Online Black Jack Variations

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games in the world, if not the most popular, and for good reason: it's fun, it's fast, and it's a perfect mix of skill and luck. And it allows for all sorts of personal playing styles. I, for one, am one of those who loves to challenge the dealer and feel all warm and fuzzy inside as I collude with my fellow players against the house.

And while there are a good number of ways to go after 21, I've come to realize that many folks are unaware of an equally important piece of knowledge - that there are actually numerous versions of the basic Blackjack game that can be played. To address this gap in many a player's knowledge, I've selected a handful of my favorite blackjack variations to highlight here.

Spanish Blackjack

Blackjack, known as both Blackjack and Spanish 21, is one of the more popular Blackjack spin-offs. Surprisingly, it has nothing to do with Spain or the Spanish language. In history, it was first seen in Nevada, USA, around 1995. In this version, unlike the standard game, all 10 cards are removed from the deck. The dealer's method of play is typically the same as that of classic Blackjack, with the exception that the players seated for a game will only have the 7, 8, and 9 as options to play. This is a cautious and challenging variation.

Players have about a 2 percent disadvantage against the dealer when the 10 cards are removed, but many other rules work to close that gap significantly. For example, a five-card 21 pays 3-to-2, a six-card 21 pays 2-to-1, and a 21 with seven or more cards pays 3-to-1. Blackjacks of 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 pay 3-to-2, and suited 21 hands pay 2-to-1, with the exception of spades, which pay 3-to-1. Because of these unique payouts, smaller cards are worth more in Spanish Blackjack than in standard Blackjack, and these payouts keep the game dynamic and interesting.

Rules can vary some between different Spanish Blackjack games, but the house edge for Spanish 21 is usually around 3 percent.

Hi-Lo-13 Blackjack

Hi-Lo-13 is essentially the same game as standard European Blackjack, but with an added twist. Players are still trying to beat the dealer by hitting, staying or folding, but first they make a bonus bet. This can be a bit confusing, so read carefully. On the table, players can place their chips in one of three circles: Lo, 13, or Hi. Players bet the sum of their first two cards, with 13 being the standard over/under. If you bet Lo, you're betting that the total will be less than 13; if you bet Hi, you're betting that the total will be greater than 13. You can also bet for exactly 13 as your total. Lo and Hi bets pay 1-to-1, while a 13 bet pays 10-to-1.

It is important to note that in Hi-Lo-13 bets, aces always have a value of one. Therefore, if you were dealt A-10, you would still receive a 3-to-2 payout. However, for the actual Hi-Lo-13 bet, the total is 11, meaning that this hand would only win a low bet.

Hi-Lo-13 raises the house edge a bit over regular Blackjack, but otherwise the game is just like regular Blackjack. If you know how to play, you can find Hi-Lo 13 games at some of our top recommended online casinos, such as Lucky247 and Royal Vegas.

Pontoon

Pontoon is an offshoot of Spanish online blackjack that makes things even more uncertain. For one thing, the dealer does not show a hole card. This means that all players can only guess how good or bad the dealer's hand is. If a player splits with an Ace, the Ace must be counted as a 1 for purposes of that hand, and players who split Aces cannot draw after splitting. They must stand on their Aces. Unlike most other variations of blackjack, Aces only count as 1 in Pontoon when played after a split.

Pontoon also offers what is known as a Super Bonus. This occurs when players manage to draw a suited 7-7-7 and the dealer shows a 7. The Super Bonus pays $1,000 if players have bet between $5 and $24 and pays $5,000 if players have bet over $25. The odds of winning this bonus in a six-card game are 1 in 668,382.

For the most part, the reason the dealer doesn't show any hole cards - and therefore can't get a blackjack and end the game right there - is because Pontoon exists in virtual online casinos. Furthermore, with the exception of Betway Casino, I do not know of any online casino where players can find this very popular variant of Blackjack. I haven't even come across it in any online virtual clubs while researching this blog.

Double Exposure

It's a little unusual to come across Double Exposure in the online community, but you can find it at casinos like Lucky247. The game itself is very similar to standard Blackjack, with one major difference: instead of dealing one hole card, the dealer has two face-up cards, which means that everyone at the table knows what the dealer has from the start. The house compensates for this increased transparency with two rules that reduce the player's expected value: Blackjacks pay 1:1 instead of the usual 3:2, and ties result in the player losing.

 

 

Other Variations

Blackjack Surrender

Some blackjack games give players the option to fold. You won't use this option often if you're following optimal blackjack strategy, but it can help. If the table you're at has a dealer standing on a soft 17, you want to surrender a 16 against a 9, 10, or Ace, and a 15 against a 10. If the dealer hits on a soft 17, surrender 15 against a 10 or ace; 16 against a 9, 10 or ace; 17 against an ace; and 8-8 against an ace.

Blackjack Switch

In Switch, players are dealt two hands instead of one, and can "switch" the top card of their hand if they wish. This illusion of control leads to a greater chance of making blackjacks-but only, as I pointed out earlier, because we play with a lot of rules that modern players somehow don't mind. The last time I looked, those rules still added up to an overall player disadvantage.

Progressive Blackjack

This is the massive jackpot game for those who are after the millions! Like standard Blackjack, Progressive Blackjack has players trying to beat the dealer with a better hand. The difference is the optional side bet that players can make for a shot at an accumulating progressive jackpot. Instead of winning in the normal way - by beating the dealer's hand or going bust - the player wins a huge jackpot by drawing all Aces in a single hand.