Blackjack is probably the game with the most diverse range of variations, giving players the opportunity to play it in a number of different ways. The reason so many versions exist is that the game has been the centre of attention for many years and, as such, many professional gamblers have developed alternative moves and options. Nowadays, many casinos aim to meet everyone’s needs and interests and therefore offer not only the classic game but also many of its variations.
This is good news for players who like to experiment and try something new every time. The classic game can be found in almost every brick-and-mortar casino but some of its versions can be played only in certain places as they are supplied by specific gaming software providers. However, more and more casinos are now taking their gambling business to the next level by offering players the opportunity to enjoy their favourite games online. This is a perfect example of how the game is used to attract potential players, many of whom might become regular customers if the casino’s offer is good.
Advantages of Playing Blackjack Variations
Players are unlikely to get bored with blackjack, as the game has so many variations that even if it is played regularly, they will not be able to try them all for a very long time. More than 100 different versions of the game exist, which is an indicator that blackjack is one of the most popular games worldwide. They make the game even more interesting and addictive, as players can try numerous variations in a variety of places. Some versions impress with their unique design, whereas others are created simply to be different from the original blackjack.
However, no matter which variation players choose to try, it is worth noting that they should carefully consider its differences and, in most cases, adjust the basic strategy accordingly. Most of the variations have additional rules that require prior preparation and knowledge. For this reason, if they already love the classic version, it might be best to refrain from taking unnecessary risks. To be on the safe side and ensure they do not lose money when trying something new, they can stick to good old classic blackjack.
| House Edge of Popular Blackjack variants | |
|---|---|
| Variant | House Edge |
| Atlantic City Blackjack | 0.35% |
| European Blackjack | 0.39% |
| Multi-Hand Blackjack | 0.63% |
| Double Exposure Blackjack | 0.69% |
| Single Deck Blackjack | 0.58% |
| Blackjack Switch | 0.17% |
| Super Fun 21 | 1.30% |
| Pontoon | 0.39% |
| Perfect Pairs Blackjack | 0.42% |
| Spanish 21 | 0.38% |
Variations in the Basic Rules of Play
There are over 100 variations of blackjack worldwide, but the differences between the vast majority of them mostly relate to the basic rules of play. Some of these concern playing decisions like doubling, surrendering or splitting. Others involve the dealer’s standing position, the casino odds or the number of decks in use.
As insignificant as these differences may appear, they are important to take into account because they impact players’ long-term theoretical return. Differences in playing conditions also result in differences in optimal basic-strategy decisions. Players will have to adjust their moves depending on the special rules of the game. Casino Guardian expands on some of the most relevant blackjack rule variations in this article.
Blackjack Can Use One to Eight Decks
If the rules of two blackjack games are identical but one is played with a single deck and the other with eight decks, the two will have different house edges. The casino advantage in blackjack grows as more decks are added to the game.
Thus, a single-deck game will have a lower house edge than a variation dealt out of eight decks, provided that all other playing conditions coincide. The trouble is that these conditions rarely, if ever, do coincide. Some recreational players distrust multi-deck shoe games and favour single-deck tables.
This is one of the main reasons why casinos still offer single- and double-deck blackjack. To compensate for the very low house advantage single-deck and double-deck games yield, casinos alter some of the other rules to regain their edge. Often this comes at the expense of payout reductions, combined with rigid splitting and doubling rules.
Hole-Card vs. No-Hole-Card Games
Blackjack variations can be classified according to whether the dealer takes a hole card. In hole-card games, the dealer draws two cards to their starting hand, one face-up and the other face-down. This enables the dealer to peek for a natural blackjack at their hole card when they have an ace or a ten-value card.
If the hole card indeed gives the dealer a natural blackjack, players will lose their bets immediately before they can make any decisions on how to play their dealt cards, unless they also have a natural blackjack. Hole-card blackjack variants are deemed more beneficial to the player.
Many casinos across Europe, Asia and Australia do not use hole cards for the dealers at their blackjack tables. Instead, the dealer receives only one exposed card and draws their second card at the end of the round after players have decided on their moves.
