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Oscar’s Grind — Does It Work in Blackjack?

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We continue our mission to review blackjack betting systems that can help players in the game. The next one in line is the so-called Oscar’s Grind. It was originally documented by Allan Wilson in the book called The Casino Gambler’s Guide, which was published back in 1965.

This strategy is essentially a positive progression betting system, and it also comes with several different names, depending on your country of residence. For example, some call it Hoyle’s Press, whereas Germans and French gamblers like to call it the Pluscoup Progression.

The strategy assumes the fact that there are things such as winning and losing streaks in casino games. This strategy should help bettors have better control of their investments in casino games, including blackjack.

How Does the Oscar’s Grind Actually Work?

Once you review blackjack playing options and you’re ready to go, you can give it a try. First of all, you need to choose your default betting unit, which should not be more than 3% of your total bankroll. For example, let’s say that our default betting unit is $1. Also, let’s say that your balance for playing the game is $1.

You have to think in terms of profit, and in terms of sessions. Oscar’s Grind divides each play into sessions, which end once you gain precisely one unit of profit.

Therefore, if you bet $1 and you win, you need to consider that an end of the session and start a new session. However, the magic happens when you make a losing streak.

Every time you lose, you just keep betting $1, but as soon as you win, you need to increase your bet by one unit ($1 in this case). Therefore, you need to keep betting $2 as long as your bankroll doesn’t reach $101.

The goal is to keep increasing your bet by $1 whenever you win in your session. As soon as you reach the goal, and that’s increasing your budget by $1, you can begin a new session.

Let’s take a look at a practical example.

  • Bet $1 – Lose – $99
  • Bet $1 – Lose – $98
  • Bet $1 – Lose – $97
  • Bet $1 – Lose – $96
  • Bet $1 – Win – $97
  • Bet $2 – Lose – $95
  • Bet $2 – Win – $97
  • Bet $3 – Win – $100
  • Bet $1 – Win – $101

End of session.

To test this strategy, you should pick any blackjack game (or any other casino game where this system is applicable). Therefore, make sure to select one of the online casinos offering this game and test Oscar’s Grind now.

Just take into account that this strategy is there to help you control your bankroll rather than help you improve your chances of winning.

What Is the Difference Between American and European Blackjack?

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If you like playing blackjack, you probably know that there are a couple of different variants of the game, with the two most popular being American blackjack and European blackjack. Although both games are based on virtually identical blackjack rules, there are a couple of differences that you need to take into account so that you know what kind of strategy you need to apply in order to minimize losses and maximize wins.

The main difference is that in the European blackjack, there is no hole card. Meaning that the dealer cannot peek at his card to see whether there is a chance for a blackjack. Instead, he receives the second card only after all the player hands are completed. In other words, he is dealt only one face-up card so that means that there is no chance for the round to end immediately after the cards have been dealt. When hands end early by the dealer who managed to get a blackjack, that prevents players from losing more money. However, that rule doesn’t exist in European blackjack. Furthermore, it means that the American blackjack strategy chart is probably not going to work on the European variant.

Another important rule is that doubling down in the European blackjack is possible only on hands that have a value of 9, 10, or 11. On the other hand, players can use the double down option on virtually any hand in the American blackjack.

Also, the number of decks that are used for playing the European type of blackjack is two, while in America, dealers usually use six to eight decks when playing. The main difference here is that the fewer decks there are, the easier card counting becomes. However, card counting is not allowed in casinos, so don’t try it even when playing the European blackjack.

When it comes to splitting, European blackjack allows players to split only cards that are like valued and have a value of 10, meaning 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings. Furthermore, they are allowed to split only once, whereas in American blackjack, players can split three times.

Finally, there is no late surrender in European blackjack, which makes things a bit more difficult compared to the American variant where players can surrender whenever they think there is no chance to win a hand.

To sum up, if we were to choose what blackjack type is the most suitable for the majority of players, we would have to go for the American one as its users are more user-friendly and flexible. If you want to play the best American and European blackjack, make sure to check out sites that review blackjack and find an online casino that suits your tastes.

What is Progressive Blackjack and How to Play

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Have you ever played blackjack before? If your answer to this question is a positive one, then you probably already know how to play progressive blackjack. All people who have at least some casino experience are familiar with the concept of progressive prizes, and the only thing that makes progressive blackjack different from the standard version of this game is its prizes.

The Concept of Progressive Prizes
With all the progressive blackjack rules being virtually identical to the standard blackjack game, we only need to explain the concept of progressive prizes. This type of jackpots are often seen in online slots, but they were only recently introduced to blackjack, thanks to the technology that exists at online casinos.

Basically, the ordinary type of jackpot is a fixed sum, while the progressive type is a sum that goes up every passing minute. The trick is that every bet you make contributes to the final progressive jackpot, and with thousands of players playing the game, the progressive jackpot is bound to rise quicker.

This is done by placing a special side bet whenever you play online blackjack. By doing so, you contribute to the progressive jackpot prize and even get a chance to win additional cash prizes. If you are really lucky, you might as well win the progressive jackpot.

The sum of your jackpot, therefore, can substantially vary, and various things affect it. First of all, if more players play the game, the jackpot will rise quicker. Furthermore, every progressive jackpot has a default starting value. In other words, when somebody wins a progressive jackpot, it resets to its default value instead of starting with a zero. Therefore, the time and the number of players are two crucial things that affect every progressive jackpot.

If you win it immediately after somebody else, you would probably win a jackpot which is very close to its starting value. On the other hand, if nobody wins a progressive jackpot for a long time, you are up for a very lucrative prize that can make you rich overnight.

