Variants of blackjack

There are many variations to standard casino blackjack. Some casinos offer games that are almost unrecognizable, and some variations are as slight and simple as changing the payout odds for blackjack. One common way in which casinos alter the game is by offering side bets. Side bets allow a player to bet on an aspect of his hand while betting independently on his actual hand. “Twenty-one plus three” is one such variation that many casinos offer. In this game players have the option of betting that the combination of their two cards and the dealer’s up card will create a winning three-card poker hand. Most houses pay nine to one on three of a kind or a straight flush. Another fairly common side bet offer is known as “royal match.” If a player’s first two cards are of the same suit, the side bet gets paid. If he has a suited king and queen the payout is greater, and if both player and dealer have suited king-queen combinations then there is a large jackpot payout. Side bets such as these are designed to draw beginners and less skilled players to tables where they might not normally feel comfortable. Even so, most side bets end up paying less than if one were to simply play decent straight blackjack.

Vegas Style

Casinos sometimes may also change basic rules to make it seem like there is an increased player edge at certain tables. For example, some houses offer “Vegas-style” or twenty-first century blackjack. In this variation a player can bust and not automatically lose. Different casinos have various options for players in this situation. Some houses also offer “double exposure” blackjack, a variation where both dealer cards are dealt face up. While these rule changes do increase the player advantage, casinos will typically maintain their edge by lowering payouts on blackjacks.

Switch blackjack

Some variations are more drastic, such as in “switch blackjack.” In this game a player is dealt two separate hands. They can then switch their cards from hand to hand, and must bet equally on both hands. If a player is dealt a jack and a seven in one hand and a ten and a four in the other, they could swap between hands to make a jack-ten hand and a seven-four hand. The player would then bet each hand equally and play against the dealer as in normal blackjack. Casinos typically only pay one to one on blackjacks in this variation as well.

Three-card blackjack

One of the newest blackjack variants is known as three-card blackjack, a game that was approved for play in some states in 2007. In three-card blackjack players must initially place an ante bet and are then dealt three cards. The dealer receives three cards as well, and each player then makes the best blackjack hand they possibly can with either two or three cards. If the player likes their hand they then place an additional bet that is equal to their ante. The dealer plays by the same rules, but must have an eighteen or over to qualify to play. If the dealer does not qualify, the house pays even odds on the bet and the ante pushes. If the dealer qualifies and subsequently loses the hand, the house pays even odds on both bets. Players can also bet on the probability of being dealt at least one ace. These bets are like other side bets in that while they are attractive, they are not smart bets.

Vignt et un

There are many other variations of blackjack around the world. “Vignt et un” (one ancestor of blackjack) and Spanish 21 are two such games. Betting rules in those games are different, and in Spanish 21 all tens are removed from the deck. The game called blackjack in England is similar to crazy eights, and their blackjack-like game is called pontoon. While these variations are sometimes very different, a skilled blackjack player would have an advantage in all of them.