Welcome to the most exciting tournament game you’ll ever play. It’s called Elimination Blackjack and you’re going to love it.

If you've already played Blackjack, you're halfway there. In Elimination Blackjack™, you still play each hand against the dealer. However, here's where it gets interesting:

You're also trying to accumulate the largest amount of chips along the way.
The player with the least amount of chips after hands 8, 16 and 25 is eliminated.
To make it even more interesting, we've introduced something called a Secret Bet. Each player has one Secret Bet per round, allowing you to bet a certain amount of chips without letting the other players know what your bet is. This introduces an element of bluffing not found in other versions of Blackjack.

Elimination Blackjack explained

Each player starts with $25,000 in tournament chips (this is also the maximum bet). The minimum bet in the preliminary round is $500.
At the final table, you’ll start with $100,000 in tournament chips (this is also the maximum bet). The minimum bet at the final table is $1,000.
Elimination Blackjack™ features a rotating marker. Action starts on the button and rotates clockwise every hand.
You’ll have 25 seconds to make a decision. On Elimination Hands, you’ll have 10 seconds to decide what you want to do.
Hands 8, 16, and 25 are Elimination Hands. The player with the least amount of chips on these hands will be eliminated.
Each player is given one Secret Bet that can be used at any time. The secret bet allows you to place your bet without revealing it to the other players.
Whoever has the most chips at the end of Hand 30 wins.

Rules for Online Elimination Blackjack

Tournament Rounds: Each Scheduled Elimination Tournament will consist of a minimum of two rounds depending on the number of participants. All tournament rounds, including the finals, will consist of six (6) or seven (7) players at a table depending on the number entrants. The number of rounds and number of players that advance will be determined after registration closes and before tournament starts.

Each Elimination Sit and Go Tournament table will consist of six (6) or seven (7) players at a table depending on the number entrants. The number of rounds and number of players that advance will vary based on the event.

Note about Scheduled Elimination Tournaments: At the time the tournament is scheduled to start, the minimum number of players that must be registered to play in that tournament is thirty (30). Otherwise, the tournament will be cancelled.

Note about Elimination Sit and Go Tournaments: The tournament will start as soon as enough players have registered to fill all the available seats. Elimination Sit and Go Tournaments will consist of 7,14, or 21 player fields.

Preliminary Rounds: Preliminary Rounds are the rounds leading up to the semi-finals.

Semi-Final Round: Semi-final Round is the round from which you advance to the final table.

Final Round: Final Round will be the final table for any tournament. The player with the highest value of chips after hand thirty (30) will be declared the winner or a player may be declared the winner if they are the only remaining player. If there is a tie after hand thirty (30) – then a playoff will be held to determine the winner. This will be governed by the playoff rules (See Section 15).

Players & Protocol: To participate in the tournament a player must show up before the sixth hand begins or they will be disqualified. For each absent hand, the minimum bet will be placed for the player and then the player will stand on the first two (2) cards. If at any time during the tournament, a player disconnects or sits out more than five (5) consecutive hands – the player is eliminated.

Entry Fee: The entry fee will vary based on the event.

Starting Chips: For any tournament round before the final round each player will receive $25,000 in tournament chips with a minimum bet of $500 and a maximum bet of $25,000 in increments of $500. In the Final Round, each player will receive $100,000 in tournament chips and the minimum bet will be $1,000 and the maximum bet of $100,000 in increments of $1,000.

For each Round before the Final Round, each player will receive $25,000 in tournament chips with a minimum bet of $500 and a maximum bet of $25,000 in increments of $500. In the Final Round each player will receive $100,000 in tournament chips and the minimum bet will be $1,000 and the maximum bet of $100,000 in increments of $1,000.

Betting: A rotating marker will be used to determine the betting and playing order at each table. The seating position will be determined by a random draw prior to the play of the first hand. The marker will always start at seat #1 and will rotate one position clockwise around the table. Betting will proceed in a clockwise rotation beginning with the position occupied by the marker. Players must bet in order. Each player must place their desired bet before each hand begins within the time limit specified (See Section 12). Once the hand is over, the dealer will pay winners and collect from losing hands. At the end of any hand, if a player has a total amount of chips that is less than the table minimum wager, then that person is immediately Eliminated from the tournament and unable to compete in any further hands for that event.

