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.
The different types of Blackjack Games. Ever since its invention in the 1700s, Blackjack has almost exploded in terms of popularity. The world famous card game is enjoyed by players from all walks of life from across the globe, and there's no signs of its reputation waning.
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.
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Exotic types of online blackjack are no less exciting to play than their classic counterparts. Try out 5 unusual blackjack variations. Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games out there, and it's because it's super easy to learn the basics, lowering the barrier to entry for beginners. But it also offers a layered complexity that can stump even the most advanced players. As a result, there are many types of players out there. Which one are you? Whereas for a diamond Blackjack, the payout is 2:1. Also, players can move to hit, stand, split, or double on any card. The availability of multiple types of Blackjack provides players with plenty of choices of ways to enjoy their favorite games. TYPES OF BLACKJACK GAMES. One game that you will find in any land-based or online casinos is definitely blackjack. Truly, it needs no introduction! Thanks to the popularity of the different types of blackjack games to play. It is for this very reason that there was an increase in blackjack variations over the years. Some have thrived in making.
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.
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
All Types Of Blackjack 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.
- 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. Casino arkansas oklahoma border. 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:
- 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. 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 Types Of Blackjack Games
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.
Golden dragon mobile game. 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.
As a card game which requires a level of skills to play, Blackjack is undoubtedly the most popular games at casinos. The game also known as 21 is played against the house with the objective of getting a hand value close to twenty-one without exceeding it.
There are several variations of the game with slight changes to its basic rules. They vary in their payouts, the number of decks used in play and the way of using different gaming options.
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 bets of equal size on both the hands.
There is also an option for players to make a ‘Super Match' bet on the first four cards dealt with them. The Blackjacks in this variant pay even money i.e. 1:1 as against the normal 3:2. While the dealer hand with a 22 is a push, the dealer is supposed to hit on a soft 17.
European Blackjack – This variant is considered as the basic game from which the standard Blackjack game evolved. This game follows all the basic rules of the standard Blackjack game except for the difference in how the cards are dealt.
The dealer is not dealt a card face down until the player makes a decision on how to play his cards, which could be a hit, split, stand or the doubling of cards. Doubling is allowed on a total value of either 9, 10 or 11 and the players cannot choose to surrender.
Face Up 21 – This variant differs in the way of dealing cards to the dealer. As against the normal Blackjack rule of dealing the second card of the dealer's face down, both the original cards of the dealer are dealt Face up in this variant, thereby leading to the naming as Double Exposure Blackjack.
In this game, the dealer need not check for Blackjack if his first card is an Ace or of 10 value. The Blackjack hand pays out even money and the surrender option could work to the disadvantage of the player if used at the wrong time.
Pontoon – This variation comes with special rules and naming system. In the game, players get to Twist and Stick as against Hit or Stand on standard Live Blackjack games, while the Blackjack is called as the Pontoon. This game is played by removing all the 10 value cards from the 52 card decks leaving only 48 cards.
The Pontoon hand and a 5-card hand pay 2:1, while other hands pay out even money. The game which is played with 2 to 8 decks, with the higher number of cards resulting in a decrease in the house edge for the game. Both the dealer's cards are dealt face-down.
Spanish 21 – This game too is similar to the Pontoon variant, where the 10 value cards are removed from the decks leaving only 48 cards. However, this removal of cards results in a slightly higher edge for the house. The player wins with a 21 even if the dealer's hand has a value of 21.
The players have the option to double on any number of cards and to re-split Aces.
Progressive Blackjack – The best part of the Progressive Blackjack game is that it offers an extra $1 bet per hand with a chance to win an increasing jackpot. Otherwise, all the other rules of this game are similar to the basic rules of standard Blackjack.
Super Fun 21 – A variation that is played with a single deck and guarantees fun and money by paying out even money on the Blackjack. This game ensures that the player wins with a hand having six cards or more totally to a value of 20, even the value of the dealer is 21. This rule is further extended to allow a Player's Blackjack to win over a Dealer's Blackjack.
Multiple Action Blackjack – The main difference this variant holds over the standard Blackjack rules is that the players can make more than one bet on a single hand against multiple successive dealer hands.
Types Of Blackjack Games
The collection above is just a small peek into a whole lot of Live Blackjack game variants, each with rules and Blackjack strategy building up to a big stack of information.
Summary
Name: Different types of Blackjack GamesAuthor: Helen Stratford
Published Date: 21/03/2019