Madison Avenue Blackjack

Madison Avenue Blackjack Game Overview

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

Aim of the Game

The aim of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible, without going over 21. 

You will win if the value of your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer.

The best hand possible is blackjack, which is where the first two cards in your hand equal exactly 21.

There can be up to seven players in this game, but you will only compete against the dealer.

How to Play

There are eight standard 52-card decks in this game. 

The values of the cards are as follows: 

• Cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value.  
• Face cards are each worth 10.  
• Aces are worth 1 or 11, whichever is better for the hand - a soft hand includes an Ace worth 11. 

One card is dealt face up to each player.

Dealing is done clockwise from the first player to the dealer's left.

Each player will receive a second card face up, but the dealer's second card will be face down.

The value of your initial hand will be displayed on-screen.

Insurance

You may choose to buy insurance to offset the risk of the dealer having blackjack if their upcard is an Ace.

It is possible to buy insurance even if you have blackjack.

If the dealer doesn't have blackjack, the round will continue.

However, the dealer's hand will win if they have blackjack and you do not.

If you and the dealer have blackjack, the game will end in a push and your bet will be returned.

You will not be able to buy insurance if the dealer's upcard is a ten or a face card - in this instance, the dealer will not check their hand for blackjack.

Double Down, Hit or Stand

If neither the dealer or you have blackjack, you can choose to Double Down, which will double your bet and add one more card to your hand.

You may also choose to Hit to add another card to your hand - this can be repeated until you are satisfied with your hand.

Selecting to Stand will signal that you are satisfied with your hand and no more cards will be added.

Split

If your initial hand is a pair that are equal in value, you will have the option to Split the pair into two separate hands with separate bets.

One more card will be dealt to both hands and you can choose to Hit or Stand.

You will not be able to Hit if you split a pair of Aces.

Side Bets

There are two optional side bets available which can be placed in combination with your main blackjack bet.

Even if you do not win on your blackjack bet, you may be able to win on a side bet.

The two side bets available are Perfect Pairs and 21+3.

Side Bet - Perfect Pairs

If your first two cards are a pair, you can choose to place a Perfect Pairs side bet.

There are three types of pairs available, each with a different payout:

• Perfect Pair – same suit. 
• Coloured Pair – different suits of the same colour. 
• Mixed Pair – different suits.

Side Bet - 21+3

If your initial two cards plus the dealer's upcard make a winning combination listed below, the 21+3 side bet can be placed.

Each winning combination offers a different payout.

• Suited Trips – an identical triplet of the same suit. 
• Straight Flush – in numerical sequence and same suits. 
• Three of a Kind – same value but different suits. 
• Straight – in numerical sequence but different suits. 
• Flush – same suit. 

 

Bet Behind and Hot Players

The Bet Behind feature offers the option to share the outcome of another player's hand and receive the same payout as an ordinary bet.

Your bet will be immediately refunded if the player you have bet behind chooses not to play that round.

You can view which players are on the longest winning streak with the Hot Players icon.

The number of consecutive wins that a Hot Player has achieved so far will be displayed on the gold medal icon.

A Hot Player loses the gold medal icon as soon as they lose a round.

 
Payouts

• Blackjack - 3:2. 
• Winning hand - 1:1. 
• If the dealer has blackjack, insurance pays 2:1. 

Side Bet Payouts - Perfect Pairs 

• Perfect Pairs - 25:1
• Coloured Pair - 12:1
• Mixed Pair - 6:1

Side Bet Payouts - 21+3

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

Return to Player

The optimal theoretical payout percentage is: 

• Blackjack – 99.28%
• Perfect Pairs bet – 95.90%
• 21+3 bet – 96.30%