Different Types Of Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as “21,” is the most popular type of blackjack in the world. The goal in blackjack is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. You can check out my blackjack rules page to learn more about the rules of blackjack. The rules for blackjack can change a little from one casino to the next. Different types of Blackjack There is umpteen number of Blackjack variants some of which are examined below. Blackjack Switch – This is a Blackjack game where the player plays two hands of Blackjack. They can switch the top cards of each hand and are mandated to make two.
Blackjack is one of the most classic probability games as it is both based on skills and also provides higher profits compared to other table game. It may take time to understand the game altogether, but there are several variations to test your skills once you get a full grasp of it. The ability to play different variations of Blackjack is also beneficial as it helps you beat the Dealer’s hand. Most of the variations result from changes in rules, but there are others with different gameplay. This article will explain the different Blackjack variations.
American Blackjack
Also known as classic Blackjack, the American Blackjack is the most played form of Blackjack worldwide. Players can play with up to 8 decks, and the player and the Dealer are dealt two cards each, where one of the cards, known as the hole card, is facedown for the Dealer.
The player wins the hand if they have exactly 21 for the card totals. If the card total exceeds 21, then the player loses the hand. You must also have a total higher than that of the dealer for you to win.
European Blackjack
European Blackjack is one of the most interesting blackjacks to play. Unlike the American Blackjack, the player is dealt with two cards that face up and the Dealer gets one face-up card. Also, dealers in European Blackjack do not receive a hole card until the player decides to play their cards. This variation also has several other aspects and more restrictions compared to American Blackjack.
Progressive Blackjack
Progressive Blackjack has a gameplay similar to that of regular gameplay, but the player can make more money by winning the jackpot. However, the player has to place an additional bet for the jackpot. All the other gameplay rules of the progressive Blackjack are similar to playing regular Blackjack except for the variations where cards are hit, split, doubled or stand.
Atlantic City Blackjack
This game is played with eight decks. Another difference with other blackjack variations is that the Dealer is allowed to peek at his hole, plus they are allowed to stand on a soft 17. Late surrender and insurance are also allowed, plus respliting the cards is allowed up to 3 hands.
Spanish 21
Spanish Blackjack allows up to six or eight deck cards. The cards lack the cards with ten-value to increase the house edge, meaning the game begins with only 48 cards. Like the Atlantic City blackjack, the Dealer in Spanish 21 can peek at his /her hole card, plus late insurance and surrender are allowed. The Dealer will win the hand if it is a Blackjack or 21. This variation also allows surrendering after doubling down to increase the player’s chances of winning.
Blackjack Switch
Players in this blackjack variation can switch between two pairs of cards. The player receives two hands of cards, and all are dealt face up. Instead of the usual 3:2 payout, the payout for this blackjack variation is 1:1. The Dealer will win if he/she has a Blackjack, but the player has a chance to keep the bet amount if they have a blackjack before switching.
Vegas Strip Blackjack
Most online players enjoy playing this blackjack variation. Vegas strip blackjack’s gameplay is similar to that of the American hole card version as it allows the Dealer to peek at his/her hole card. The Dealer in this variation must also stand on the soft 17. The game is played on four decks and allows doubling down after splitting the aces. The player can also split their cards, but to a maximum of three times.
Pontoon
Pontoon is an Australian Variation with a gameplay similar to that of Spanish 21. This game also adds fun typical Blackjack by changing the Hit, Stand, and Blackjack names to Pontoon, Twist, and Stick. You can also find a Blackjack game called Pontoon in online casinos, but it is different from the land-based Australian version that uses Spanish decks.
Super Fun 21
This blackjack version played with one deck is a version that guarantees players both fun and wins. The game rules are similar to those of the Classic Blackjack, but it has some variations in the payout structure. For example, a player’s natural Blackjack always beats the Dealer’s natural Blackjack in this variation.
When it comes to the money, a Diamond Blackjack gets a 2:1 payout, and the Blackjack pays equally rather than the usual 3:2. This game also allows the player to hit, double, stand and split no matter the number of cards.
Live Dealer Blackjack
It is possible to play blackjack with live dealers through various online casinos. Players in live dealership blackjack are dealt two cards each. Queens kings picture cards and so jacks count as ten, while the aces have a varying value (1 or 11) depending on the other card in your hands. Like some of the other blackjack variants, players in live dealership blackjack can split, double down and also surrender.
Parting Words
Though not all are easy to play, the above blackjack variants provide you with options. Playing different variants will expose you to different rules, table layouts and improve your gaming experience massively.
The game you know and love is… American
But god knows everyone has their own version, though finding them at online and mobile casinos isn’t easy. Still, here’s some of the variations and what to expect of each type.
Technically, calling it ‘American’ is a little bit of a lie, as no one knows quite sure who invented the original 21, or how it became popular.
What we know for sure is that when twenty-one was introduced in the United States, the gambling houses at the time tried to draw in the crowd with this new ‘craze’ of a table game by using ‘bonus bets’.
One of those bets was a ten-to-one payout if the player hand consisted of the Ace of Spades and a Black jack (so jack of clubs or jack of spades.)
And so the name Blackjack was born, and with it, the American’s dominion over this game.
