How To Play Progressive Blackjack?

What is progressive blackjack ?

Progressive Blackjack is a variation of traditional blackjack that features an optional side bet, allowing players the opportunity to win an accumulating jackpot. The main game of blackjack is played in the usual manner, where players aim to get a hand closer to 21 than the dealer without going over.

The "progressive" aspect of the game pertains to the side bet. Here's how it generally works:

1. Side Bet: To be eligible for the progressive jackpot, players must make a separate, optional side bet before the hand begins. This side bet is typically a fixed amount, separate from the player's main wager.
2. Jackpot Conditions: Winning the progressive jackpot or a portion of it usually requires getting specific card combinations in your hand. The exact combinations may vary from one casino to another. For example, four suited aces might win the whole jackpot, while three suited aces might win a smaller portion of it.
3. Accumulating Jackpot: The jackpot grows progressively as more players participate and make side bets. A small portion of each side bet contributes to the progressive jackpot. The jackpot keeps accumulating until a player wins it.
4. Resetting the Jackpot: Once the jackpot is won, it resets to a predetermined minimum amount and starts growing again as players make side bets.

While the potential for a massive payoff from the progressive jackpot can be enticing, players should be aware that the side bet typically comes with a much higher house edge than standard blackjack bets. This means that, in the long run, the side bet is less favorable for the player compared to traditional blackjack wagers.

How to play progressive blackjack ?

Rules to play progressive blackjack are pretty simple: players must first and foremost ensure that they have a number of 21 or that is close to 21. Surpassing 21 means the player bust. On the other hand, the aim of a progressive blackjack jackpot is to collect as many numbers as possible. In this scenario, players can choose between three options: stand, hit, or take another card option.

Nonetheless, players can further choose between the split or double down option when playing progressive blackjack. The former option divides the player’s first two cards into two separate hands. The split only happens on a condition that the cards are of the same value. The latter option allows players to double the initial amount of their bet. In exchange for the double down choice, the player must accept the stand option. That is after they accept one more card.

It’s important to remember that in blackjack, whether online or not, dealers shuffle the cards after each hand. The reason is to prevent card counters from applying any form of card counting trick. Another thing to note is that players are only allowed to use the split option once.

The blackjack progressive betting system features a side bet. Although optional, it gives players a chance to rack up more money and win an accumulating progression. However, the condition to win is by drawing one or more aces.

The more aces a player draws, the higher the payout. For instance, if a player should draw four aces of the same colour, it means he would win the entire jackpot.

Objectives of Progressive Blackjack

The objectives of a progressive blackjack coincide with that of a classic blackjack game. The standard deck of a blackjack game typically contains 52 cards. In some online variants of progressive blackjack, it can amount to eight decks for a total of 416 cards.

In the case of a progressive blackjack game, both the dealer and the player have two cards each. However, only one of the dealer’s card is facing up in the gameplay. The dealer’s second card, called the hole card, would be facing down.

The payout for the main bet is the same as those on a land-based casino. If the player should beat the dealer using higher cards, then the payout would be 1 to 1. On the other hand, if the player should choose to play a more traditional blackjack game – with the queen, king, jack, and ace – the payout would increase to 3 to 2.

Every player should keep in mind that aces are usually worth 11. And in some cases, aces are 1. King, queen, and jack are mostly 10.

Moreover, some variations of progressive blackjack allow players in a multi-hand mode. In that manner, one player can have up to 5 different bets. It’s even possible to use different chips with different denominations. The more hands a player plays in the progressive blackjack, the more chances the player has to win the jackpot.

Placing the Main Bet

When playing progressive blackjack, it is mandatory to place the main bet, whatever the value you set. Smaller denomination chips include £0.5, £1, £5, or £10. Larger chips include £25, and £100. The minimum bet is usually £1, and the maximum bet is often £100. Again note that the limits vary on the variation of progressive blackjack you’re playing.

In the main bet, there is a high probability that the dealer’s hole card would be a ten, or ten-valued. So, it is advisable for players to have an insurance side bet in case the dealer holds a blackjack.

Remember that the double and the split are both side bets. So, players would need additional wagers to place a bet.

The Progressive Side Bet

Progressive side bet, on the other hand, allows players to place an independent side bet to their primary wager. However, placing a side bet is purely optional.

Statistically, more than 9% of the player’s side bets goes automatically to the accumulating pots. That is why jackpot’s amount increase so rapidly. The remaining portion of the side bet is part of the seed. Eventually, the seed becomes the predetermined amount at which the jackpot starts to accumulate. So if peradventure a lucky player wins the entire jackpot, it wouldn’t start accumulating from zero again. The jackpot would start collecting from a specific amount this time around.

Knowing the Progressive Positive Betting Strategy

Players who are still weighing their chances in progressive blackjack should start with the positive betting strategy. This strategy, used during a game of progressive blackjack, is a whole lot safer than its negative counterparts.

One of the most common positive betting systems is Paroli. Using Paroli allows players to double the amount they can bet after every win. The system starts first with a flat bet, which remains flat until the players’ first win. If the chance is lost, the player will return to the original bet, and the cycles repeat.

Nevertheless, one of the main drawbacks of the Paroli is that it depends on a current winning streak. Using Paroli can be considered as a weak betting system due to its practical impossibility to predict the duration of the winning streak.

The Danger of Negative Progressive Betting System

In a way, the negative progressive betting system is far more dangerous than the positive betting system. Indeed, bets in the negative order will increase after an unfavourable result, in the hope that winning the first hand will compensate for the loses.

One of the most common negative progressive approaches is the use of Fibonacci money management. When placing a bet, the player would have to use an integer sequence of numbers.  Fibonacci is valuable since the player would be able to make a profit even though he loses in the majority of the rounds.