Triple 7s Blackjack Rules, Strategy and RTP

How to Play Triple 7s Blackjack: The virtual slot machine of blackjack games complete with progressive jackpot.

Triple 7s Blackjack is not your average, run of the mill game. Sure, the base game rules are pretty static, but there’s one thing you won’t find in any other blackjack variant I’ve come across, and that’s a mandatory side bet. Yes, you read that right. The side bet is mandatory! Whatever bet you place, $1 will be extracted and placed in the Jackpot betting circle (i.e. bet $10; $9 goes to base game, $1 to side bet).

This obligatory side bet and its inherent attributes are what earned Triple 7s Blackjack the clever label, ‘the slot machine of blackjack games’. For starters, the side bet is reliant entirely on the appearance of 7s. Secondly, the biggest prizes are dependent on the successive appearance of every slots players favorite numbers, 7-7-7. Third, there’s a big progressive jackpot to be had.

Aside from an eye-twitching house edge, what’s not to like? Which brings us to…

Triple the Edge – Triple the Fun?

I feel like this section needs to come first, before any how-to or strategy sections. If you prefer a game with a super high RTP and low house edge, this may not be the game for you – unless the jackpot is large enough. Let’s examine…

The house rules of Triple 7s, combined with the mandatory $1 side bet, come together for a staggering house edge that scales as high as 37.94% (RTP 62.06%). That edge is present only when the jackpot has just been won, and resets back to the lowest seed amount. From there, the house edge falls steadily lower as the size of the jackpot rises.

Mathematical probabilities dictate that the edge will decrease by 3.45% for every $10,000 in the jackpot. As such, it would require a progressive jackpot of $109,860 to nullify the edge down to 0% (RTP 100%). So, if you happen across this game, and the jackpot is worth $109,860 or higher, it is most certainly a good idea to play.

With that being said, let’s take a closer look…

How to Play Triple 7s Blackjack

This section is in reference to the base game only, which plays like any other standard game of 21 except that your total bet is automatically split, with $1 going to the side bet, and the rest to the base game. If you intend to bet $10 on the hand, you’ll want to place an $11 bet.

The house rules are as follows:

Specific Rules of Play

• Decks: 5
• Soft 17: Dealer Stands
• Doubling: Yes, on 9, 10 or 11 only
• Splitting: Yes, up to 3x (4 hands)
• Double after Split: No
• Draw to Split Aces: No
• Dealer Checks for Blackjack: Yes
• Blackjack Pays: 3 to 2

Triple 7s Blackjack Side Bet

As stated above, this is a mandatory $1 side bet. If you don’t want to place the side bet, you’ll need to choose a different blackjack game.

To win this side bet, you’ll need at least your very first card to be a 7. If it is, you’ll win $5. If not, you lose. Should the first and second card be 7-7, the prize gets higher, especially if they are both of the same suit. In order to win the 7-7-7 payouts, the dealer’s up-card must also be a 7. Splitting or hitting your own hand to receive a third 7 will not deliver a 7-7-7 side bet payout.

The progressive jackpot is released when the player’s first two cards are 7♦-7♦, and the dealer’s face-up card is also a 7♦. No other suits (only diamonds) can trigger the jackpot.

The exact winning conditions and pay table are detailed below.

Triple Sevens 21 Strategy

Unless the progressive jackpot on the side bet has grown to, or above, the $100k mark, I would not suggest playing this particular blackjack variant at all. The house edge will be far too high to be a strategic choice. When you do play, however, there is a strict strategy to be followed that will grant you the highest possible RTP.

You’ll notice there are three sectional charts below. They are divided up by player hand type – hard hand, soft hand and pairs. Select the section that applies to your current hand, then look along the left column for your hand value. Choose the proper decision from the right column based on the dealer’s up-card.

How to Decide a Hard Hand

A hard hand total is one derived of all base-value cards; no Aces that can be counted as 11 points.

How to Decide a Soft Hand

A soft hand total is one derived from an Ace that can be counted as 11 points. Because the Ace can drop to a value of 1, these hands cannot bust when hit.

Conditions for Splitting Pairs

Splitting pairs in an opportune situation is one of the best ways to maximize your return. The chart below teaches you how to play Triple 7s Blackjack when given the option to split.