Online and mobile blackjack games will usually fall within two categories; American or European.
And even the second is really just a more challenging version of the first.
The difference between European and American blackjack:
At this stage, we are hoping you’ve either read our ‘how to play blackjack guide‘ or have a rudimentary knowledge of the game.
If you haven’t, get reading and then come back here. Don’t worry, we will wait.
Ready? Ok.
So you know the basics, here are what makes each slightly different.
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European Blackjack Rules:
- You cannot surrender.
- When doubling you can only do so when you have a total of either 9, 10, or 11.
- The dealer must hit on a soft 17. (Ace and 6 point cards)
American Blackjack Rules:
- You can surrender at the beginning of your turn.
- You can double down regardless of the value of your card.
- The dealer must stand on a soft 17. (Ace and 6 point cards)
What’s up with those nasty Europeans hey?
Yes, undoubtedly, American Blackjack is just a little bit friendlier to players.
But if you look at the rules a little closer, it just makes things a dash more challenging, but hardly awful.
For one, you only really want to double on a 10 or 11 anyway. So they are just stating the obvious.
And for two, it’s not that often we’d use the surrender, as there’s usually always a chance of winning with Blackjack.
That said, the fact the dealer can continue to hit on a soft 17 gives them a slight edge – it means that if you’re on 18 points or more, the computer will try and beat it or go bust.
Bear in mind that many times, different games will use some of these rules, but possibly not all. It’s why we write Blackjack game reviews, so you know what’s what.
The number of decks played is important
Perhaps this is one of the biggest blackjack variants to the odds of you winning, if not how you play.
Basically, normally the less deck of cards you play with, the better your odds of beating the casino.
Here’s the good news for online blackjack players: in real casinos that means that single deck blackjack is incredibly rare. Or, if you find it, they tend to make the rules so ridiculous (no doubling on soft hands, no re-splitting, higher minimum bets etc..) that it makes you not want to play.
Hey, mobile casinos, like to win too, you know?
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However, single deck online blackjack isn’t as rare. Reason being, there’s no human having to shuffle the cards after each go, and sweating over the odds.
It’s all done automatically and generated randomly, so the rules will be the same as either the American or European Blackjack rules.
The good news is that even at it’s worst (8 decks), blackjack still has one of the better return to player rates out of all the casino games around – including slots and roulette.
- Single deck – house edge: 0.17%
- Double deck – house edge: 0.46%
- Four decks – house edge: 0.60%
- Six decks – house edge: 0.64%
- Eight decks – house edge: 0.65%
What is ‘house edge’? If a game was 100% house edge, the house would win 100% of the time. Here the house wins only 0.17% of the time, meaning you have the advantage.
What about Super Fun 21 or Pontoon?
Perhaps you’ve seen these names and wondered what they were about. Or maybe you’re not from around here.
There are a number of different blackjack types that are close enough to classic blackjack to deserve, if not the name, then at least a casual nod to being in the same family.
These are hard to find online or on mobile casinos. So don’t get your hopes up high. But if you do, at least you’ll know what they are.
How To Explain Blackjack
- Spanish 21 or Pontoon: A far more ‘liberal’ game, with a variety of rules and variants. The main difference is that all the 10’s have been removed from the four to eight card shuffle. To make up for this, they provide a host of bonuses and favourable rules for the players, such as: doubling down on any number of cards, payout bonuses for five or more card 21’s, late surrender, player blackjacks and 21’s always winning etc… One worth having a look for, as even though the 10’s is to your disadvantage, this can be a very friendly game with high side bets.
- Multiple-Hand Blackjack: Only found in online blackjack casino games, You can basically bet on up to 5 ‘spaces’ – or get 5 hands. Each for a different bet amount.
- “Vegas Style” Blackjack or 21st Century Blackjack: Very rare online, but fun to find, as you don’t automatically lose if you bust. Instead, if the dealer ‘busts’ you can still get your bet back.
- Double Exposure Blackjack: Both your and the dealers cards are dealt face up. As you get the advantage here, it means that Blackjacks only pay even-money rather than 3:2, and players lose on ties. Not our favourite.
- Double Attack Blackjack: We’ve never seen this type of blackjack online, but we can hope, right? Reason being, you get to increase your bet after seeing the dealer turns his down face card, but before he decided to hit or stand. The payoff to this is that blackjack only pays even money.
- Blackjack Switch: Here you get dealt usually two (sometimes more) hands, and you can swap, or switch, the second card between your hands. A great variation, but the cost of having more choice means that natural blackjacks pay 1:1 instead of the standard 3:2, and a dealer 22 is a push.
- Multiple Action Blackjack: It’s like backward multi-hand blackjack. Instead of you being allowed to play several hands, you can make 2 or 3 bets on a single hand, and the dealer gets a new hand for each of the bets you’ve places.
- Super Fun 21: This almost doesn’t deserve a name of it’s own, but does, so we will use it. It basically allows you to split a hand up to four times – a rare event as you can imagine. The nice thing here is that if you hit and get a total of 6 six cards totalling 20, you automatically wins, regardless of what the dealer gets.
Different Types Of Blackjack
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