Blackjack is such a popular casino game that dozens of blackjack variations have popped up over the years. Some of these blackjack variants have stuck around; others have gotten lost in the sands of time. A few have even become popular games on their own.
In many instances, the video blackjack game will have better rules than any live blackjack game that can be found in the same casino. There is a video blackjack game that has shown up in Las Vegas that stays on all 17's, offers surrender, double after the split and split up to 3 hands. Weigh the odds and place your bets - it's 21 or bust! Count on a fun online game of Blackjack. Play for free online! What is the Difference Between Blackjack and Other 21 Games? European Blackjack. European Blackjack is a variation of Classic Blackjack and is the same as the original game that you. Atlantic City Blackjack. This variation offers both single and multi-hand options. This Blackjack usually has one.
The following blackjack variations are the most popular today. If you play online blackjack, you'll run across these variations at some point. The basic rules of each game are all similar, but there are just enough differences to set each game apart.
The Best Casinos for Blackjack Variations
| Rank | Gambling Site | New Player Bonus | Review | Visit Site |
Blackjack
This is the classic game that we all know. 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. The rules set listed here is the one found most often on the internet.
- 2-4 Decks
- Dealer hits soft 17
- Doubling allowed
- Splitting allowed
- 1-2 resplits allowed
- Doubling after splitting allowed
- Dealer checks for blackjack
- House advantage: 0.56% (varies but usually around this number)
European Blackjack
European blackjack is typically played with two decks of cards. There are a few player-friendly rules such as a small number of decks and dealer standing on soft 17.
The casino makes up for this by instituting the 'dealer does not check for blackjack' rule. In other words, the dealer does not check for a blackjack until after you have played the entire hand. That means you stand to lose more money if you double or split during the hand. In other blackjack variations, the dealer checks for blackjack at the beginning of the hand and prevents you from doubling or splitting.
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- Dealer blackjack vs. player blackjack results in a push
- Dealer does not check for blackjack (this means the dealer only checks for a blackjack after you have played the entire hand)
- Players may only double down on point totals of 9, 10 and 11
- Player may double after splitting
- No resplitting
- Blackjack pays 3:2
- House advantage: 0.39%
Face Up 21
Face Up 21 is an interesting blackjack variation in which both of the dealer's cards are dealt face up. This extra information gives you a great advantage in decision-making. However, this additional information comes with a price…
- Dealer hits on soft 17
- Dealer blackjack vs. player blackjack results in a loss
- Blackjack pays even money
- Players may only double on hard point totals of 9, 10 and 11
- Players may double after splitting
- House advantage: 0.69%
Match Play 21
Match Play 21 is quite a bit different than traditional blackjack. 10s are removed from the deck and certain hands receive special bonus payouts. This is the same game as Spanish 21 except adapted for use at online casinos. Pdf for mac catalina.
- All 10s are removed from the deck (face cards remain)
- Dealer hits on soft 17
- Player may double one time
- Splitting allowed
- Blackjack pays 3:2
- House advantage: 0.76% to 0.81% (varies)
Special Payouts:
- Match Play 21 pays 40:1 (player hand consists of three 7s of the same suit and the dealer's face-up card is any 7)
- Player has 777 all spades: 3:1
- Players has 678 all spades: 3:1
- Player has 7 cards without busting: 3:1
- Player have 777 of the same suit: 2:1
- Players has 678 of the same suit: 2:1
- Player has a six card 21: 2:1
- Player has any three 7s: 3:2
- Player has any 678: 3:2
- Player has a five card 21: 3:2
Pontoon
Pontoon is similar to the blackjack variation known as 'Spanish 21.' In this game, the dealer starts with both hole cards face down. The casino makes up for this lack of information by giving the player 2:1 payouts instead of 3:2 payouts.
- Any two-card hand that totals exactly 21 points is called a 'pontoon.'
- Dealer hits on soft 17
- Pontoon pays 2:1
- Five card trick pays 2:1
- Player may only stand on a total of 15+ or after five cards
- Dealer wins all ties
- House advantage: 0.38%
Super 21
Super 21 uses the same basic rules as blackjack but it offers special payouts for certain hands.
- Dealer hits on soft 17
- Splitting is allowed
- Blackjack pays even money
- Diamond Blackjack (two diamond cards that total 21): 2:1
- Five card 21: 2:1 (non doubled hands only)
- Six card 21: 2:1 (non doubled hands only)
- Six cards that total 20 or less (instant win): even money
- House advantage: 1.16% to 1.20% (varies)
Perfect Pairs Blackjack
Perfect Pairs Blackjack uses regular blackjack rules but it allows for an extra side bet at the beginning of each hand. The Perfect Pairs side bet is a wager that your first two cards will be of the same value. This side bet is not affected by the outcome of each round.
