Blackjack is an exciting card game that is played against the dealer. It is enjoyed by all types of players, both amateur and professional. With the advent of online casinos, the number of variations of the game that are available to the average player has increased dramatically. Now, blackjack fans can choose from a wide range of blackjack games while playing at a single casino.
Variations of Blackjack
There are many different variations of the game and with each variation are slight differences in the rules of the game. It is important to understand the rules of the game you choose to play before you begin.
- 21 Duel blackjack includes community cards, as well as a side bet on the outcome of the first 3 cards placed on the table
- Blackjack surrender offers the ability to surrender your hand before you begin play, for the cost of half your bet
- Blackjack switch played with two hands, the player is offered the opportunity to switch the top cards of the two hands before play begins
- Lucky blackjack instead of playing their own hand, players bet on the outcome of the dealers blackjack hand
- Pontoon the British version of the game deals both the dealers cards face down and has a different payout schedule for a 5-card trick
- Progressive blackjack includes a side bet that pays out according to the Aces you hold in your hand
Basic Blackjack Rules
The basic blackjack rules remain the same for all variations of blackjack. The aim of the game is to achieve a hand total of closer to 21 than the dealer without going bust. The value of each card in your hand is added together to give you your total hand value. Cards 2 through 10 have their face value. Face cards are valued as 10 and Aces are valued as 1 or 11 depending on the value of your total hand. For each hand, players must play by choosing from the available actions hit (receive one more card), stand (receive no more cards and end the turn), double down (double your bet and receive one more card to end your turn), split (split two identical cards into two separate hands), take out insurance or when available, surrender. Players continue their turn until they go bust or they stand. Once all players have had their turn, the dealer will play his turn according to the specified house rules of the casino you are playing at. The players hands will then be compared to the dealers hand and winners will be paid out.
Make sure to learn the specific rules for the variation you are playing as you will find variations in the number of decks used, the dealers house rules, if the dealer shows an up-card and more. This may affect how you play the game.
