WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK from Mohegan Sun

Twenty-five professional blackjack players competed in this seven-episode tournament from the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. Five matches were played with five players each. Like in casino blackjack, players play their cards against the dealer. The house rules are as follows:

• Each player starts with $10,000 in chips. Minimum bets are $100, and the table maximum is $5,000.
• The dealer must draw on 16 and everything below, and must stand on 17 and everything above, even on a soft 17 (a soft hand includes an ace counting as 11).
• If a player splits a pair, they are allowed to double down on either or both. However, split aces cannot be hit.
• Doubling down for an additional amount less than the initial wager is also permitted.
• Late surrenders are offered, where a player can can elect to give up half of his/her wager and sit out the hand.
• Insurance is offered if the dealer's up-card is an ace. This is a side bet of up to half the initial wager that pays 2:1 (double) if the dealer has a blackjack.
• If the dealer shows an ace or a ten-point card, she immediately peeks at her down card. If she has a blackjack, the hand immediately ends.
• Blackjacks are paid 3:2 ($3 for every $2 bet), but the player does have the option to hit or double down on a blackjack.

WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK from the Gold Nugget

The second season, produced at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, followed a similar format, expanded to 13 episodes. The rules are the same as the first season, with each player starting with $100,000, minimum bets of $1,000, and maximum bets of $50,000.

First round: Five players per table, and 25 hands are played. The player with the most chips at the end of the game wins $10,000 and advances to the semifinals, while the second-place player wins $5,000 and a seat in the wild-card game. The prize money for third through fifth remains the same as season one.
Wild-Card round: After four first-round matches, the second-place finishers play 28 hands. The winner earns $5,000 and a seat at the semis.
Semifinal round: The first four first-round winners and the first wild-card winner play 25 hands. The winner gets another $10,000 and the second-place finisher $5,000, and both advance to the championship table. The process is repeated with the next five qualifiers.
Championship game: The four finalists play 28 hands, and the player with the most chips wins the title and $250,000.

WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK from the Las Vegas Hilton

Taped at the Las Vegas Hilton, the tournament structure was similar to season 2, but the way each match was played was changed dramatically to encourage more agressive betting. Instead of a set number of hands, the match is divided into three phases connected to two special cards, called Knockout cards, inserted into the six-deck card shoe.

• Five players start with $100,000 in chips. To start, the minimum bet is $1,000 and the maximum bet is $50,000, with all bets in $500 increments except insurance bets, which can be in increments of $250. Standard tournament rules apply.
• Play continues until the first Knockout card, placed about halfway down the shoe, is revealed. If no one has already gone broke, one more hand is played. After this hand, the player with the lowest bankroll is eliminated from the match. However, if anyone busts out of the game before or during the hand where the Knockout card is shown, no Knockout round is played and play advances to the second phase.
• For the second phase, the minimum bet is raised to $2,500. Play continues until the second Knockout card, located about three-quarters of the way down the shoe, appears. If there are still four players remaining, one more hand is played to eliminate the shortest stack. If two or more players are already out, no Knockout round is played.
• The last phase is a straight five hands with a new six-deck shoe, and the minimum bet is raised to $5,000. The player with the highest bankroll at the end of the match wins.
• If a player has less than the minimum bet but at least $1,000, that player is allowed to stay in the game but is automatically required to go all-in until he/she reached the minimum or goes below $1,000.
• Each player is given one Power Chip, which he/she can use to replace a card in his/her hand. The power chip can also be used to peek at the down card when a player doubles down. Then, he/she must decide whether to keep it or replace it with the next card in the shoe. Each player may use the Power Chip only once.

WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK IV from the Las Vegas Hilton

Thousands of blackjack professionals and amateurs alike competed at their local casinos and in Super Satellite tournaments for one of the 40 coveted seats. And in 2007, the field also included four celebrities: Celebrity Blackjack Season 1 champion Caroline Rhea, baseball legend Orel Hershiser, Las Vegas magician and entertainer Penn Jillette, and actress-turned-poker pro Shannon Elizabeth. The format is exactly the same as season 3, including the Knockout cards and Power Chips, with $500,000 again at stake for the champion.