Madison Avenue Blackjack

Madison Avenue Blackjack Game Overview

The chip sizes available in Madison Avenue Blackjack start from £1.

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

Up to seven players can take a seat at any Madison Avenue Blackjack table at a time. There will also be a dealer hosting the game.

Eight standard 52-card decks are used in this game, and the values of the cards are outlined below:

• Cards from 2 to 10 will have face value, meaning a 4 is worth 4, for example
• Face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) all have a value of 10
• Aces can be valued at either 1 or 11, and it will assume the value that is more favourable to your hand (a hand that includes an Ace worth 11 is labelled as a Soft Hand)

Each player will receive a single face-up card from the dealer following the expiration of betting time. The dealer will produce the cards in a clockwise direction, starting from the player closest to their left.

A second face-up card is then dealt to the players, although the dealer's second card will remain face-down.

The value of your hand is shown alongside your cards.

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

If your hand's value goes past 21, it is called a 'bust' and your bet is lost.

The dealer's second card is turned over after all of the players have played their hands, and the following rules will apply:

- Hit - the dealer must deal another card if the overall value of their hand is lower than 16

- Stand - the dealer cannot deal any more cards if their hand has a value of Soft 17 or higher

If the final value of your hand is nearer 21 than the dealer's or if the dealer's hand 'busts', then your bet is settled as a winner.

A 'push' occurs when your hand has the same value as the dealer's, and in this instance your bet is returned.

Blackjack (Ace and 10) will defeat a hand worth 21 that consists of three or more cards, or one that was formed via splitting a pair of cards.

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

To win this side bet, your initial two cards must be any pair. This can be two 2s, two 7s, two Kings etc.

Three different types of pairs are applicable, and they each contain a different payout, as explained below:

• Mixed Pair – non-matching suits, e.g. a 6 of Clubs and a 6 of Diamonds
• Coloured Pair – non-matching suits but with an identical colour, e.g. a 9 of Hearts and a 9 of Diamonds
• Perfect Pair – matching suit, e.g. two Kings of Spades

Perfect Pairs Payouts:

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

21+3

If any of the combinations below are created by the first two cards you were dealt, alongside the dealer's face-up card, this side bet will be a winner:

• Flush – any cards with a matching suit, e.g. a 2, a 6 and 10 of Clubs
• Straight – cards of non-matching suits in numerical sequence, e.g. a 5 of Spaces, 6 of Hearts and 7 of Clubs
• Three of a Kind – cards with an identical value, but non-matching suits, e.g. three Jacks
• Straight Flush – cards with a matching suit are in numerical sequence, e.g. a Jack, Queen and King of Hearts
• Suited Trips – an matching triplet, e.g. three Ace of Diamonds

There is a different payout associated with each of the winning combinations:

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 allows to see the player at the table that is on the longest streak of wins.

The number that you can see in the gold medal refers to the amount of wins that they have strung up consecutively.

The gold medal will disappear when the 'Hot Player' finally has a losing round.