Madison Avenue Blackjack

Madison Avenue Blackjack - How to Play

The aim of Madison Avenue Blackjack is to hold a better hand than the dealer without going bust. 

Game Rules

This game is hosted by a live dealer.

Up to seven players can play at a time.

Madison Avenue Blackjack is played with eight standard 52-card decks. 

Blackjack is the best possible outcome - it is awarded when your first two cards equal 21 exactly.

Card Values

The values of the cards in this game are outlined below:

• Cards 2-10 are worth face value
• Face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) are worth 10 each
• Aces can be worth one or 11. Choose whichever is more advantageous to your hand

Once the betting time is up, each player will be dealt one card face-up, starting with the player on the dealer's left-hand side and moving clockwise.

Next, all players will be dealt a second card, again face-up, face-up.

The dealer's second card will be face-down, however.

The sum of your hand will be displayed on-screen, next to your cards.

Game Options

After your initial two cards have been dealt, you have the following options:

• Double Down - doubles your bet, but you can only receive one more card thereafter. You can Double Down on any two initial cards unless you have previously split
• Hit - adds another card to your hand. You can hit as many times as you like providing you don't exceed 21
• Stand - lets the dealer know you're happy with your hand and don't want any more cards
• Split - if your first two cards are of equal value, you can split them into separate hands. Each hand will be a separate bet equal to the value of your main bet. The dealer will then deal each hand a second card - you can Hit on both hands unless you split an initial pair of aces. If you split on two aces, you can only receive one more card per hand

You can only split once per hand.

Outcome

Exceeding 21 will cause you to 'bust' and lose your bet. 

If you do not bust, the dealer will reveal their face-down card after all players have had their turn.

• If the value of dealer's cards is less than 16, they must Hit 
• If the dealer has a Soft 17 or higher, they must Stand

You win if the dealer 'busts' or your final hand is closer to 21 than theirs. 

If you and the dealer tie, your bet will be returned. 

Blackjack beats a hand of 21 comprising three or more cards, and a hand of 21 resulting from a split pair.

Insurance Bet

You can only purchase Insurance if the dealer's second card is an Ace.

It reduces the risk of the dealer having blackjack, even if you also have blackjack.

Insurance bets cost half your original stake.

If the dealer does have blackjack, Insurance pays out 2:1; if the dealer has blackjack and you did not purchase Insurance, odds are paid out 3:2.

The dealer will then check their face-down card, which will result in one of the following outcomes:

• If they don't have blackjack, the round continues
• If they have blackjack and you do not, the dealer wins
• If both you and the dealer have blackjack, the round ends in a tie and your bet will be returned

Insurance cannot be purchases when the dealer's face-up card is a 10, J, Q or K. 

Insurance bets are settled separately.

Side Bets

There are two side bets available in this game (below).

Side bets can be combined with your main bet.

You can win a side bet even if you don't win your blackjack bet. 

Perfect Pairs

If your initial two cards are a pair of any kind, you can win with the Perfect Pairs side bet.

In this game, there are three Perfect Pairs you can get, each with different payouts:

• Perfect Pair- same suit, e.g. two Kings of Hearts. This pair will pay out 25:1
• Coloured Pair- different suits of the same colour, e.g. a three of Hearts and a three of Diamonds. This pair pays out 12:1
• Mixed Pair- different suits, e.g. a 10 of Hearts and a 10 of Clubs. This pair pays out 6:1

21+3

The 21+3 side bet can be won if your first two cards AND the dealer's face-up card form one of the following winning combinations:

• Suited Trips – an identical triplet, e.g. three Jacks of Diamonds
• Straight Flush – cards of the same suit in ascending/descending numeral sequence, e.g. a nine, 10 and Jack of Clubs
• Three of a Kind – three cards of different suits but the same value, e.g. three Queens
• Straight – cards of different suits in numerical sequence, e.g. a three of Diamonds, four of Clubs and five of Hearts
• Flush – any cards belonging the same suit, e.g. a seven, a four and a Jack of Diamonds

21+3 Payouts

• Suited Trips - 100:1
• Straight Flush - 40:1
• Three of a Kind - 30:1
• Straight - 10:1
• Flush - 5:1

Any malfunctions void the game round and all payouts.

 

Bet Behind

This feature allows you to bet on another player's hand.

You will share the outcome of their hand, even if they do not win.

Payouts for Bet Behind wagers are the same as ordinary bets.

Place a bet in any activated Bet Behind spot at another player's seat before the betting time expires.

If you place a Bet Behind someone who does not participate in the round, your bet will be immediately refunded.

The nickname displayed at each seat lets you know which player is in charge of the decision making for that hand. 

However, you can decide the following:

• To place an Insurance bet when the dealer's up-card is an Ace
• To double your bet when the player you are betting behind opts to Double Down or Split

You can't place a Bet Behind bet on your own hand, nor can you prevent other players from betting behind you.

Hot Player

This icon lets you know which player has the longest winning streak.

The number in the gold medal tells you how many consecutive rounds that player has won.