Madison Avenue Blackjack

Madison Avenue Blackjack Game Overview

The chip sizes available in Madison Avenue Blackjack range from £1 to £500.

How To Play

In Madison Avenue Blackjack, your goal is to beat the dealer's hand without exceeding 21.

Blackjack is the best hand you can achieve - this occurs when the first two cards dealt equal 21 exactly. 

Game Rules

A maximum of seven players can play at any Madison Avenue Blackjack, with the dealer who will host the game.

The game contains eight standard 52-card decks, with cards valued as explained below:

• Cards from 2 to 10 - worth their face value
• Face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) - valued at 10 each 
• Aces - can be worth either one or 11, depending on which number would benefit your hand more (N.B. a hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 is called a Soft Hand)

The dealer will deal each player one face up  card when betting time expires, beginning to their left and working their way round clockwise. 

Everyone will then receive a second card face up, and when that's done the dealer will deal a second card for themselves, but this time it is face down.

Next to your cards, you can see the value of your initial hand.

Blackjack

This is the strongest hand you can be dealt in the game - it happens when your initial two cards equal exactly 21.

Insurance

Insurance can only be purchased if the dealer's up-card is an Ace, and it offsets the risk of the dealer having Blackjack, even if you have Blackjack yourself.

If Blackjack is revealed by the dealer, insurance bets will pay out at odds of 2:1; if the dealer reveals Blackjack and you chose not to buy insurance, odds are paid out 3:2.

To check if they have Blackjack, the dealer will look at their face down card:

- If they don't, the round will proceed as normal

- The dealer wins if they have Blackjack and you don't

- If you and the dealer both have Blackjack, it results in a 'push' and you will have your stake refunded

The cost of insurance amount is the value of half your main bet, and these bets will be settled separately.

Double Down

On any two initial cards, you have the option to double down. 

This means you can double your stake, but after you choose this option you can receive only one more card.

If you have split, then you will be unable to double down.

Hit 

If you 'hit' you will be dealt another card, which is added to your existing hand. 

You can hit as many times as you like until you exceed 21.

Stand

This option informs the dealer that you're happy with your hand, and you won't receive any more cards.

Split

If the first two cards you are dealt have the same value, you can split them into two different hands.

Each hand is a separate bet, and they have the same stake as your initial bet.

You'll then be dealt a second card for each hand, and unless you split a pair of Aces, you can 'hit' on both hands.

If you have decided to split on two Aces, you can only receive one more card per hand.

You cannot split more than once per hand.

Outcome

Should the value of your hand exceed 21, you 'bust' and lose your bet. 

When all hands have been played by players, the dealer will reveal their down-card. 

They must:

- Hit - if the value of their cards is less than 16

- Stand - if they possess a Soft 17 or higher 

If your final hand is closer to 21 than the dealer's, or if the dealer 'busts', your bet will win. 

Should your hand be valued the same as the dealer's then it will result in a 'push' and your bet will be refunded. 

Blackjack (Ace and 10) beats a hand of: 21 which features three or more cards; 21 resulting from a split pair.

Side Bets

There are two side bets available in Madison Avenue Blackjack: Perfect Pairs and 21+3.

These can be combined with your main bet, and you can win a side bet even if your Blackjack bet loses.

Perfect Pairs

With this side bet, you will win if your first two cards consist of any pair, i.e. two Queens, two Aces, two threes etc. 

Three types of pairs are available - each has a different payout (below).

• Mixed Pair – different suits, e.g. a 10 of Hearts and a 10 of Clubs
• Coloured Pair – different suits of the same colour, e.g. a two of Diamonds and a two of Hearts
• Perfect Pair – same suit, e.g. two Aces of Spades

Perfect Pairs Payouts:

• Mixed Pair 6:1
• Coloured Pair 12:1
• Pefect Pair 25:1

21+3

If your initial two cards, plus the dealer's up-card, form any of the winning combinations below, you will win this side bet.

• Flush – any cards of the same suit, e.g. a two, six and 10 of Clubs
• Straight – cards of different suits in numerical sequence, e.g. a two of Spades, three of Clubs and four of Hearts
• Three of a Kind – cards are of same value but different suits, e.g. three Kings
• Straight Flush – cards of the same suit are in numerical sequence, e.g. a 10, Jack and Queen of Diamonds
• Suited Trips – an identical triplet, e.g. three Queen of Hearts

Each winning combination features a different payout.

21+3 Payouts

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

The game round will become void if any malfunctions occur, as well as all payouts for the round.

Bet Behind

With the Bet Behind option, you can place a wager on another player's hand, meaning you'll share the outcome of that player's hand. 

Payouts for wagers on this option are identical to ordinary bets.

Bets can be placed in any activated Bet Behind spot at another player's seat before betting time expires. 

If you place a Bet Behind bet and the player at that seat chooses not to take part in the round, your stake is instantly refunded.

The nickname displayed at each seat identifies the player who will make all decisions for that hand.

When the dealer's up-card is an ace, insurance bets can still be placed. 

You also have the option to double your bet when the player you are betting behind decides to Double Down or Split. 

It is not possible to Bet Behind on your own hand.

You can stop other players from betting behind you.

Hot Player

The 'Hot Players' icon shows you which player has the greatest winning streak at the table.

The number that is displayed within the gold medal informs you of the amount of consecutive rounds that player has won. 

When a 'Hot Player' loses a round, the gold-medal icon disappears.

 

Return to Player (RTP)

The optimal theoretical payout percentage is:

Blackjack – 99.28%.

Perfect Pairs bet – 95.90%.

21+3 bet – 96.30%.of wins.

The expected return to player is the amount we pay out to players relative to the amount of wagering on the game.

For example, if we take £100 of wagers we will, on average, pay out £99.28 of wins.