Eclipse Blackjack

Casinos with Eclipse Blackjack

Casinos with Eclipse Blackjack

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An Introduction to Eclipse Blackjack

This is the second live dealer blackjack title added to OnAir Entertainment’s portfolio. Based on the traditional game, Eclipse Blackjack is played to classic Vegas rules and is essentially a one-table card game played against the dealer. 

However, the beauty with Eclipse Blackjack is the addition of five side bets in combination with the main bet. The game is also open to an unlimited number of players who may play the same hand as you. But in this game, the decisions of those other players have no bearing on your own result. 

Place up to five side bets in this OnAir Entertainment blackjack release. Pit your wits against the dealer for a nail-biting finish. Hit, Stand, Split or Double – what will it be?

Key Information

Rules of Eclipse Blackjack

Regular players of traditional blackjack will already be familiar with the Eclipse Blackjack rules. Don’t worry if you’re a novice, the gameplay is really straightforward and we’ll walk you through it shortly. 

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games worldwide, renowned for its simplistic rules. For those who have played OnAir Entertainment Live Blackjack, it’s the same principle but with a few added extras.

Let’s start with the basics:

• Eclipse Blackjack uses the standard Vegas rules with 8 decks of 52 cards;
• The dealer and all players receive wo cards in turn at the start of a game;
• Both of the player’s cards are face-up whilst one of the dealer’s cards remains face-down;
• Cards equate points to their face value, with picture cards equalling ten and Aces worth either one or eleven; 
• The dealer must draw on 16 and stand on 17;
• Splits are allowed for pairs, but only one per hand;
• Insurance is offered when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace and the dealer checks for Blackjack;
• Side bets are allowed in combination with the main bet; they are not stand-alone wagers.

As with the classic table game, the objective of Eclipse Blackjack is to beat the dealer without exceeding twenty-one points. The best possible hand is an Ace with a ten value card, known as a “Natural 21” or “Blackjack”.

Player Actions

Upon taking your turn, the possible actions are as follows:

• Hit: Take another card to add to your hand;
• Stand: Stick with the cards you already have;
• Split: Create two hands, if dealt a pair;
• Double Down: Take one additional card and double your bet.

Of course, the other familiar term that Blackjack players will recognise is “Bust”. This is when you go over the desired 21 points and your turn ends immediately.

Basic Blackjack Strategy 

To extend your enjoyment of the game, you should follow the fundamentals of basic blackjack strategy. Computer simulations have essentially solved the game, meaning that we know exactly what to do in every single possible scenario. 

Although the name suggests simplicity, some players can become a little bogged down with the details of basic strategy. Rather than over-complicating matters, we will break down the fundamentals to give you a good starting position.

Paired Hands

As a rule, you should always split aces and eights, but not fours, fives or tens. All other potential pairs should only be split if the dealer’s upturned card is a two, three, four, five or six. If you choose not to split, then just play the hand as you would any other.

Hard Hands

A “hard” hand is one which does not include an ace. Generally, with a total of nine or lower, you would almost always hit. The only exception would be to double with nine when playing against a dealer’s weak face card. 

By “weak”, we mean values of two, three, four, five and six. With a total of ten or eleven you should always double. However, if you have a ten against the dealer’s ten or ace, you’ll simply hit. The same goes for a total of eleven against the dealer’s ace – just hit.

When it comes to totals worth twelve or above, you should probably stand. But if your total is twelve to sixteen against a weak dealer’s face card, then hit.

Soft Hands

A soft hand is one which does include an ace. These are the most exciting to play and have a higher chance of winning. With these hands you should typically stand on 19 points or above and hit on eighteen or below. 

There is, however, one possible exception to this rule. If faced with a weak upturned dealer card and you have a total of sixteen, seventeen or eighteen, you could double instead.

Dealer’s Actions

Once the player has completed their hand, it’s the dealer’s turn. In Eclipse Blackjack, the dealer must take a card on 16 or below and stand on values 17 or above. 

If the dealer’s up-card is an Ace, he will offer all players insurance. This is an optional bet that presumes the dealer has blackjack. If they do, your insurance bet wins and payouts are 2 to 1.

Should a dealer receive a natural blackjack, the game ends immediately and all bets lose (except those with insurance). Where the dealer does not have blackjack or an upturned Ace, the game continues.

Once the dealer has completed their hand, all payouts are awarded.

Payouts

The Eclipse Blackjack RTP rates will slightly reduce when playing side bets. This is to be expected as side bets offer much higher payouts. 

OnAir Entertainment has ramped up this blackjack variant with no fewer than five additional side bets. These are not stand alone wagers and must be in collaboration with your main bet.

By hitting the “Place All Side Bets” button, all wagers are placed in a single click. 

Perfect Pairs

This is a side bet which allows you to wager on whether your first two cards will be a pair. If they are, the payout will depend on what kind of pair you have drawn.