The absence of hole cards makes it possible for players to lose several wagers to a single dealer blackjack through splitting pairs and doubling down. Some casinos compensate for this detriment with rules such as OBO and OBBO.
The former is an abbreviation of Original Bets Only. In the event of a dealer natural blackjack, players lose only their original wagers. Additional wagers posted on double downs or splits are returned to the player. From a mathematical perspective, the OBO rule is the same as the peeking rule for dealer naturals. It removes around 0.10% from the house edge.
The OBBO abbreviation stands for Original and Busted Bets Only. This rule is enforced whenever the dealer draws a blackjack and the player has split a pair. The original wager instantly loses in this case and so does the split wager, but only if it has busted. Additional wagers made on doubling down are not lost. The OBBO rule adds only 0.03% to the house edge.
Shuffling Procedures
Shuffling procedures can influence the winning odds for players who count cards. Card counting is effective at manually shuffled tables as well as against automatic shufflers. However, some card rooms have switched to using Continuous Shuffling Machines. These devices are much dreaded by card counters.
Instead of the dealer placing the cards into the discard tray, the discards are fed back into the machine at the end of each round. The decks are continually reshuffled, rendering card counting completely ineffective. The shoe essentially never ends.
The use of continuous shufflers is also detrimental to players who follow basic strategy because it further worsens their odds. The dealer no longer has to pause for a reshuffle, which accelerates the speed of the game.
A basic-strategy player ends up going through a greater number of hands per hour. This ultimately causes them to lose more money in the long run, since basic strategy only reduces the casino’s advantage without offsetting it entirely.
Blackjack Pays 6 to 5
Certain casinos that host blackjack games pay for blackjacks at odds of 6 to 5 instead of offering the standard 3 to 2 payout. At first glance, this may not seem like a big deal, but it can be extremely detrimental to players in the long term. The 6-to-5 payout is predominantly offered at single-deck and double-deck tables.
The catch here is simple – players essentially get paid at poorer odds for the most valuable hand they can obtain in the game. A blackjack with a £10 bet yields a net profit of £12 rather than £15, as is the case in 3-to-2 games.
This reduction alone increases the casino advantage by an appalling 1.39%. The payouts for blackjacks are printed in large font on the layout; you should always check this before sitting down.
Variations in Doubling Rules
Some online and land-based gambling operators will allow players to double down on any first two cards they are dealt, regardless of their total value. This increases players’ odds of winning in some instances when the dealer starts with weak cards and is more likely to lose the round.
Operators are also aware of this, which is why some of them permit you to double down only on totals of 9 through 11 to boost their edge. A good blackjack table also enables patrons to double down after they split. Games where doubling after splitting is unavailable have a 0.14% higher house edge.
Variations in Splitting Rules
The number of times players are allowed to split may also differ, depending on where you play. Many online blackjack variants enable you to split pairs a maximum of three times. Exceptions are often made for pairs comprising aces, which normally cannot be resplit.
Few variations of blackjack offer patrons the RSA rule, which allows players to resplit aces. This decreases the house edge because the ace is the best card a blackjack player can start a hand with.
The previous statement also explains why RSA has become such a rarity in blackjack. By removing this rule, gambling operators are essentially attempting to restrict the situations in which players have an edge. Sure enough, the absence of RSA increases the house edge by 0.08%.
The Option to Surrender
Surrendering the first two cards you are dealt is altogether unavailable in some online and land-based blackjack variations. We advise you to refrain from playing games without surrender, since this move can minimise your losses in certain situations.
Casinos that offer this option typically support late surrender, in which case you can forfeit your hand after the dealer has peeked for a natural or has offered you insurance. The other version of this rule, early surrender, originally appeared in US casinos in the 1970s but quickly became obsolete.
With early surrender in place, patrons could fold bad hands and collect half their bets back before the dealer had checked for a natural or offered insurance. The rule was highly beneficial to patrons, even yielding a tiny edge over the house for basic-strategy players. This ultimately led to early surrender’s demise and its removal from blackjack tables.
Blackjack Games with Side Bets
Some blackjack variations have additional wagering options in the form of side bets, enabling more daring players to win greater payouts with nominal wagers. Side bets come in different shapes and forms, but one thing all of them have in common is that they boost the casinos’ long-term profits.
