Blackjack is a very popular casino game, thanks to its straightforward rules. However, there are different blackjack variations, varying from one casino to another. Moreover, certain aspects of the rules usually vary on different gaming platforms. For example, one deck may have four decks while another uses eight.
These different variations determine what players can do in different situations. In the current online casino era, you can also enjoy live dealer blackjack for a more immersive experience. Keep reading to discover the five most popular blackjack variations.
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Common Rule Variations
The rules mentioned below are the ones that vary at different casinos:
1. Number of Decks
Most blackjack variants have multiple decks. However, the exact number of decks varies from two to eight. You can also find single-deck blackjack in some places, but casinos don’t like this variation because card counting is easier.
2. Dealer’s Soft 17
A dealer typically stands when they have soft 17. However, several variants of the game allow the dealer to hit past that. In such cases, the house edge is increased by around 0.2%.
3. Doubling
Some blackjack variants allow players to double on certain hands. This feature disadvantages the players because it removes certain profitable opportunities to double. The house edge increases based on the precise restrictions on when players can double.
4. Double After Split
Some games allow players to double after splitting, while others don’t. It is advantageous when a player can double because the house edge increases by 0.15 when they can’t.
Common Blackjack Variants
1. American Blackjack
American Blackjack is also known as Classic Blackjack. It is also the most widely played blackjack variation. The main difference between American and European Blackjack is the stage at which the dealer takes hole card. In American Blackjack, the dealer gets their hole card before a player decides on their own hand.
2. European Blackjack
European Blackjack does not allow the dealer to receive their hole card until after a player decides how to play the cards dealt to them. The game begins with two decks of cards. The dealer standing on a soft 1 makes European blackjack more advantageous to the players. This blackjack variation is also unique because the dealer vs. player game ends in a tie or a push.
3. Blackjack Switch
Geoff Hall introduced this variant in 2000 at the G2E Las Vegas Conference. It is not common in offline venues, but you can find it on most online casino platforms. Blackjack Switch differs significantly from standard blackjack because it allows players to switch the topmost cards of their two hands. This gives players a considerable edge.
4. Multi-hand Blackjack
This was among the first online blackjack variations. Online casino operators realized that players prefer playing multiple video poker hands simultaneously and applied the same idea to blackjack.
When you play at an offline casino, you can play multiple hands as long as the table beside you has space. However, online platforms don’t face such restrictions, and you can play as many restrictions as possible.
It is the typical blackjack game but allows you to play multiple hands simultaneously. This helps simulate a real-world experience that would be intense to do in real life.
Also read: How The Gambling Industry Has Been Evolving Throughout The Years
