Las Vegas has always been associated with a wide variety of gambling options. Hundreds of players who have visited the “Fabulous Las Vegas” left it several times richer than they were upon arrival. Today, players are well-aware of the advantages of playing the so-called Vegas Downtown Blackjack. It is a variation of the classic blackjack and as its name implies, Vegas Downtown Blackjack can be found predominantly in the downtown area of the city.
Players from all around the world try Vegas Downtown Blackjack, known as one of the loosest variations. It is famous for its liberal rules and pretty decent payouts, which guarantees thrill and unparalleled gambling experience.
Vegas Downtown Blackjack Basics
In a nutshell, your goal is to defeat the dealer. In other words, even if there are other players on the table, you should not regard them as competitors. Your only competitor is the dealer. You are supposed to get a hand better than dealer’s, but the value of the hand must not exceed 21. When the game commences, each player is given two cards turned face up. The dealer also has two cards but only one of them is face up. Each player decides whether to stand, hit, split, double down, surrender or make an insurance bet. Then, the dealer reveals the value of the hand and the winner is determined.
Vegas Downtown Blackjack is played with 2 standard decks of cards. Here are some details about the rules you have to adhere to if you are planning a trip to a Las Vegas – based casino.
Let’s start with the splitting. You are allowed to split two identical cards. The other available option is to split two cards that have the same value. For example, you are allowed to split Queen and a Ten, King and a Jack, etc.
You can split a hand no more than three times, which therefore means you can play with four separate hands. Similarly to some other Blackjack variations, you will be dealt only one card if you split aces.
As far as the doubling down rules are concerned, you are allowed to double down on any two cards regardless of their value. However, you will be required to place another bet, which is the same as the initial one. Doubling down after a split is also possible.
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It is essential to note that the Vegas Downtown Blackjack is a hole card game, which means the dealer is allowed to check for blackjack provided that the card, which is turned face up is a Ten or an Ace. If the dealer has a blackjack, the value of both cards is revealed, while players are not able to take any further actions and the game is completed.
If you are a fan of the online gambling options, you have to know that in online casinos cards are usually reshuffled before the beginning of every new game, while in the land-based casino properties, cards are shuffled when they are 2/3 the way through a shoe.
As for the payout, the game follows the standard set of rules. A blackjack pays 3:2 and if the player has a winning insurance bet, it pays 2:1. The house edge is negligibly small, amounting to less than 0.4%.
Vegas Downtown Blackjack Strategy
The tips below can be really helpful, especially if you are not too experienced in playing Vegas Downtown Blackjack.
- First of all, you are advised to stand in case you have a 17+ hand, a pair of 10’s or soft 20. In case your hand worth is 11, don’t hesitate to double down, no matter what the value of dealer’s cards is.
- If you have a pair of Aces, the best action you can take is to split them.
- Although the insurance bet is a widely preferred method for keeping at least half of your wager, you’d better not opt for it in Vegas Downtown Blackjack and here’s the explanation. This is a double deck game, which means the house edge on the Insurance bet is almost 6.8%.
- If you are dealt a pair of 5’s and the value of the dealer’s card is 10 or 11, you’d better “hit”. However, if dealer’s card is neither 10 nor 11, you should double down.
Although Vegas downtown Blackjack is a variation of the traditional blackjack and you will find many similarities during your game, there are some diffrences that deserve your attention:
- The game is played with two decks of cards. However, if your tactic for winning includes card counting, you have to be really precautious as the casino has the right to ask you to stop playing.
- The dealer hits on soft 17 and stands on hard 17 or above.
- Players are allowed to double down after the first two cards are dealt no matter what their value is.
- Some blackjack variations do not allow the players to double down after splitting but Vegas Downtown Blackjack is not among them. Players are also allowed to re-split up to three hands.
- Playing on multiple bet positions is not possible.
Vegas Downtown Blackjack Online
If you enjoy playing casino games in an online format, you might be delighted to know that you will find Vegas Downtown Blackjack in some of the best online casinos, powered by leading software developers. Some of them even offer a free version where you can improve your skills and understand the game rules better, while enjoying excellent graphics and sound effects. Depending on the casino you choose, you might be required to download and install their software in order to gain access to free play and real money modes but most casinos have made it easier for the players who are given instant access to the game catalogue.