As a general rule of thumb, these extra wagers have a higher house edge, which is why players should not experiment with them too frequently. Another important point to remember is that the advantage the casino holds on side bets is closely related to the wagers’ paytable. The payouts do not necessarily coincide across all casinos and tables.
The most common side bet you can find in blackjack is Perfect Pairs, where the player wagers that the first two cards dealt to their hand will comprise a pair. The top payout is awarded for suited pairs.
Another side bet that enjoys popularity among more daring players is 21+3, which wins when the first card of the dealer and the player’s first two cards comprise a qualifying poker hand. The payout depends on the ranking of the poker hand.
Lucky Ladies is another favourite of blackjack side bettors. This wager is successful whenever the player’s starting hand comprises paired Queens or a total of 20. King’s Bounty is a similar wager, only the top payout of 1,000 to 1 is awarded for a pair of Kings of spades when the dealer has a natural.
The Lucky Lucky and Buster side bets have also been incorporated into some online blackjack variants. With Lucky Lucky, players can collect higher payouts for various suited or offsuit combinations that form totals of 19, 20 or 21. The Buster side wager pays whenever the dealer goes over 21 with a given number of cards. The more cards the dealer draws to the bust, the more money the Buster side bet pays.
Other Interesting Side Bets
The competition within the gambling industry is fierce. Hence, software companies are always looking for ways to add extra flavour to the gameplay. Aside from the aforementioned side bets, some blackjack variants offer other interesting optional bets. One of them is Super Sevens. It is based on the first three cards the player receives. If the first card is a 7, the side bet wins. The payout may reach up to 5,000 to 1, provided that your hand consists of two suited 7s and the dealer’s first card is a suited 7. This bet comes with a house edge of 11.4% if the game is played with six decks of cards.
Suit ‘Em Up is another blackjack side bet, allowing casino fans to bet on whether their first two cards will be suited. The payout depends on the suited cards. If you have a pair of suited aces, you will pocket a payout of up to 50 to 1. Provided that you have a suited blackjack, your payout will be 10 to 1. For suited pairs, the house pays 5 to 1, while suited eleven comes with a payout of 3 to 1. The lowest payout associated with this side bet is 2 to 1, and players need to have two suited cards regardless of their rank to win it.
Some blackjack variations offer the so-called 21 Madness side bet. The side bet wins if the total value of the first two cards you are dealt is 21. When playing blackjack, you might be offered the chance to place a streak bet. It is a side bet on how many times you will win in a row. If you split in the meantime, the bet takes into account the outcome of the resulting hands. If the outcome of the round is even or a push, then it does not count towards the side bet. You can bet on winning two to five rounds.
Over/Under 13 is a blackjack side bet allowing casino enthusiasts to bet on whether the total value of their first two cards is over or under 13. If your two-card hand totals exactly 13, the house wins. Red/Black is a side bet very similar to Over/Under 13; blackjack devotees bet on the colour of the dealer’s upcard. Both side bets feature a 1 to 1 payout.
Some blackjack variations feature another side bet called Bonanza Blackjack. Players bet that the total value of their first two cards will be 20 (including two 10-valued cards or a soft hand) and that the dealer’s upcard will be 10-valued. Provided that the cards of the player and the dealer are of the same rank and suit, you will boost your bankroll by up to 2,500 to 1. That is the maximum payout associated with this side bet. If the cards are of different rank and suit, the payout is 10 to 1. For cards of the same suit, the casino pays 20 to 1, while for cards of the same rank – 30 to 1.
How to Prepare Before Trying a New Variation
Many experienced gamblers familiarise themselves with the rules before taking any action, such as sitting at the table and betting, as this way they are able to find out in advance which versions work in their favour. Furthermore, many casinos set their own rules of the game to make it more appealing and enticing for players, but the chances that these also favour the casino are very high. This is why gamblers should not only carefully consider the rules of the blackjack variation they intend to play but also pay special attention to the casino itself. Understandably, the gaming house will always have a built-in advantage over the players; after all, this is the main reason why it offers the game in the first place.