A Perfect Pair would be two identical cards – for example, two Jacks of Clubs – which offers a payout of 25 to 1. Next in the ranking is a coloured pair such as a Jack of Clubs and Jack of Spades. This pays 12 to 1.

Finally there’s the red and black pair, like a Jack of Clubs and a Jack of Hearts, with payouts worth 6 to 1.

21+3

This side bet takes into consideration the dealer’s upturned card as well as your first two cards. From these three cards, five poker hands can be made. Payouts from 21+3 side bets are higher than Perfect Pairs.

Here are the hands that can be made:

• Suited three-of-a-kind: 100 to 1;
• Straight Flush: 40 to 1;
• Three-of-a-kind: 30 to 1;
• Straight: 10 to 1;
• Flush: 5 to 1.

A suited three-of-a-kind delivers the highest payouts due to the rarity of the occurrence.  

Lucky Lucky

Similar to the 21+3 side bet, Lucky Lucky takes into account your first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card. However, this time the objective is to make a total of 21 points from the three cards.

There are eight possible hands:

• Suited 7-7-7: 200 to 1;
• Suited 6-7-8: 100 to 1;
• Unsuited 7-7-7: 50 to 1;
• Unsuited 6-7-8: 30 to 1;
• Suited Total of 21: 15 to 1;
• Unsuited Total of 21: 3 to 1;
• Total of 20: 2 to 1;
• Total of 19: 2 to 1.

Buster Blackjack

The rules for Buster Blackjack side bets are really simple. If the dealer busts, the player wins in accordance with how many cards were needed to bust. But if the dealer doesn’t bust, the player’s side bet loses.  

Royal Jacks

Payouts for the Royal Jacks side bet are awarded for matching a pair of Jacks in your first two cards. Identical pairs will attract a higher payout.

Gameplay Procedure

Ok, now that we’ve discussed the Eclipse Blackjack rules, it’s time for a quick walkthrough. Before you register with one of our highly recommended real money casinos, it’s best to familiarise yourself with the actual gameplay.

Unlike many online Blackjack tables, with Eclipse Blackjack there is no need to reserve a seat. This is a one-hand game and no other player’s decision will affect yours.

• Place Your Bets. You have about 15 seconds to place your main bet and any additional side bets. At this stage you can opt to click on “Place All Side Bets” for convenience.
• Cards Are Dealt. Both you and the dealer receive two cards. Your two cards are face-up whilst the dealer has one face-down and the other up.
• Insurance. If the dealer’s upturned card is an Ace, they will offer insurance. The dealer checks for Blackjack. If they have it, all bets are lost (except for insurance wagers) and the game ends.
• No Dealer Blackjack. Where the dealer doesn’t have blackjack or is not showing an Ace, the game continues.
• Player’s Action. Choose whether to Hit, Stand, Split or Double based on the values in your hand compared to the dealer’s face-up card. Use basic blackjack strategy to help you.
• Dealer’s Action. The dealer will play their hand once yours is complete. They must hit on card values of sixteen or below and stand on seventeen or above.
• Payouts. Once the dealer has completed their hand, all payouts are awarded.

Where to Play Eclipse Blackjack

You can enjoy Eclipse Blackjack at many of our top-ranked regulated casinos. Check out our list of highly recommended sites at the top of this page. Not only can you play for real money but you could also pick up a generous bonus to kickstart your bankroll.

How to Win at Eclipse Blackjack

For extended enjoyment of Eclipse Blackjack, we recommend you apply basic strategy. It’s the most optimal option for playing and will give you the best possible long-term return on your money. In addition, you should take advantage of casino bonuses to help to boost your bankroll. 

Card Counting

There is another strategy which advanced players may use, known as card counting. This is more favoured in land-based casinos though, as online live Blackjack tables have been designed to thwart such tactics.

The basic premise is that card counters keep a record of the card values as they come out of the shoe. This allows them to gain an edge, knowing when to increase their bet and maximising their opportunity for winning. 

However, with Eclipse Blackjack, a cut card is placed about midway through the shoe indicating when it should be changed. This ensures much less of an opportunity to track the shoe before the dealer shuffles again.

Realistic Play

For an optimal experience it’s good to set some realistic goals. Be prepared when you take a seat at the Eclipse Blackjack table by reading up on the rules. 

Remember, always gamble responsibly. Never play whilst tired or intoxicated. Walk away after a big win and take the time to think.

Conclusion

Eclipse Blackjack is a great addition to the OnAir Entertainment portfolio. They haven’t taken any chances by switching up the rules, preferring to stick to the standard Vegas gameplay. But the game allows for an unlimited number of players to take a seat at any one time, throwing interesting side bets into the mix. 

A total of five side bets are available along with the main stake and these can all be placed at the same time. Finally, real-time statistics are displayed on screen which show the actions of other players, to help with your next decision.

FAQ