Blackjack is among the popular online casino games, and it's widely played using decks of 52 cards. Its origin comes from a family of casino banking games known as 21, and the European Vingt-et-Un and the British card game Pontoon are its versions. With the expansion of the gambling world, additional types of Blackjack have appeared on the market.
Geographical Blackjack Types
Let’s go over a few versions of Blackjack.
Atlantic City Blackjack
Blackjack in Atlantic City has a few unique features you won't find at other casinos. Namely, the dealer will check for Blackjack when an ace or a ten is visible. There are three ways to divide your hand when given two cards of equal value.
After splitting aces, players are only given one more card for each ace and can only split aces once. The option of doubling down is available to players at any point in the game, even after a split. The dealer will stand on any hand valued at 17, even if it's a soft 17. Finally, players can choose a late surrender when the dealer shows an ace or a 10-value card. Even if insurance is readily accessible, taking it's still a bad idea.
Vegas Strip
In addition to being popular on the Las Vegas Strip, this Blackjack variant is available in almost every online casino. Although the game's rules are virtually identical to conventional Blackjack, there are some minor differences to be aware of, such as the number of decks and whether or not the dealer hits or stands on soft 17.
Usually, Vegas Strip Blackjack is playable with four or eight decks, and the dealer stands on soft 17. With a starting hand that contains 10-value or ace cards, the dealer is required to reveal the hidden card. Even after splitting a pair, players can double down. Splitting 10-value cards, even different ones, is available. In addition, it's against the rules to re-split aces and surrender.
European Blackjack
The main difference between European Blackjack and other types of Blackjack is how the cards are dealt. In a traditional Blackjack game, each player, including the dealer, receives two cards at the beginning of the hand. One card is dealt face up, while the others are dealt face down. Meanwhile, in European Blackjack, each player begins with just one card exposed to them, and they don't get their second card until after all other players finish making their hands.
It's more difficult for players to double or split their hands, and players are at a disadvantage since there are additional limitations to doubling and splitting. Players can only double their bet if they have a total of 9, 10, or 11. Regarding splitting, players can double their bets but can't split them again. In European 21, the odds of winning are somewhat lower than in the standard version of Blackjack, although the difference isn't significant.
Multi-Hand Blackjack
Multi-Hand Blackjack's main rules are the same as those for the conventional Blackjack types, which benefits players because they don't need to learn additional rules. However, in this version, participants can play many hands, make various wagers, and have five hands instead of one.
In most casinos, this variant of Blackjack prohibits surrendering but enables insurance against the dealer's ace. The rules vary widely depending on the land-based casino or online versions. For example, some dealers hit soft 17s while others must stand. In addition, the multi-hand Blackjack version with European rules doesn't use hole cards. Lastly, some Multiple-Hand variants allow doubling on every two-card hand, while others limit it to 9 through 11. Generally, Multi-Hand variation speeds up play and boost betting.
Double Exposure Blackjack
In this type of Blackjack, the dealer is dealt two cards face-up. Players lose all their wagers, except Blackjack hand, when they push to keep the house advantage at 3-2. The payout for a natural Blackjack is even money. Because dealers' cards are visible, players can't purchase insurance or surrender.
The game, for the most part, doesn't allow doubling following splits, re-splitting, and side bets. When the dealer has a 13 through a 16, two 10-value cards are split, and if the dealer has a 20, a hard 19 must be struck. Double Exposure Blackjack is played with at least 6 decks, but most often with 8.
Progressive Blackjack
One of the most popular types of Blackjack is Progressive Blackjack. It's not that different from the classic game, but there are a few things to remember before you start. A player and a dealer face off in Progressive Blackjack, just as they do in conventional types. The new $1 stake spot is a big addition, and that's for a special jackpot bet that must be wagered before the cards are dealt. Each player can play up to five hands at a time, and split hands are considered one hand.