Dealing: The dealer will deal from a 6-deck shoe with cards shuffled after every hand. The dealer will deal both initial cards face-up to the players and the dealer will receive one card up and one down. All double-down cards and second cards on split aces will be dealt face-down. All second cards on any other split pairs will be dealt face up.

General Rules: The general rules of casino blackjack will be in force. Specifically, the dealer must hit on soft 17 or below and stand on hard 17 and above. Players may split and re-split up to four hands, except on aces, which may be split only once and receive one card down on each ace. Players may double down any first two cards including after split. Late surrender and insurance are available. In the event that the player has a blackjack and dealer shows an ace, the player must have chips to make an insurance bet. Insurance pays 2 to 1 and the player may wager up to one-half (1/2) their original bet.

Blackjack: A blackjack (“natural”) is a total hand value of 21 in the first two cards. A player will be paid three to two (3 to 2) on blackjack unless the dealer has blackjack also, which will be considered a push. If the player splits a pair of aces or 10-valued cards and makes a two card 21, it does not count as a blackjack. A player may elect to double down on a blackjack instead of taking three to two (3 to 2).

Player Time Limits: Play of the hands must be completed within the time limits specified. Players have twenty-five (25) seconds on any non-elimination hand. Players also have ten (10) seconds on any elimination hand (hand 8, 16, and 25) and on the thirtieth (30th) hand of the round. Using the secret bet button does not extend your time. If a player does not place a bet within the allotted time, the bet will automatically be the minimum. If the player does not act on a hand within the allotted time, the hand will automatically stand.

Secret Bet: Each player has the option of placing one “Secret Bet” per Tournament Round. When the Secret Bet is used for the wagering portion of a hand, the player may also choose insurance and double down wagers or surrender and stand actions, secretly by selecting these options from the Secret Bet menu. At the end of the hand, after the dealer has completed play, the amount of the Secret Bet and any subsequent hand playing action will be revealed.

If a player wishes to split on a Secret Bet, the player must have an equal or greater amount of chips relative to their original bet to split. If you don’t have enough to chips to split, you won’t be given the option.

If a player wishes to double down on a Secret Bet, the player may select the option from the secret bet menu. The player may double for the table minimum up to the full amount of the original wager.

If a player wishes to conceal their action on a Secret Bet of not taking any hit cards as being either a stand or a surrender, the player may do so by denoting their decision of this option as selected from the Secret Bet menu.

Elimination Hands: Each Elimination Hand (8,16,25) must result in one player being eliminated after the hand is completed regardless of whether a player was eliminated on a previous hand or if the player was eliminated at the beginning of an Elimination Hand for not having the minimum bet. The eliminated player will be the one with the lowest amount of chips when the hand is completed. Additionally, any player who does not have enough chips to make the minimum bet on any hand will be eliminated.

NOTE: When players tie for low on an Elimination Hand and those players are in contention for an advancing spot, a playoff will be held between those players to see who is eliminated (See Section 15).

Playoffs: At the conclusion of Elimination Hands 8, 16, and 25, the player with the lowest total value of remaining chips will be eliminated. If two or more players are tied for the lowest total value of remaining chips, a playoff will be held. The number of hands in the playoff will be equal to the number of players tied at the beginning of the playoff. At the beginning of the playoff, the tied players will start with an amount equal to 20 times the value of the minimum bet. The first bettor in the playoff shall be the player who is naturally positioned to be next following the preceding hand. If any player(s) are still tied for low chip count at the end of the playoff, those remaining players start the playoff sequence again.

After the playoff is completed, the remaining player(s) will begin the next hand with the same amount of chips they had prior to the playoff. Players cannot gain or lose chips during the playoff.

Prize Pool: Prize pool will be determined based on number of entries times the amount of the buy in. The percentage paid to the various spots will be determined by the Tournament Director and posted in the tournament details at the start of the tournament.