- Dealer hits on soft 17
- Splitting is allowed
- Players may double down once
- Blackjack pays 3:2
- Players may play up to 5 hands at a time
- House advantage: 0.42%
Side Bet Payouts: Wild wolf slot machine.
- Mixed Pair (any two cards of the same rank): 5:1
- Colored Pair (any two cards of the same rank and same color): 10:1
- Perfect Pair (any two cards of the same rank and suit): 30:1
Multi Hand Blackjack
Multi hand blackjack is just a blackjack variation in which you can play more than one hand at a time. This is one of the most popular blackjack variations for players who get comfortable with single hand blackjack. The multi-hand version adds excitement and keeps the game running at a quick pace.
Most real money gambling sites use the following rules:
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- Players may only double on point totals of 9, 10 and 11
- No resplitting is allowed
- Dealer does not check for blackjack
- Insurance is resolved at the end of the hand
- House advantage: 0.63%
Spanish 21
Spanish 21 is very similar to the card game Pontoon (described above). In this game, all the 10 cards are removed from the deck. The removal of all 10s would normally result in a higher house advantage, but Spanish 21 makes up for that by offering players a bunch of player-friendly rules. In fact, Spanish 21 is often one of the best games in the casino for the player.
Spanish 21 is played mostly in live casinos, so the rules can vary quite a bit. The following set of rules is pretty standard:
- Dealer stands on soft 17 (at most casinos)
- Blackjack pays 3:2
- Resplitting is allowed (including Aces)
- Player blackjacks beat dealer blackjacks
- Players may double down once on any points total after any number of cards.
- Players may double after splitting
- Player may surrender after doubling
- House advantage: .38 to .78% (varies)
Special Payouts
Spanish 21 offers a variety of special payouts. These payouts vary from one casino to the next, but the following payouts are the most common. Cartoon slot machines. Most casinos do not offer these bonus payouts after doubling or splitting.
- 5 Card 21 pays 3:2
- 6 card 21 pays 2:1
- 7 card 21 pays 3:1
- 678 of mixed suits pays 3:2
- 777 of mixed suits pays 3:2
- 678 of the same suit pays 2:1
- 777 of the same suit pays 2:1
- 678 of all spades pays 3:1
- 777 of all spades pays 3:1
- If the player has 777 of the same suit and the dealer shows a 7 of any suit, a bonus payout of $1,000 is given to the player. This bonus jumps to $5,000 is the player wagered $25 or more at the beginning of the hand.
Blackjack Switch
This is an interesting variation in which you are dealt two hands and are given the option to trade the second card dealt in each hand. This is a major advantage but the casino makes up for it with two rules:
- A dealer total of 22 points results in a push
- Blackjacks pay even money
Different Blackjack Games In Vegas
Other Blackjack Switch rules:
- Dealer hits on soft 17
- Resplitting is allowed
- Dealer checks for blackjack
- Doubling allowed on any points total
- House advantage: 0.16% to 0.58% (varies)
Sources for house advantage numbers on this page
Most of the numbers for the house advantage of these games comes from the Wizard of Odds website. The Wizard of Odds is a trusted gambling website that deals heavily in mathematics for sound gambling advice.
I also got blackjack house advantage information from this site.
I relied on these two sources heavily but also cross-referenced them with a variety of other resources.
US Players and Credit Card, BitCoin Deposits Accepted!
Blackjack Variants and Blackjack Variations
Blackjack is probably the most popular card game in the casino besides poker, and there are several variations in terms of both the games that are offered and variations in the rules from casino to casino for even the standard game. The articles in this section examine some of these different blackjack games and variations.
Black Jack Variations
Blackjack is easily the most popular table game offered in gambling establishments. It is a game which requires concentration, nerves of steel, a keen eye, and more than just a little luck thrown in. Called blackjack (or '21' in Nevada casinos), it is essentially a banking game, the object of which is to achieve a hand whose points are closer to 21 than the banker's hand, but without going over 21. It is most often played with two (counting the house dealer) to seven players.
The name 'blackjack' is used in Britain for a game which is similar to Crazy Eights (they refer to the American game of blackjack as Pontoon). Although, strictly speaking, Pontoon has somewhat different rules too.
Below is a list of rules variations you'll find in different casinos:
1. Dealer Stands on Hard 17-- This is the classic, and most common, rule of blackjack. Under this rule, the dealer will stand as soon as his/her score reaches 17 or above (without an ace in the hand). (Strictly speaking, this isn't even a rules variation, since it's almost always in place.)
