 |  | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 |
Blackjack Games
Standard Blackjack
Even a fairly straight forward game like Blackjack has its share of variations. The first and most obvious variation is in the number of decks used. Blackjack can be played with a single deck of cards, or with as many as 8 decks - and perhaps even more in some places.
In some cases automatic continuous card shufflers are now in use.
A second common variation in Standard Blackjack is in regards to the dealer. Dealers must stop hitting their hand when they have reached a hard 17 points.
In other words those 17 points either do not include an ace or if an ace is there, that it is counted as only one point and not eleven. However, in some casinos a dealer stops hitting on a soft 17 - a seventeen count where an ace counts as eleven points, and in some casinos the dealers are instructed to hit a soft 17.
Some casinos will hit soft 17's but some Las Vegas dealers will not hit soft 17's. However this can vary and most dealers mostly hit soft 17 hands. In this online guide to Blackjack we'll take a closer look at some of the other variations of the game.
Spanish 21
Spanish 21 is a variation of Blackjack that is really a somewhat sizeable difference. In this game, the 10 cards are removed from the deck - but not the Jacks, Queens or Kings. Also there are a number of favorable rules given to the players - including being able to hit, double down, or surrender at any time - not just after the first two cards. In addition to this there are special payouts for certain combinations of 21 points - including both the 6-7-8 card combination and the 7-7-7 combination. Extra money is paid for those 21 counts - and even more if the card combination is the same suit. Even more extra money is received if that same suit is spades.
A very special payout is made if a player has a same suit 7-7-7 combination and the dealer's up card is also a 7.
The payout in that case can be $1000 or $5000 to the player depending on how much the player has bet. The other players at the table also do receive a minor bonus when that happens.
Spanish 21 is often played with 6 or 8 decks. Tables where it is played are often clearly marked to denote the difference in rules.
Super Fun 21 Single Deck (and double diamond Blackjack)
The rules of this one may differ. However, the casino where I saw it played allowed many of the same Spanish 21 rules - of doubling down, surrendering or hitting any time. It was also single deck play. The Blackjack payout in this case, however, is not the normal 1.5 to one payout always. In this case it follows "double diamond Blackjack" pay. This Blackjack pay will pay 2 to 1 to the player if the Blackjack that the player has is made up of two diamond cards. That payout of course is larger than the normal Blackjack pay out. For any other card combination on a Blackjack the payout is 1 to 1. And that payout of course is lower than the normal Blackjack payout.
6:5 Blackjack Single Deck
This game is as stated, single deck Blackjack. And single deck Blackjack is known to be more favorable to the player than multiple deck Blackjack. The 6:5 numbers, however, point to the fact that Blackjacks at this table will only pay 1.2 to 1 instead of the normal 1.5 to one. Otherwise the game is the same as normal Blackjack.
Double Exposure
Another variation of Blackjack we'll examine in this online games guide is called Double Exposure. It is somewhat hard to find online. It's called Double Exposure because the two initial cards dealt to the dealer are presented face up. Currently it is only found at a few selected casinos using Microgaming VIPER software.
Game rules are as follows
Eight 52 card decks are used
Dealers hand dealt face up
Dealer hits a soft 17
Player may double on any 9, 10 and 11
Player may double after a split
Re-split up to two times
Winning player blackjacks pay even money
No Surrender
Even with the rules moved further in the dealer favor this is one of the most exciting forms of blackjack available online.
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| 
 | Amber Coast Casino
VS.
River Belle Casino
| | Amber Coast Casino | River Belle Casino |
Rank:
9 |
Rank:
9 |
Bonus:
$888 |
Bonus:
$110 |
Jackpots:
Yes
|
Jackpots:
Yes
|
Payout:
97.5%
|
Payout:
96.7%
|
Games:
65 |
Games:
200 |
VIP Support:
No
|
VIP Support:
Yes
|
Multi
player:
No
|
Multi
player:
Yes
|
Full-Screen:
No
|
Full-Screen:
Yes
|
Flash:
No
|
Flash:
Yes
|
Java:
No
|
Java:
No
|
Download:
Yes
|
Download:
Yes
|
Sound:
Yes
|
Sound:
Yes
|
CD:
No
|
CD:
Yes
| Software:
Playtech | Software:
Microgaming |
Live Help:
Yes
|
Live Help:
Yes
|
Phone:
Yes
|
Phone:
Yes
|
|
| Payout Percentages | |
Casino: |
Payout: | | Amber Coast Casino | 97.5%
| | River Belle Casino | 96.7%
| | Joyland Casino | 98%
| | Swiss Casino | 96.5%
|
|
| Free Bonuses | |
Casino: |
Bonus: | | Amber Coast Casino |
$888 | | River Belle Casino |
$110 | | Joyland Casino |
$850 | | Swiss Casino |
$400 |
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