To proceed, the dealer must hit on 16 or less and stand on 17 or above. However, Progressive blackjack has some rules distinction from the standard Blackjack type. A player who chooses to split a pair of aces gets only one additional card, and the hand automatically stands. If a second card dealt to a player is a 10-valued card, the hand is considered to have a value of 21, not Blackjack. In most cases, re-splitting isn't an option. Only when players have a hand total of 9, 10, or 11 will they be allowed to double. After the split, players can't go back and double the bet.
Single and Double Deck Blackjack
Most rules for Single-Deck Blackjack are the same as those for games with more than one deck:
A hand can be split up to three times.
Aces can be split, and each ace gets one card, but they can’t be split again.
The hand with a split ace and a 10-value card has a value of 21, not Blackjack.
The dealer hits on a soft 17.
The payout for blackjack is 3-2.
The payout for a winning insurance bet is 2-1.
When playing this Blackjack variant, players must keep in mind that each card has a big effect on how the rest of the hand plays out. For a game with only one deck, the rules for doubling down and surrendering are different, and players should take advantage of them. For instance, they can be more aggressive by splitting a pair of 3's if the dealer shows a 2 or 3 instead of just 4 through 6. Likewise, it's advised to surrender when you get a pair of 7s and the dealer has a ten. The house edge on insurance in Single-Deck Blackjack games is 5.9%, so you should never take insurance or even money.
Similar to a Single Deck, a Double-Deck Blackjack starts each round with players receiving two cards face down, while the dealer receives one card face up. The dealer will check for Blackjack if they have an ace or a 10 on the table. If players hit Blackjack, they'll be given insurance and even money.
You must have a 9, 10, or 11 to double in Double-Deck Blackjack. Players can place an extra stake on the split hand, and no additional splits are allowed. When you get a Blackjack, you’re paid 3-2. Dealer stands on both hard and soft 17. Players can't double following a split, but they can on Blackjack.
Blackjack Switch
Blackjack got a new and original spin in recent years thanks to this innovation. In blackjack switch, you take part in not just one but two separate hands, and you can move cards from one hand to the other to strengthen one or both hands, which creates a significant advantage.
In order to make up for the above-mentioned things, the majority of the other rules are biased in favor of the dealer. For example, if the dealer has a 22, it doesn't result in a bust; instead, it's a push against any player's hand that isn't a bust or 21.
Super Fun 21
Super Fun 21 is a Blackjack version that's a lot of fun to play. Aces count as either a one or an 11, and the dealer gets two cards, where one is visible. It varies from standard Blackjack variants in that the player wins if his hand has at least six cards totaling 20, even if the dealer has a total of 21. You can split your hand up to four times in Super Fun 21, and your 21 beats the dealer's. You can also double down at any moment and instantly double your money when you have a hand with five or more cards totaling 21.
Additionally, the Super Fun 21 version of Blackjack pays only 6-5 instead of 3-2, which is a significant change. In Super Fun 21 Blackjack, only during the first round of a newly shuffled deck can a player put a side wager on landing a Blackjack. The odds are 300:1. For this unusual side bet, players can choose which suit or suits they want to gamble on.
Pontoon Types of Blackjack
In the sections below, we’ll cover a few types of Pontoon Blackjacks.
British Pontoon
Pontoon was the British variation of Blackjack before it became famous internationally because it was a unique and exciting form of the game. British Pontoon has significant changes compared to more traditional types. At least two players are necessary, but five to eight are ideal. If the table is unoccupied, you can play heads-up Pontoon versus the dealer. However, Playtech and Betsoft provide online Multi-Hand Blackjack variants that let you bet on up to three or five hands at once. In this form, 21 hand is dubbed "Pontoon." It consists of an ace and a 10-value card like ten, Jack, Queen, or King. The advantage of Pontoon is that even after splitting, 21s count as naturals, so the odds can be more than 2-1.
