Vegas Strip Blackjack – Game Review, Rules and Strategy Hints
Blackjack is commonly known for the very low house edge and the opportunities to exercise skills and gain advantage against the dealer. This makes it a preferred casino game and most online operators offer plenty of RNG driven blackjack titles. These are based on the same basic rules, but each game developer adds unique feature combinations to make their games more attractive. One of the titles that grabbed our attention is Vegas Strip Blackjack by the industry giant Microgaming, playable on their award-winning platform Quickfire. Driven by robust software, the game has a stunning RTP and some interesting rules players could benefit from.
- Minimal House Edge
- Reliable Software
- Great Split Hand Options
- Licensed by:
- UK Gambling Commission
- #45235
- Accepted Payment Methods:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Skrill
- Neteller
As you can guess, for this Vegas Strip Blackjack review we spent quite some time playing and had a lot of fun. The rules are simple, and the additional options for side bets and splits are very easy to understand after a few hands are played. Stay tuned for more details on the rules, main features and winning strategies in this remarkable game.
Overview of the Game Rules
As the name implies, Vegas Strip Blackjack is based on the classic American hole card game played against the dealer. There’s nothing unusual about the objective, the payouts, and the way the cards are dealt. While the initial player’s hand includes two face-up cards, the dealer starts the game with one of the cards facing down. The dealer checks the face-down card for blackjack when the face-up card is an Ace or has the value of 10. Insurance against dealer’s blackjack is available in the form of a side bet. The objective is to get a hand with a total score of 21, or as close to 21 without exceeding that number. To win, you also need to have a higher score than the dealer’s hand. Depending on how close you are to 21, you may decide to either draw an additional card or stand. The dealer stands both on hard and soft 17s. Unlike the live casino versions which are played with six to eight decks, this RNG driven game is played with four decks. The more special gameplay rules are related to side bets and the ability to split hands when dealt two cards with an identical value. We cover these in greater detail further down in the review. In the meantime, you could check the demo version below, and familiarise with the game for more confidence.
As you probably noticed in the demo, some of the special rules are of great use to the player. They allow you to harness the full potential of your strong hands and retain a fighting chance when the dealer has an advantage.
- The double down is a perfect opportunity to increase your bet (and winnings respectively) when your initial score suggests that the next card would result in a winning hand.
- The splitting rule allows you to increase the number of hands and thus the chance to win against the dealer.
- Insurance against blackjack can be quite useful when the dealer starts with a 10 or an ace face-up.
In Vegas Strip Blackjack surrender is not available, but this is not necessarily a disadvantage. At first glance, the possibility to get back half of your bet seems reasonable. However, surrendering too often is essentially handing out money to the dealer without even playing.
Features, Side Bets and game RTP
The long-term return to the player in Vegas Strip Blackjack is 99.65%. This translates to an extremely low house edge of less than one percent. Of course, to take advantage of the low house edge, you need to play wisely and apply an adequate strategy. In addition to that, you could utilise special features and rules of the game which contribute to better results if used properly and at the right time. Let’s see how this relates to Vegas Strip Blackjack:
- Insurance – this is a side bet that pays 2:1 if the dealer hits a blackjack. It becomes automatically available when the dealer’s face-up card is an ace. You can either take the opportunity or ignore it. If you opt-in, an additional bet will be made that equals 50% of the original bet.
- Split Hands – all pairs except aces can be split up to three times. This extends the maximum number of hands to four. Furthermore, you can split unlike cards with the value of 10. Keep in mind that every split requires additional bet equal to the original bet. Aces can be split only once, after which a second card for each hand is drawn, followed by an automatic stand. Then it’s up to the dealer to either beat or loses against the player’s hand.
- Double Downs – if you think you can get a winning hand with the next card drawn, you can double down. If you opt-in, your original bet is doubled. Then one more card is drawn, followed by automatic stand if the hand is not bust. The best thing is that double downs are available on split hands except ace splits.
As mentioned, these rules don’t always work in your favour, and the opportunities come at a cost in the form of an additional wager. Therefore, you must have a relatively reliable estimation of the odds before deciding to risk more. Check the strategy tips below for more details.
Hints for Strategic Advantage
Although blackjack has great RTP and tends to repay for skill, it is still a game of chance. No matter how small, the house edge is still an edge. That’s why the question that bothers most gamblers is how to remain profitable over time? The answer is simple – estimate the odds carefully and exploit your hands (and the dealer’s) accordingly. Furthermore, you should utilise the game rules every time you recognise an opportunity. The strategy chart below illustrates the optimal actions depending on the current player and dealer hands. Although it might seem complicated at first, the bottom line is quite simple. You should go for the kill when the dealer’s face-up card is weak and play more conservatively when the dealer has an advantage.
Here are some additional thoughts to the strategy chart that could potentially help you remain ahead:
- Treating hard hands – always hit if your hand is between 8 and 11. There’s no chance to bust and you could only improve. As the value of your hand increases, you face a growing chance of exceeding 21. If your hand is 17 or higher, standing is the obvious choice.
- Treating stiff hands – these are hard hands with values between 12 and 16 and carry increased potential for busting. Therefore, you should hit only if the dealer has a face-up card of 7 or higher, or in other words when the dealer has a good chance for a 17 with his first two cards. Otherwise, it’s not worth the risk.
- Treating soft hands – always stand on soft 18 or higher, as hitting may ruin a strong hand. Always hit on soft 17 or lower, because there’s room for improvement without the risk of busting.
- Don’t overestimate insurance – dealers don’t have a blackjack every time they start with an ace. Throwing excessive amounts of money on insurance may result in a net negative.
- Know the cost and the purpose of the splits. Always split ace pair as this gives you the opportunity to end up with two hands of 17 or higher. Never split pairs of ten-value cards – you can hardly improve a 20.
- Double down – use this when you have a 10 or 11 and the dealer is holding a nine or lower. Soft hands between 15 and 17 also provide a good opportunity for double down if the dealer is holding between 3 and 6.
Obviously, the worst thing that could happen is to have a stiff hand. A strong dealer hand will force you to risk and bust, while a weak dealer hand can be improved with further hits. Anyway, you should remember that even with strong hands things could go either way.
Our Conclusion
Undoubtedly, Vegas Strip Blackjack is fun to play. The variety of gameplay situations makes it a challenging and entertaining game. It is a top choice for novices and seasoned players alike because of the robust software engine and the stellar RTP. We wholeheartedly recommend the game for real money play. If you wonder where to try it, we’d suggest a visit at 32red Casino. This online operator offers a welcome bonus up to £200, and blackjack games are included in the playthrough requirement.