Whenever you want to play an online casino game, you should read more about it. Therefore, before you start playing any kind of blackjack, make sure to look for professional websites on the web that will review blackjack games for you and help you pick the one that you like the most. If a progressive jackpot is an idea that seems appealing to you, make sure to check out progressive blackjack!

What Is European Blackjack and How to Play It?

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Have you ever tried playing a card game but the rules were not quite the same as you know them? Some card games do not have standardized rules, which often confuses casual card players, but blackjack has some well established standard rules. As an added bonus, it is difficult not to remember them, as they are pretty easy. The problem with this game is that it lived several separate lives in several different areas of the world, one of them being Europe.

If you are interested in other types of this popular card game, make sure to read how we  review blackjack variants, including the one that is known as European blackjack.

How to Play It?
European Blackjack is very similar to the standard blackjack, and the main goal is to play against the dealer. The usual number of decks used in European blackjack is six, but it can also be played with four or eight. Furthermore, some people opt to play it with just two decks, but it is extremely rare.

The main difference is that the dealer takes his hole card after the dealing of the cards to players. The aim is to simply beat the dealer and get as close to 21 as possible without actually going over 21. The card values are pretty much identical to the standard American blackjack, with face cards being worth 10 points each and Aces being worth either 10 or 1 point.

Furthermore, if the dealer has a Blackjack, the player will lose his total bet, which is also an important thing to know about this game variant. Also, it is not allowed to split 4s, 5s, and 10-valued cards, which makes things pretty interesting. Aces can be split, but the player is allowed to receive only one other card for each ace.

Finally, the surrender option is almost never allowed when it comes to European Blackjack, and this is something which is extremely important, so please take it into account.

If you think that you can do well when playing European Blackjack, you can check out some online casinos to see whether they have this type of card game available. Even if you cannot find one, you can always test your luck and skills by playing the standard blackjack, which can be pretty rewarding as well. Therefore, make sure to open up an online casino account so you will be ready to improve your blackjack skill!

What Types of Blackjack Are There?

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If you like playing blackjack, you are probably aware that there are quite a few variants of this card game. They may differ only in some minor details, but sometimes these details are very important. Let’s take a look at the most popular types of blackjack.

Classic Blackjack
If you didn’t have an opportunity to play this game, make sure to check a page that will review blackjack for you and give you all the valuable tips and tricks on how to play one of the most popular card games in the world.

Progressive Blackjack
The only difference here is that this type of blackjack has an increasing jackpot which players can win if they are lucky. All other rules remain the same, but there can be some variations regarding rules connected to hit, split, and stand.

European Blackjack
European Blackjack is more complicated as it is played with two decks. Players receive two face-up cards, and the dealer gets one face-up card. However, his hole card is dealt only after the player makes a decision about what to do with their cards.

AC Blackjack
Eight decks are included in Atlantic City blackjack, and the dealer is even allowed to peek at his hole card and stand on a soft seventeen. Furthermore, some options such as insurance and late surrender are also available.

Spanish 21
There is a legend that the original blackjack was played by the Spaniards, and they now play something that is a combination of their original game and classic blackjack. They use six to eight deck cards with 10 value cards removed from the deck. One of the best features here is that players can surrender after doubling down.

Blackjack Switch
The main feature of this blackjack type is that players are allowed to switch between two card pairs. In other words, the player receives two hands of cards, and they are dealt face up so that they can plan their switching strategy.

Vegas Strip Blackjack
This is one of the most popular blackjack versions on the web. The dealer is allowed to peek at his hole card and has to stand on the soft seventeen.

Honorable Mentions
There are a lot of other blackjack games that you can enjoy, such as Pontoon, Live Dealer Blackjack, and Super Fun 21. Make sure to check out some of them, as they are all very entertaining, especially if you enjoy playing card games and other games which are based on a combination of luck and skill!

What are my choices when playing blackjack?

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When playing online blackjack (or when playing in a casino for that matter) you have a number of choices after being dealt your first two cards. Here we explain your options so you can be a confident and efficient player of this fantastic casino favorite.

 

Stand – If you are happy with your two cards you can simply stand, meaning you keep what you have and play passes to the next in line (either another player or the dealer).

Hit – If you want another card from the dealer to get closer to 21 you can hit. If your new card takes your total to 22 or over you have bust. You can hit as many times as you like as long as your combined card total is 20 or below.

Double – Different variants of blackjack will have slightly different rules when it comes to doubling down, but in general you have to bet the value of your stake again when requesting to double (which you can only do after you’ve received you first two cards). When you double you will receive just one more card and will not then have the option to hit or double again.

Split – If you are dealt a pair (for example two 7s or two kings) you will be able to split, which costs you the value of your initial stake again. You will now have two hands and each will receive a second card and be played independently of the other. As with doubling, splitting rules vary according to the specific game variant you are playing, and you may or may not be able to re-split hands if dealt a second pair.

Insurance – Insurance is offered in the form of a side bet if the dealer’s open card is an ace and gives you the chance to bet on the dealer having a blackjack (i.e. that their second card is a 10 or a picture card). The bet pays out at odds of 2/1 and your hand is played out independently of the insurance bet. Some blackjack game variants will offer you an early payout of evens (instead of the usual 3/2) if you already have a blackjack yourself, which you can opt to take or refuse as you see fit.

Surrender – Early surrender rules are sometimes played whereby you can surrender your hand early for the loss of half your stake without completing the hand. This may be done, for instance, if you have two poor cards and the dealer’s first card is worth 10.