Progressive Blackjack Betting Systems. Playing in a blackjack game with a side bet on a progressive jackpot isn’t the only way to win a lot of money at the blackjack table. You could also use a progressive blackjack betting system. A progressive betting system is one where you increase the size of your bets according to some established system. Each progressive online blackjack game varies slightly in terms of rules and side payouts. Generally, though, they all follow a similar pattern. As mentioned before, you need to make a $1 side bet to compete for the top prize.
The name of this system, the 1-3-2-6 betting system, really explains it all. It's a system based on the betting pattern 1 unit, then 3 units, then 2 units, then 6 units. This type of blackjack betting system is based on the Paroli system and it's based on the premise that you can win 4 times in a row.
This system is a positive progression betting system which means you increase the betting amount when you win.
By using the 1-3-2-6 betting strategy, the first bet is 1 unit, the second bet is 3 units, the third bet is 2 units, and the fourth bet is 6 units. For this example we will assume each unit is $5 and you have even money odds of 1:1.
Your first bet would be $5. After winning this bet, $5 is added to the $10 on the table which makes the second bet $15. After winning this bet there will be a total of $30 on the table. You take back $20 and the third bet is now $10. If your third bet is also a winner, you will have $20 left on the table. Add $10, making a total of $30 for the fourth bet.
Finally, if the fourth bet wins, there will be a total of $60 left on the table, which is all your net profit. Now you've completed the betting cycle so you loop back and start all over again. If you lose a bet at any point before the betting cycle is completed, you start back over with the original $5 bet.
The 1-3-2-6 blackjack betting system is an interesting strategy. With this system you are risking a small amount to win a much larger amount, if you complete the betting cycle. You can lose 6 times at the worst level, the second bet, and still completely cover yourself by winning all 4 bets of the cycle one time.
It is generally not recommended that you use the 1-3-2-6 betting system for blackjack unless you are just playing for fun. You are required to win 4 hands in a row to completely cycle the system and turn your profit. This system would be fun for a recreational player but no serious blackjack player should use this betting strategy to try to turn large profits.
More Blackjack Betting Systems:
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As the name implies, this is a blackjack side bet with a progressive jackpot. For an optional $1, the blackjack player may win $3 to the progressive jackpot, which starts at $25,000. I saw this side bet at the New York New York casino, where they had three tables tied into the same progressive.
Just like in Caribbean Stud, the player puts the $1 for the Progressive side bet in a slot. Before dealing a new hand, the dealer presses a button, the dollars vanish, and a light designates who made the bet. The following table shows what each winning hand pays, the probability (based on the dealer peeking for blackjack), and the contribution to the return.
On July 30, 2001, the jackpot meter was at $35,537.36. At this time, I was told they recently put it in place and nobody had hit the jackpot yet. On August 11 the meter had risen to $37,746.28.
The following table shows the return based on a meter of $35,537.36, the amount the last time I observed it.
Hand | Permutations | Probability | Pays | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 red/black aces | 23760 | 0.000003 | 35537.36 | 0.090844 |
4 aces | 231264 | 0.000025 | 2000 | 0.049763 |
3 suited aces | 138240 | 0.000015 | 1000 | 0.014873 |
3 non-suited aces | 3359232 | 0.000361 | 200 | 0.072283 |
2 Suited aces | 10679040 | 0.001149 | 50 | 0.057447 |
2 non-suited aces | 38444544 | 0.004136 | 15 | 0.062043 |
1 ace | 662100480 | 0.071234 | 3 | 0.213703 |
No aces | 8579718720 | 0.923077 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 9294695280 | 1 | 0 | 0.560955 |
The above table shows an expected return of 56.10% per dollar bet, or a house edge of 43.90%. The general formula for the return is 47.01%, plus 2.56% for each $10,000 in the meter. To have no house edge, the meter would need to reach $207,287.85. Also note there are no basic strategy deviations for this side bet. If the player gets two aces, then he should split anyway, which guarantees two more cards.
It is unclear to me what events cause the meter to go up and down. Sometimes the meter goes up by 28 cents for each $1 bet made. According to the Mikohn's web site, the house edge is 22%. If this is the case, then the meter contribution rate is 24.60%. Mikohn also mentions that part of each dollar goes to a higher reseed of the next jackpot. So 24.60% would be divided between the current meter and the next one. Based on this contribution rate, the average jackpot when won would be $121,225.86.
Here is another version that has been seen at Internet casinos using Cryptologic software. The game uses eight decks of cards.
Hand | Pays | Permutations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Four suited aces | Jackpot | 6720 | 0.00000023 | ? |
Three suited aces | 2500 | 516096 | 0.00001748 | 0.043710 |
Four aces unsuited | 1500 | 856320 | 0.00002901 | 0.043515 |
Three aces unsuited | 250 | 10911744 | 0.00036966 | 0.092415 |
Two suited aces | 100 | 35524608 | 0.00120348 | 0.120348 |
Two aces | 25 | 121798656 | 0.00412620 | 0.103155 |
All other | 0 | 29348718336 | 0.99425394 | 0.000000 |
Total | 29518332480 | 1.00000000 | 0.403142 + ? |
Based on a $1 bet, this bet becomes break-even at $2,621,763.29. The general formula for the return is 0.403142 + jackpot/4,392,609.