It can be said that blackjack is the classic casino game. Its impact on popular culture has been far-reaching, and millions of people have come to recognize the special significance of the number “21”.
While countless people play the game in casinos across the country, many are not familiar with other variations of the game. Like many other familiar games, there are other versions that offer better odds to players.
In this article, I will explore some of the different versions of blackjack. Explain the specific rules and advantages that make them apart from the game that most people know and love.
Table of Contents
Classic Blackjack
Whether in a physical casino or an online casino, classic blackjack is still the most popular form of the game. Not only in the United States but also in most parts of the world. There’s no doubt that this version is a favorite among gamblers and for good reason. The house edge is low, the rules are relatively easy to grasp quickly.
As I mentioned, the house edge is low. That said, just because you see the very attractive 0.5% marginal figure doesn’t necessarily mean you fully understand it. The famous 0.5% is constantly being thrown around when looking at games with the lowest house edge, which assumes you are making all the right moves. The good news is that learning what the right moves are isn’t particularly difficult, but it does require a little practice.
If you’ve stumbled across this article without any blackjack experience and want to compare the rules between versions, here’s a brief explanation:
Players try to reach 21 or the closest to 21, but do not exceed 21. They receive two cards and have the option to “hit” (get another card) or “stand” (keep their current card only). If anyone, player or dealer gets a hand larger than 21, they will bust and lose the hand.
Finally, if you select Classic Blackjack as the standard version, you are giving yourself a good chance to win.
European Blackjack
European blackjack offers players slightly higher odds than the standard version.
First, European blackjack is usually played with two decks of cards. This means that these cards are more predictable than other versions of blackjack, which combine six or more cards into one game. Another component of European blackjack that makes it more advantageous to player is that the dealer stands on the soft 17.
One drawback is that the dealer does not check for blackjack after licensing. This means that you can continue betting while technically you don’t have a chance to win because the dealer already holds the winning hand. Some other qualities that make European blackjack different are: the dealer’s blackjack and the player’s blackjack result in a tie. Players can only double their bets when their cards show a 9, 10 or 11. In the end, blackjack pays 3:2.
When you do the math, the result shows a house edge of 0.39% in European Blackjack. In other words, it is about 20% lower than classic blackjack.
If you are an experienced blackjack player and want to try something new. We recommend you to check this version the next time you visit the casino.
Face Up 21
Face up 21 offers players a lot of power while eliminating some of the casino’s advantages.
In this version of the game, both of the dealer’s cards are dealt and face up. Being able to see two cards instead of one gives gamblers insight into how they should bet on their hands. Unfortunately, this is not always good news for gamblers in this game. For example, if the dealer hits on soft 17, the dealer’s blackjack beats the player’s blackjack, and the blackjack only pays out.
Similar to European Blackjack, in Face Up 21, players can only double their bets on 9, 10 and 11.
This version of the game has a house edge of 0.69%, making it by far the worst in the list. While the overall house edge may be lower, it may still be a better option than classic blackjack if you adjust your betting strategy based on the rule that requires the dealer to show two cards after dealing.
Perfect Pairs Blackjack
For those who consider betting strategy to be more important than playing strategy, Perfect Pairs Blackjack offers a unique opportunity to win big.
Perfect Pairs Blackjack has the same rules as classic blackjack, but the betting method is different. At the beginning of each hand, players can make an additional side bet. This side bet is a bet on whether or not the first two cards you are dealt are the same.
If your pair is any two cards of the same value (numbers or the same face card), you get paid at 5:1 payout. If two cards have the same value and color, but different suits, you get paid at 10:1. If two cards have the same rank and same suit, you win the jackpot. If you hit a “Perfect Pair”, you get paid at 30:1.
The reason I like Perfect Pairs Blackjack is that it is just regular blackjack with the chance to take a little risk on the side. Anyone familiar with classic blackjack doesn’t have to go through any learning curve because the rules here are very simple.
Spanish 21
In Spanish 21, all “10” cards are removed. You might think this would be a huge boost to the house edge, but the rules favor the player, so it ends up being more even. Spanish 21 is probably one of the most player-friendly games in the casino, even more so than classic blackjack.
Keep in mind that the rules vary from casino to casino, but most follow standard procedures.
In Spanish 21, the dealer stands on a soft 17, and unlike Face Up 21, player blackjack always beats dealer blackjack.
Now let’s move on to more complex rules that give players an advantage.
Resplitting is allowed, including aces, which gives gamblers a great opportunity to maximize their winnings. In addition, players can double any point total after dealing any number of cards. They can even double after a split.
The next area that makes Spain 21 so popular is the unique payout structure. Keep in mind that these vary from casino to casino, but I will list the most common ones.
- A five-card 21 pays out at 3:2.
- Six-card 21 pays 2:1
- A seven-card 21 pays out at 3:1.
- A 678 and 777 of mixed suit pays 3:2. If they’re the same suit it pays 2:1.
Depending on how you play, Spanish 21 has a casino edge of around 0.38%, which is the lowest on the list. On the downside, depending on some house rules, it could be around 0.78%, which would make it not as attractive as some of the other games on the list.
If you are a fan of online blackjack, you might want to try Spanish 21. Its unique payout structure always leads to interesting games, and the chance of winning provides an extra of excitement.
Conclusion
Blackjack may be the standard for casino games, but these variations of the game ensure that it never goes out of style. If you want to spice things up on your next visit to the casino, ask the staff for their version of blackjack.