It's almost mind-boggling to think of how many variations of this classic casino game have evolved online in recent years. The original game has been played in casinos and living rooms for so long, but the general rules remained the same. Now you have casinos offering thrilling twists to this classic game. Find out what the difference is between Atlantic City Blackjack and Vegas Strip Blackjack Gold, or Triple Sevens Progressive Blackjack and Pontoon Blackjack. There are so many that it can be difficult to keep up, but never fear because our guide gives you the skinny on all the game variations, tips and strategies, and the online casinos where you can play them.
Classic Blackjack: This is a very simple game to learn to play and can easily go on for hours. The object of the game is to get the closest to 21 without going over, and unless the dealer has Blackjack or other 21 then you win. It's you against the dealer, no matter if there are other players at the table, every player plays to win against the dealer. Everyone gets two cards, up down and one card up in turn. You then make your bet according to how strong you believe your hand to be. In turn, the dealer will ask each player if they want to 'Hit' to increase their hand value, you also have the option to 'Fold' or 'Stay' with the hand that you were dealt. The dealers goes around the table in this fashion, playing out his own hand last. Once the dealer has made his hand, he turns it 'Up' and pays any winners, or collects the house's winnings. A tie between the dealer and a player is called a 'Push' and the favor is for the dealer, he wins.
The card values are face value for 2's through 10, Jacks, Queens and Kings count as 10 and the Ace counts as either a 1 or an 11. A natural Blackjack is an Ace and a Face Card or a 10. Any time two or more cards equal 21 it is still a win if it's the best hand between the player and the dealer, but it's not a Blackjack. An Ace can be used to your advantage in many instances. If you're dealt and Ace and a Nine, you have a 'Soft 20' as opposed to being dealt two 10's being a 'Hard 20'. It's called 'Soft' because you can choose to have another card dealt to you which may cause you to go over if you were holding a 'Hard 20', but since the Ace can be used as a 1 or an 11, you are still in good standing with a hand value of 10, and should choose to take a 'Hit' meaning have another card dealt to you. As long as you don't go over 21 you are still in the game. If you go over 21 then you 'Bust' and the game ends for you until all players at the table have finished, the dealers has finished and a winner is announced.
Blackjack can be played with as few as one deck or as many as 8 decks of cards at a time. In most online casinos you'll see variations so check with the casino to see what their rules are.
Blackjack has been around for a long time and in that time have arisen some very exciting variations on the game. Below you'll find several games that have been introduced to the online player and some of the ways each game differs from Classic Blackjack.
Atlantic City Blackjack
- American Hole Card Game
- Dealer Peeks on 10 value Cards and Aces
- Played with 8 Decks of Cards.
- Dealer must stand on any 17
- Double down on any two cards
- Double Down after Split
- Split 3 times to make 4 hands
- Aces can only be split once
- Only one card to split Aces
- Split Ace and 10 count as 21 and not BJ
- Unlike 10 value cards can be split
- Late Surrender is allowed
Bonus Blackjack
- American Hole Card Game
- Dealer Peeks on 10 value Cards and Aces
- Played with 8 Regular Decks of Cards.
- Dealer must stand on any 17
- Double down on any two cards
- Double Down after Split
- Split 3 times to make 4 hands
- Aces can only be split once
- Only one card to split Aces
- Split Ace and 10 count as 21 and not BJ
- Unlike 10 value cards can be split
- Late Surrender is allowed
Double Exposure Blackjack
- Dealers Cards are dealt Face Up
- Played with 8 regular decks
- Dealer must hit on soft 17
- Dealer wins all ties except for tied BJ
- Player BJ pays even money
- Double down on 9, 10 and 11
- Double down after split
- Split 3 times to make 4 hands
- Aces can be re-split
- Only one card to split Aces
- A split Ace and a 10 is 21 and not BJ
- Unlike 10 value cards can be split
Super Fun 21 Blackjack
- This is an American Hole card game.
- Played with one regular card deck.
- Dealer must hit on soft 17.
- Dealer peeks on 10 value cards and aces.
- You can re-split up to three times to make four hands.
- You can double down on any number of cards, even after splitting pairs.
- You can surrender half the bet, even after hitting, splitting or doubling down.
- Double down rescue.
- Double down after split.
- You can draw and double down to split aces.
- Aces can be re-split.
- Unlike 10 value cards can be split.
- Your Blackjack beats dealer blackjack.
- Blackjack in diamonds pays 2-1.
- Blackjack in other suits pays even money.
- Six or more cards totaling 20 or less, except after doubling down, always wins.
- Five or more cards which have a value of 21, except after doubling down, instantly pays 2-1.
European Blackjack
- Played with two standard decks of 52 playing cards.
- Blackjack always beats any other hand with a value of 21.
- All face cards - Jacks, Kings and Queens, have a value of 10.
- Aces can have a value of either 1 or 11.
- You may draw up to nine additional cards to make a hand of eleven cards.
- The Dealer stands on all hands with the value of 17.
- If the Dealer's hand exceeds 21, it is bust, and you automatically win.
- If you get Blackjack you are paid out at odds of 3 to 2.
- When your hand and the Dealer's hand tie, it is called a Push.
- If both the Dealer and your hand have Blackjack, also Push.
- If the Dealer gets Blackjack your entire bet: original and doubles are lost.
- You can insure your hand if the dealers starting card is an ace.
Spanish Blackjack
- Spanish 21 is an American Hole Card Game
- Dealer peeks on 10 and Ace Cards
- Played with 8 Spanish decks of cards.
- Dealer must hit on soft 17
- Player BJ Beats Dealer BJ
- Player 21 Beats Dealer 21
- Late Surrender
- Double down on any number of cards
- Re-Double down once
- Surrender after doubling down
- Double down after split
- Split 3 times to make 4 hands
- Aces can be re-split
- Draw and double down to split Aces
- Unlike 10 value cards can be split
- 5 card 21 pays 3:2
- 6 card 21 pays 2:1
7 or more card 21 pays 3:1
- 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 mixed suit pays 3:2
- 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of same suit pays 2:1
- 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of spades pays 3:1
- Suited 7-7-7 when dealer has 7 face up pays 50:1
Vegas Downtown Blackjack
- This is an American Hole Card Game
- Dealer peeks on 10 value cards and aces
- Played with 2 regular card deck
- Dealer must hit soft 17
- Double Down one any two cards
- Double down after split
- Split 3 times to make 4 hands
- Aces can only be split once
- Only one card to split aces
- Unlike 10 value cards can be split
- A split ace and a 10 counts as 21 and not Blackjack
Vegas Strip Blackjack
- Vegas Strip is an American Hole Card Game
- Dealer peeks on 10 and Ace Cards
- Played with 4 regular decks
- Dealer must stand on all 17
- Double down on any two cards
- Double down after split
- Split 3 times to make 4 hands
- Aces can only be split once
- Only one card to split Aces
- A Split Ace and a 10 is 21 and not BJ
- Unlike 10 value cards can be split |