2. Dealer Stands on Soft 17-- The dealer stands if she has 17 or better and an ace in his hand. This is more advantageous than if the dealer hits a soft 17.
3. Dealer Hits on Soft 17-- Soft 17 is an optional rule which is not used widely, since most casinos require their dealers to stand on a 17 or better, but it is always used in Blackjack Switch (which we'll discuss later). This variation requires the dealer to draw another card if he's holding a soft 17 (that is, a 17 with an ace in the hand). However, the dealer will still stand on a hard 17. This variation slightly increases the house edge.
If the dealer his on soft 17, the house edge is increased by about 0.2%.
4. Doubling-- Considered one of the most profitable player options, some online casinos entirely prohibit doubling, while others allow it. Some casinos only allow doubling on the first two cards, while others allow doubling on any number of cards. (Being allowed to double down on any 2 cards improves your expectation by a little more than 0.2%.)
When you double down, you double your bet (or you can choose to bet less than the original wager, just never more) and receive one, and only one, additional card to your hand.
Some casinos will allow you to double on any two cards, while others will allow you to double only if your cards are of a certain value, typically 9-11. The latter variation decreases the player's edge by about 0.1%.
5. Doubling After Split-- This variation is uncommon. It allows you to double even after the hands have been split. This improves the player edge by 0.14%.
Splitting is defined as being able divide an initial hand consisting of two matching cards (two aces, two jacks, etc.) into two separate hands and then playing them independently. But keep in mind that 21 is not considered a natural hand (or blackjack) after a split.
In fact, some casinos allow you to keep splitting, as long as you keep getting pairs on the initial hand. The most common rule allows you to split up to three times, thus giving you four separate hands on the table. If doubling after the split is allowed on all these, then you could possibly have as much as eight times your initial bet on the table.
6. Surrender-- While this variant is often prohibited altogether, it can be 'early' or 'late' if allowed. An 'early' surrender can be invoked before a dealer checks for Blackjack, while a 'late' surrender comes after the initial check. If you choose to surrender, you forfeit the hand and lose half of your original bet. Because the 'early' surrender offers such a cheap way out for the players, it is almost never allowed. This variant can make a huge difference in your strategy, and veteran players will drool at the notion of finding an early surrender table.
7. Insurance-- A commonly available rule for Blackjack, Insurance may also be the least understood. It works like this: if the dealer turns an up-card of an Ace, he will offer 'insurance' to the players. Insurance bets can be made by betting up to half your original bet. The dealer will then check to see if he has a 10-value card underneath his Ace, and, if he does have blackjack, your winning insurance bet will be paid out at 2:1. You'll lose your original bet (unless you also have a blackjack), so the net effect is that you'll break even (assuming you bet the full amount allowable on insurance). If the dealer does not have blackjack, you'll lose the insurance bet and still have to play out your original hand.
And here is a list of blackjack games, from the common to the unusual. (We have plans to expand this section.)
1. Blackjack Switch-- Very popular among online casino players, Blackjack Switch is a blackjack-based game which gives you control over two hands. Both hands have their own betting pocket and, initially, you must wager equally on both hands. There is also a 'super match' betting pocket, which is won if your initial four cards contain two or more matching cards. You can find the odds for the 'super match' bets on the casino table.
Is adobe acrobat pro dc free. In Blackjack Switch, you play both hands separately before the dealer. It is allowable to hit, stand, and double with each hand. Before you make the first move, you may perform a switch between hands (exchanging the two top cards of both hands).
Another difference is that the dealer always plays the 'soft 17' rule and draws another card when he has a 17 with an ace.
If the dealer draws 22, it is considered a push and bets are refunded unless the player has blackjack, in which case the player wins.
2. Spanish 21-- This variant provides players with many player-friendly rules, such as: doubling down on any number of cards (with the option to 'rescue', or surrender only one wager to the house), payout bonuses for getting blackjack with five or more cards, hitting blackjack with a 6-7-8, hitting blackjack with three 7 cards, late surrender, player blackjacks always winning, and player 21's always winning. The biggest difference from a gaming standpoint is that there are no 10 cards in the deck (although there are still jacks, queens, and kings). Besides its various rule variations, Spanish 21 is popular because, with a correct basic strategy, the house has a lower edge than in a comparable standard blackjack game.
3. Double Exposure Blackjack-- The dealer's cards are both face-up.
4. Double Attack Blackjack-- We have a whole section devoted to this game now - check it out.
5. Pontoon - The British version of blackjack, which many people thing is actually an ancestor of the traditional American blackjack game.
Different Poker Games To Play With Friends
US Players and Credit Card, BitCoin Deposits Accepted!
