Blackjack Game Variations

Double Exposure Blackjack (also called "face up blackjack")

This is arguably the simplest blackjack variation where all cards are played face up. This makes deciding the next move easier but has the simple restriction that players are not allowed to touch the cards.

Play online: Double Exposure Blackjack on Microgaming, Face Up 21 on RealTime Gaming

Spanish 21

Spanish 21 is played without 10's for a total deck count of 48, usually with 6 or 8 decks. Removing the 10's gives the advantage back to the casino so the general doubling, splitting and surrender rules are pretty generous with several additional bonuses. For example: a 5 card 21 pays 3 to 2, a 6 card 21 pays 2 to 1, a 7 or more card 21 pays 3 to 1. But be careful because these are automatically discounted if you've just doubled down.

In Australia, just as in Britain, this version of Blackjack offered is called "Pontoon", however the game itself does not resemble either the American Blackjack or British Pontoon. Australian Pontoon is actually Spanish 21. And now you know.

Play online: Spanish Blackjack on Microgaming

Blackjack Switch

One of the most popular online blackjack variants, Blackjack Switch, is derives from two separate hands that a player controls and the ability to "switch" the top cards of both hands. Each hand must have an equal bet and the trade off for being allowed the switch (which originated as an illegal card trick) is that if a dealer busts the result is a 'push' or tie. However, if one of the player's hands is a blackjack they still win. 6 and 8 deck games are the most common, except in Russia where a few slight variations are added and 4 or 6 decks are used.

Play online: Blackjack Switch on Playtech

Super Fun 21 Blackjack

Super Fun 21 is extremely advantageous to the player with a bunch of bonuses and liberal playing rules. The downside comes with the payout since a blackjack usually only results in even money.

Play online: Super Fun 21 Blackjack on Microgaming, Super 21 on RealTime Gaming, Super Fun 21 on CryptoLogic

Triple 7's Blackjack

Mostly found in online casinos triple 7's blackjack is rapidly gaining in popularity. In this variant there are different payouts for one, two, or three sevens. A progressive jackpot may also be featured usually for the illustrious goal of three diamond 7's. One progressive jackpot we found for this was at $100,000. Regular basic strategy is recommended for this game.

Play online: Triple 7s Blackjack on Microgaming

Bonus Blackjack

In bonus blackjack the player can make an additional bet as to what the first two cards will be and special two card combinations that have awesome payout ratios. Bonus blackjack is otherwise identical to American style blackjack with the dealer hitting on soft 17 and double down rules are quite liberal. The bonus part of bonus blackjack happens when the player places another bet on the "jackpot" part of the table and hopes to predict those first two cards. Aces and jacks have a bonus payout ratio of 25:1 while the best scenario is the ace of spaces and the jack of spades with a staggering payout of 50:1. The maximum bet is usually $25. Regular basic strategy based on the number of deck in play is recommended for this game.

Play online: Bonus Blackjack on Microgaming

European Blackjack (also called the "European no hole card rule")

In European blackjack the dealer takes only one card, face up before dealing to the player(s). This means that the dealer does not "peak" or check for a blackjack and if the dealer then gets a blackjack the players lose all bets including any side bets from splitting or doubling down.

While this is de facto variation, in certain casinos a player does not necessarily lose all bets if the dealer has a blackjack. But like all casino games it's best to ask first. There are a few smaller differences too: mostly that players only double on 9 - 11, no surrender is offered and insurance is not resolved until the end of the hand. In the UK there are more rules that don't allow players to split 4's, 5's or 10's.

Play online: European Blackjack on Microgaming

Double Attack Blackjack

Double Attack Blackjack, like Spanish 21, has 10's in each deck removed and is played using 6 or 8 decks. For this reason Double attack blackjack is said to be played with a "Spanish shoe." Other than that all the rules are pretty standard American casino rules.

The real excitement starts with a side bet that the player can make that the dealer will go bust in precisely three cards. The payout ratios are according to the third card: a 10 card pays 3:1, 9 card 6:1, 8 card 8:1, 7 card 10:1, 6 card 15:1. The real payout however happens if the dealer's third card is an 8 and there is another 8 of the same color or suite. An eight of the same color pays 50:1 while an 8 of the same suite pays a staggering 200:1. Before you abandon traditional blackjack entirely keep in mind that regular blackjack in Double Attack Blackjack only pays even money.

Pontoon

British and Australian players are huge fans of a blackjack variation called pontoon. But like many cross cultural phenomenons, they mean something completely different based on where you are.

The Australian version of pontoon is what Americans call Spanish 21 and is covered under that subject title above. With continental origins and a historically long following, some make the conjecture that Pontoon is an earlier version of American blackjack.

Besides substituting the word "blackjack" with the word "pontoon" to mean a winning hand with a value of 21 (an ace and any 10-point card, splitting OK), there are several small rule changes. Both of the dealer’s cards are played face down. And in the event of a push or tie, the dealer wins.

If you are brave enough to keep reading there's more: any five card hand that doesn't bust pays 2:1 and is lovingly referred to as a five card trick. Players can only stand on a 15 or greater or a five card hand. Players can re-split once, including aces for a total of three hands. Interestingly enough, the more decks are played, the better the chance for drawing a five card trick.

Play online: Pontoon on Microgaming, Pontoon on Playtech, Pontoon on RealTime Gaming, Pontoon on CryptoLogic

Elimination Blackjack Tournament

In blackjack tournaments (especially the wildly popular elimination style) the goal is no longer to beat the dealer but to continue to the next round without being eliminated by losing all of your chips or having the lowest chip count at the end of hands 8, 16 and 25.

Elimination blackjack initially rose to popularity through a televised special the "Ultimate Blackjack Tour." In 30 hands played per round the players have 25 seconds to make a decision...unless it's an elimination hand, in which case that time is upped to a mere 45 seconds. Bet minimums are $500 and the maximum amount in chips that players can enter the round with is $25,000. The final round escalates the pressure even further starting off with $100,000 in chips.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of elimination blackjack is the secret bet that can be placed at any time during the round. Even better, this is done without the amount wagered being visible to other players. Since the majority of decisions in tournaments are based off what other players have done this can be a make-it or break-it move.

Played with a 6 shoe deck and shuffled after every hand the intensity and unique social dynamics of the game captivated audiences. High stakes elimination tournaments became available next to established high stakes poker tournaments. Soon after, online developers went to work creating online elimination tournament software that would allow average bankroll players to get in on this exciting game. While still in its infancy, online versions are growing with their fan base.

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