10
Jan

Blackjack is a popular game amongst many gaming fans. It is also a great game for those that wish to win big!

Most online casinos offer the game of blackjack, some variations may differ slightly but most offer a similar style of play.

If you have never played the game of blackjack before but wish to get into it, it is a wise idea to try one of the many free games available. Most casinos offer free games, which can be played quite simply for fun. Online casino bonuses can also be used to participate in play.

Once the user has brushed up on his or her skills, they can then think about playing for a real cash pay out!

It is wise to shop around for your perfect casino prior to signing up. Some casinos may offer better bonuses than others, whilst some may offer a better choice of games.

The casino you choose will usually depend on what you want from a casino. It is therefore wise to think about this prior to registering at the first one you come across.

Playing blackjack online is a great option for those that just don’t have the time to venture out to there nearest land-based casino. Online casinos allow users to play at a time that is convenient to them as appose to at a set time.

Many online casinos also offer a great online casino bonus. This certainly makes the player’s money stretch a little further.

New players can also use this welcome bonus to practice prior to placing their own money down for a bet.

Bonuses can be either used to play for fun or if you are lucky, to win real money!

Many online gaming sites will also offer free strategies and tips, which in turn will reveal tips on how to win big!

14
Dec

If there is one casino game where you can win extra money by deploying a strategy it has to be Blackjack. There are some well known winning strategies that can be deployed such as card counting and basic Blackjack strategy, or total dependent strategy as it is also known, but if you have been playing for a while you may want to move on a bit and this is where the Composition-dependent strategy comes into play.

Total dependent strategy only takes into account the cards you have in your hand and does not look at the number o f hits that you have in your hand. However, when it comes to Composition-dependent strategy not only is the value of any given hand important but also the number of cards you have in it.

Because this strategy takes into account the number of cards held this means that this may change the way the player plays the game slightly. So for example under basic Blackjack strategy you should stand if you have a hand totalling 12. But if the player is using the composition-dependent strategy and their hand has a ten and a two this changes the state of play. Because there are now only three other 10s in the pack the chance of going bust reduces by a quarter so under this strategy you should hit.
However, it is important to remember that this strategy is most effective when you are playing single-deck Blackjack as the higher the number of decks the higher the house edge.
If you want to become a master of the composition-dependent strategy then it is a good idea to study all the different plays and variations and even if this is too time consuming just learning the simple ones for two and three cards can reduce down the house edge.

If you want to give this strategy a go logon to Betfair.com to play Blackjack.

10
Sep

Blackjack pontoon is a variant of blackjack that resembles the original British game of pontoon. For the purpose of this article we will just call it pontoon. The differences are quite subtle however there is one huge difference and that refers to the dealer. In blackjack it is always the casino that is the dealer, but with blackjack pontoon the dealer circulates round the table and the dealer changes every time there is a royal pontoon.

In blackjack any combination of a card that scores 10, that is 10, Jack, Queen and King, paired with an Ace is a blackjack; in pontoon the same combinations are called pontoon but the pairing of a face card (Jack, Queen and King) with an Ace is known as a Royal Pontoon. Royal Pontoon always beat an ordinary pontoon.

Another important difference is that in blackjack, blackjacks pay out at 3 to 2, whilst in pontoon; pontoons pay out at 2 to 1.

Finally, in pontoon there is a special hand which is known as a five card trick. This is any combination of 5 cards that scores 21 or less. A five card trick beats any combination of four cards or fewer that score 21 with the exception of royal pontoons.

The calls the players make are also different in pontoon. The equivalent of a ‘hit’ in blackjack is a ‘twist’ in pontoon. Also in pontoon it is possible for the player to ‘buy a card’. You can either double or triple your initial stake buy buying a card and if you do then the card is dealt face down.

Note that if you are trying to reach a five card trick then you can create a large bet. Say your original stake is £10. Then you buy your third, fourth and fifth cards for £20 each increasing your stake to £70 in the knowledge that only a royal pontoon or a dealers five card trick can beat you. Once you have ‘twisted’ you have forfeited your right to buy a card.

In pontoon the cards are replaced without shuffling to the back of the deck. Shuffling only takes place following a pontoon.

Unfortunately currently this variant of the game does not appear in casinos online, but there is no fundamental reason why it should not if enough people become interested in playing it. Pontoon rooms could be set up just as are poker rooms.

04
Sep

Double Exposure is a form of the game which is uncommon but is lucrative, providing one of the best options for gamblers, either online or in the real world. The name ‘double exposure’ derives from the fact that both cards held by the dealer are visible.

This rule makes it distinct from all other forms of the game, but in most other respect Double Exposure Blackjack is the same as all other variations. Nonetheless, in order to balance the fact that the dealer’s cards are visible to the player, there are a number of rules designed to compensate the dealer. These are:

1. The player can only win if he or she has blackjack. Otherwise, all ties are won by the dealer.

2. The payout for Double Exposure is even money, as opposed to 2:1 or 6:5, which are offered by most other forms.

3. The players are only allowed to split on one occasion during the game.

Outside of these variations, the game operates on the same principles as more popular forms of blackjack, with the bets being placed and then everyone being dealt two cards, using which they must choose to stand, hit, split or double down. The other difference arising from the dealer having no hole card, is that players cannot make insurance bets.

Double Exposure Blackjack is appreciated by some players because being able to see both of the cards held by the dealer eliminates much of the guesswork – particularly if the dealer has a hand worth more than 17. When the player has a hand adding up to 19, while the dealer’s hand adds up to 20, the only choice available is to split. There is only a small chance of winning, but it is still greater than it would have been had the player stayed and they do not have to pray that the dealer’s hole card is favourable to them, as they can see both of the dealer’s cards.