The Different Types of Blackjack
What is blackjack?
Blackjack is a well-known card game in the world of online and land-based casinos. The aim of the game is very simple: to have a superior hand to that of the dealer. However, there are a few rules to observe.
You must not exceed the sum of 21, otherwise you will immediately lose your hand, regardless of the dealer's hand. For his part, the dealer must draw until he has a sum of cards equivalent to 17 or more.
As for the players, once the dealer's cards exceed 21, the game is lost, and the players at the table win, regardless of the sum of their cards.
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Keep in mind that there are many other rules to observe in classic blackjack. To discover them in detail, our experts have written an article on the subject, which you can find by clicking here.
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The blackjack lexicon
Although blackjack is a relatively simple game to understand, it does have its own vocabulary. And sometimes, certain words or expressions can be difficult to understand. In this section, our team of experts will take you through some of the most common expressions used during a blackjack session.
Insurance
In blackjack, insurance is offered to players when the dealer has an Ace card face-up. It allows players to protect part of their initial bet, by paying half the initial bet.
If you take it and the dealer has blackjack, then half your bet is returned to you.
On the other hand, if the dealer has no blackjack, then you lose your insurance bet, and the game continues as normal. It's often advisable to take out insurance only if you have blackjack in your hand.
Surrender
This is a feature that is very common in land-based establishments, but rarely found in online casinos. When the surrender option is available, you have the option of simply folding, as in poker, and thus giving up your hand. In exchange, you'll get back half the amount of your original bet once you've seen the dealer's first card. Dropping is particularly advisable when the dealer has a high card, such as a 10 or an Ace.
There are early and late quits. Early surrender allows you to surrender before the dealer has even checked for blackjack. This option is quite rare but is nevertheless permitted in some casinos.
The second allows the dealer to first check whether he has blackjack. If he doesn't, then you can give up, but if he has a blackjack in his hand, you will immediately lose the game.
Bankroll
The bankroll is the term used to describe the amount of money you have at your disposal to play, whether in blackjack or any other game.
We advise you to pay close attention to your bankroll, and only play bets that are proportional to its value. Blackjack can be a particularly frustrating game, and it's not uncommon to lose one game after another, and to see your balance melt away like snow in the sun.
The different types of blackjack
Like roulette, blackjack also has its variants. Our experts have decided to list them for you and explain the differences between them.
Blackjack
Blackjack is referring to the classic variation of the casino game. The dealer and the player must come as close as possible to 21. The person with the highest sum wins the game. However, the dealer must draw cards until the sum reaches at least 17. The player does not have to reach 17.
Side bets have specific values that differ from other types of blackjack.
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Infinite Blackjack
Unlike classic blackjack, where you can't exceed a certain number of people on the same table, Infinite Blackjack has no limits. The dealer deals cards, and each player decides whether to draw, stand or double down.
The other players' choices can have a major influence on your game. In fact, the dealer only reveals his second card when all the players have decided to either "stand" or "bust".
Unlike blackjack, side bets and payouts are completely different in Infinite Blackjack.
Hot 3: Pays if the total of your first two cards and the dealer's face-up card is between 19 and 21.
Any pair: Pays if your two cards form a pair.
21 +3: You land a win only if your two cards, plus the dealer's card, form a flush, straight or three-of-a-kind.
Jump: If the dealer busts, i.e. goes over 21, then you win your hand plus the bet you placed on "jump".
“Charlie's Rule" is a well-known rule in the world of blackjack. It only applies to Infinite Blackjack.
The rule is simple to understand: if, during a round of play, you manage to obtain a value that is under 21 with a total of 6 cards, then you win the game outright, no matter how much money the dealer has.
If, for example, you reach 19 with 6 cards and the dealer has 20 or even 21, you still win your hand.
Power Blackjack
Power Blackjack is a game released in 2020 by Evolution. Like all blackjack games, the aim is to have a superior hand than that of the dealer’s in order to win the game. However, there are a few rules that differ from the common game.
The main differences between Power Blackjack and a normal blackjack game are as follows:
You'll be able to double, triple, or even quadruple your bet after receiving your two cards, and even after a split.
Unlike a normal game, where all cards are available, in Power Blackjack, the numbers 9 and 10 are removed.
Like Infinite Blackjack, the Power Blackjack table is open to an unlimited number of players.
The side bets are also different from those in normal blackjack. However, they are the same as those found in Infinite Blackjack, namely:
Hot 3: Pays if the total of your first two cards and the dealer's face-up card is between 19 and 21.
Any pair: Pays if your two cards form a pair.
21 +3: You win money if your two cards plus the dealer's card form a flush, straight, or three-of-a-kind.
Jump: If the dealer busts, i.e. goes over 21, then you win your hand plus the bet you placed on "jump".
Finally, the RTP of Power Blackjack ranges from 98.8% to 94.71%.
Speed Blackjack
Speed Blackjack is exclusive to Evolution. Unlike other varieties of blackjack, which our experts have talked about in this article, Speed Blackjack retains all the rules of traditional blackjack. Side-bet, number of cards, no rule is modified or changed. The only difference is this:
The fastest person to click "draw" or "double" or "split" will receive a card, regardless of where that person is on the table.
In basic card game rules, the dealer deals cards from left to right (when you're in the dealer's seat). The dealer passes to the next person only when the player on the far left has decided to finish his hand.
In Speed Blackjack, on the other hand, the dealer doesn't have to worry about this. As soon as a player wants a card, he obtains it if he's the fastest.
Much like in classic blackjack, the player only has a few seconds to decide his fate. Then the game continues.
The small difference is that once a game ends, the player only has a few seconds to bet, unlike in normal blackjack, where he or she has a little more time. Depending on how you play, the RTP of Speed Blackjack varies between 99.2% and 95.9%.
