRATEGIES

To understand the following tables remember an ace can count as either 1 or 11. A "soft" hand is a hand, which contains an ace that counts as 11. Therefore, a "soft 17" is a hand that contains an Ace and a 6. A player with an Ace has the advantage of being able to change the ace’s value to count as 1 after drawing another card. When a hand contains an ace that counts as 1, it is called a "hard hand".

HIT AND HOLD STRATEGY

Obviously, you should hold if you have 17 or higher. If you have a lower value like 12-16, you should play as if the dealer's hidden card is a 10. You should hit if the dealer's score beats yours, for example if you have 15 and the dealer's up-card is an 8 and a 10 would give the dealer 18. You should hold if there is a good chance that the dealer will go bust, for example if you have 15 and the dealer's up-card is a 6 and a 10 would give the dealer 16.

INSURANCE STRATEGY

Online blackjack sites will offer you the opportunity to take insurance if the dealer has an ace showing. If you take insurance and the dealer has blackjack, the hand is a push. If not, you lose the insurance bet, equal to half a regular bet, and the hand plays as normal. Assuming a standard blackjack setup, do not take insurance, ever, under any circumstances. The odds of the dealer have a ten underneath are worse than the 2-to-1 odds offered by insurance.

SPLIT STRATEGY

Remember, never split fives. You should double in most cases instead. Never split tens, a 20 is too powerful a hand to break up. Always split aces and eights. Split nines against everything but 7, 10 or A. Do not split any other hand if the dealer has an 8 or better showing.

DOUBLE DOWN STRATEGY

You should be looking to double hands where the dealer has a "stiff" card like 4, 5, or 6. You should always double eleven unless you are up against an ace. You should always double ten unless you are up against a ten point card or an ace. You should never double a "hard" hand one where a single card can bust you.

Blackjack, and gambling can be fun, but strategy ensures that you maximize your chances to win and come home with cash.