The five-card trick is the second-best hand, consisting of five cards totaling no more than 21. Any unbusted hand with precisely five cards wins in Pontoon, regardless of its total. Pontoon pays even money on non-busted hands of 21 or less. As in classic Blackjack, busted hands above 21 lose immediately.
In British Pontoon, the dealer's cards are face-down, which changes the game's entire strategy because the dealer's second card isn't visible. As a result, British Pontoon lacks the insurance side bet that Blackjack players get when the dealer's first card is an ace.
Spanish 21
In Spanish 21, which is quite similar to Pontoon, all 10s are eliminated from the deck. Although this would normally result in a bigger house advantage, the game makes up for it by allowing other player-friendly terms:
Dealer must stand on soft 17.
Players can double after splitting and re-splitting.
After doubling your bet, you have the option to surrender.
Double Attack
Atlantic City casinos offer Double Attack Blackjack, which is one of the types of Blackjack that pays even money on a Blackjack and allows players to double their bet after viewing the dealer's upcard. Also, the Bust It! side bet predicts whether the dealer will bust on the third card. This side wager is placed before the dealer's upcard. If the dealer has an eight, receives another eight of the same color or suit, and busts, there's an extra payout. The Bust It! side bet pays according to how many cards the dealer busts with:
If the dealer busts with 3 or 4 cards, players receive a 2-1 payout.
For 5-card busts, they get a 4-1 payout.
For 6-card busts, they'll have a 12-1 payout.
If the dealer busts with seven or eight cards, the payouts are massive: 50-1 and 250-1.
Double Attack Blackjack uses eight Spanish 48-card decks, and the dealer always stands on soft 17. Insurance pays 5-2, but the dealer can peek for Blackjack. Other differences are that doubling is allowed even after splitting, and players can split aces once for one additional card and all other cards four times. Lastly, any player can double or surrender at any time, but note that there's no re-doubling.
Face Up 21
Face Up 21 is the most uncommon type of Blackjack where the dealer holds two face-up cards, and he must hit on a soft 17. If the dealer has 20, you must hit on 19 to get an ace or two to tie or win. Also, players receive even money for Blackjack, as opposed to the 3-2.
When the player's hand ties with the dealer's, the dealer wins unless the player has Blackjack. In this version, players can split aces but get only one extra card per ace. You may double up on a split, but only with hands that total 9, 10, or 11. Some online casinos will allow you to re-split up to 3 times.
Match Play 21
Match Play 21 is played with ten fewer cards than the typical types of Blackjack. Worry not, because aces and face cards remain in the deck, which lessens the player's probability of winning with each additional deck. Match Play 21 is normally played with six decks, but the range is between two and eight. Players can split up to two times if they have two cards of the same value, and when doubling down, just one more card is dealt.
To counter the dealer's edge, the payout plan is more rewarding:
A 5-card Blackjack pays 3-2.
21 on six cards pays 2-1.
Getting a natural with seven or more cards rewards the player with a 3-1 payout.
Any 6-7-8 combo pays 3-2, suited one pays 2-1.
Spades 6-7-8 combination locks 3-1 payout.
The above payouts apply to 7-7-7 combos, but when the dealer shows a 7, this combination pays out 40-1.
Perfect Pairs Side Bet
Perfect Pairs is a side wager where the player's first two cards form a pair, and there are three distinct sorts of perfect pairs, each paying out differently:
In a mixed pair, the suit and color are different, but the card's value is the same.
Colored pairs have the same value and color, but a different suit.
A perfect pair is the same exact card.
Any 6-7-8 combo pays 3-2, suited one pays 2-1.
Spades 6-7-8 combination locks 3-1 payout.
The above payouts apply to 7-7-7 combos, but when the dealer shows a 7, this combination pays out 40-1.
Before any cards are dealt, players must determine whether they wish to participate in the Perfect Pairs side bet. The payouts differ, but usually, it is 5-1 for a mixed pair, 10-1 or 12-1 for a colored pair, and 30-1 for a perfect one.
January 16, 2024