Free Bet Blackjack
Free Bet Blackjack is another Evolution creation. As its name suggests, doubling or splitting a card is "free". This means that the casino "lends" you the money to double your hand.
However, there are a few conditions to be met.
You'll be able to double your cards for free if, when you draw, your hand value is between 9, 10, and 11. If the value of your hand is above or below the above-mentioned range, you can double, but the money will be taken from your balance.
Free splitting is also available. So, if you get a pair, it can be "split" for free. Only pairs of 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings cannot be split.
When you opt for a split or a double, the rules change. Usually, as soon as a dealer goes over 21, you automatically win the game. With the casino's options, you'll only win if the dealer's hand is lower than yours and doesn't go over 21.
If, on his draw, the dealer exceeds 21, your bet will be refunded. This condition only applies to people who decide to "double" or "split" for free. For all other players, these are the normal blackjack rules.
As far as side bets are concerned, there's has been no change between the side bets of Infinite Blackjack, Power Blackjack and Free Bet Blackjack. Like Infinite Blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack also features Charlie's Rule.
The RTP of this blackjack variant is one of the lowest. It ranges from 94.12% to 98.45%, depending on how you play. You can test it out at Playfina Casino, a gaming platform of exceptional quality.
Geographical variations
Blackjack is a table game that has been around for so long, subject to a large number of variations. So, depending on where in the world you play, the rules may or may not change significantly. To help you avoid confusion at the table, our experts present some of the best-known variations.
The European variant
While the American variant is the most widespread, it is closely followed by the European variant:
Players face off against the bank, embodied by the croupier.
The objective is to have a sum of cards close to or equal to 21
The croupier draws until a minimum of 17 is reached.
The first differences emerge when we look more closely at the details of the rules of this variation. The main one is that the dealer is not dealt a second card until all players who are present have made up their minds.
In European blackjack, we discover that six decks of cards are generally used. Next, we learn that it's not possible to split again after splitting the first time.
It is, however, possible to double after a split. Doubling is only possible if the sum of the cards equals 9, 10, or 11. Surrender is not possible on this variation.
The Vegas variant
Vegas Strip Blackjack is one of the most popular blackjack variants. It takes its name from the famous four-mile stretch of Vegas Strip, home to numerous hotels and casinos.
This variant is almost identical to American blackjack. Once again, the main objective and most of the rules remain the same. The only difference is that the dealer can only peek at an Ace, whereas in American blackjack, the dealer can peek if his first card is a Head, Ace, or 10.
What's more, this variant uses only four decks of cards. As in European blackjack, you can't give up, but you can double down at will, and re-split after an initial split.
The Atlantic City variant
This variant is probably the closest to the very popular American version. It has the same number of decks (8) and the same rules.
The differences are more in the details. In this version, for example, we learn that it's possible to double on any combination of cards, but also on a split. With regard to this feature, it is possible to “split” a total of three times, with the exception of a pair of Aces.
The dealer is dealt his two cards from the start and can look at his face-down card if the first is a 10 or an Ace.
Multi-hand blackjack
In order to increase your winnings, or at least limit them, it can be interesting to play several hands of blackjack. Ideally, three hands will maximize your chances of winning. As with the variants we've presented above, others may be ideal for playing several hands.
Progressive blackjack
At first glance, progressive blackjack resembles classic blackjack in every way. Same number of decks, same features as the American variant, same goal: to get as close to 21 as possible.
The main difference between the two versions is the option that allows players to place a side bet, which can yield a jackpot that is often very attractive. The good thing is that you don't have to bet more than usual to qualify.
Depending on the game, there may be several progressive jackpots. Each of these corresponds to different hands that players can obtain in their game.
It can be very interesting to play several hands on this kind of blackjack, for the simple reason that it gives you a better chance of hitting the jackpot.
Blackjack Double Exposure
In the vast majority of blackjack games, the dealer's second card is either placed face down or dealt after all players have spoken.
In Double Exposure Blackjack, on the other hand, you are able to see the dealer's two cards directly.
Put like that, it sounds like you've got a big advantage over the bank. At least, it would if the rest of the game followed the classic rules of the famous table game.
But of course, that's not the case.
It starts with the winnings. In other blackjack games, a blackjack pays 3 to 2, whereas in Double Exposure, it pays 1 to 1. There's no insurance option either, so the winnings are all equal.
It doesn't matter how or with which hand you win. Secondly, pushes don't exist here. The dealer wins on every push, unless you both have blackjack.
Knowing this, it may be more interesting to play several hands, in order to optimize the chances of landing some big wins.
Blackjack Switch
Blackjack Switch is one of the most original variations we've seen. This version is played with four, six, or eight decks of cards. Here, the player must play two hands at a time. After the cards have been dealt, the dealer asks each player if they wish to "switch" their cards.
For example, if a player receives 10-5 and 6-10, he can swap his two cards to obtain 10-10 and 6-5, which is much more interesting for him. Once you've made your decision, the game resumes in the classic way.
Of course, the rules differ from classic blackjack, so that the casino retains a minimum advantage over the players. For example, blackjack pays 1:1 instead of 3:2. What's more, the dealer shoots even with a 17, and pushes on a 22 against any combination except blackjack. Finally, if you swap cards to get a blackjack, it counts as a single 21.
Super Fun 21
Super Fun 21 is a variation that can be played with one, two, or six decks of cards. Once again, the game seems very similar to classic blackjack, with the main differences being found in the rules.
Here are the rules that differentiate Super Fun 21 from classic blackjack:
Charlie's rule is present.
You're paid 2-to-1 when you obtain a cumulative value of 21 with five cards (except when you double).
You can always double, even after just drawing.
Surrender is always available, even after doubling down.
A blackjack always wins, even if the dealer has one.
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