Moreover, the number of decks was increased several times in the past in order to make the game more difficult, as the strategies and theories that had been developed were helping players and changing the game’s history. They also contributed to the creation of many different variations of blackjack because, when the fundamental principles behind the game were revealed, gaming experts were able to predict to some extent how the game would be influenced if something was changed. This is just another example of how knowledge plays a crucial role in the gaming world and beyond.
Most Played Variations
As blackjack is a casino table game that involves money, it is best to become familiar with some of its most played variations before sitting at a table and betting a significant amount. Famous versions of the game include Super Fun 21, Double Attack Blackjack, Spanish 21, Atlantic City Blackjack and many more. Each variation of the game is different in that it gives players either a higher or a lower chance of gaining an advantage over the casino and winning. This is because each version has its own rules and subtleties, which is why, if one strategy works well on one, it might not be as successful on another.
Blackjack Rules
Blackjack Variations
Blackjack House Edge
Blackjack Odds and Probabilities
Blackjack Soft & Hard Hands
Super Fun 21
Let’s have a look at some of the most played variations of blackjack and find out what makes them the first choice of many passionate players. Super Fun 21 is one of the most famous versions of the game, and it was invented by Howard Grossman, a blackjack expert and prominent gaming consultant in Las Vegas. The main difference from the classic game is that Super Fun 21 offers players a round of betting before the cards are dealt.
During this time, they have the chance to ‘hit’, ‘stand’, ‘double’ or ‘surrender’ on any two cards, which makes this version particularly interesting and exciting. Moreover, if players have a natural blackjack, they always beat the dealer’s hand, a rule that works in their favour and increases their chances of winning.
Double Attack Blackjack
Double Attack Blackjack, often abbreviated as Double Blackjack, greatly resembles another variation of the game – Spanish 21. The common similarity is that the four ten-valued cards are excluded from each deck, and this variation is also played with eight packs. The basic rules and objective of the game remain the same, as players still need to form a total as close as possible to 21 without surpassing that number.
The most significant aspect of this variation is that, as soon as the dealer receives their first two cards, players can double their initial bet. Another interesting option is that they can take advantage of surrender whenever they wish.
Triple 7’s Blackjack
Triple 7’s Blackjack is an exclusive variation of the game that is perfect for casino fans of slot machines. It is extremely popular at online casinos and is played worldwide because of its exciting nature.
The game gives players the chance to take part in huge bonus payouts and win progressive jackpots. To do so, they are required to place a small side bet. All side bets are added to the jackpot pools of the game, causing them to increase incrementally until somebody wins the top prize.
The payouts are determined according to the players’ card combinations and their hand’s total. This version also differs from the rest of the blackjack variations because it is usually played with five decks. The full jackpot hits when a player gets three consecutive 7s of diamonds, dealt on a single hand. Smaller prizes from the pool are awarded for other suited or offsuit combinations of 7s.
Vegas Strip Blackjack
Vegas Strip Blackjack is a very popular variation of the game that is commonly played in Las Vegas, but it can also be found in a number of online casinos. Even though the game’s rules are similar to those of classic blackjack, it has subtleties that should be taken into account.
Players need to bear in mind that some casinos impose particular changes to the rules, which is why they should always take their time to consider them prior to playing. Some of the specifications that may vary are the number of decks involved and whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17.
In general, Vegas Strip Blackjack is played with four decks and the dealer stands on soft seventeen. The cards are dealt according to US house rules. The dealer checks their hole cards when they start with a hand consisting of ten-value cards or aces. Players can double down on any first two cards dealt to their hand, regardless of their value, including after they split a pair. Splitting is restricted to a maximum of four hands. Resplitting and hitting split aces are also against the rules.
Chinese Blackjack
Another variation of the game that is worth mentioning is Chinese Blackjack. As the name indicates, this version comes from China and is particularly popular during Chinese New Year. In this variation, all players need to reach 16 or above, and the dealer has the option to examine a particular player’s hand and hit again before making any bets.
Some of the rules of this version differ from those of classic blackjack, which is why players should be extra cautious and make sure they are familiar with them beforehand. Whatever version players choose to try, it is essential to know the rules by heart, have a reliable strategy, choose a trustworthy casino and, of course, get lucky in order to win.