Understanding the various formats of blackjack online
The wide array of online blackjack formats ensures that there is a game to suit every player’s preferences and skill level
BLACKJACK IS ONE of the most played card games on a casino floor. The game, also colloquially known as “21”, is played heads-up against the dealer’s hand, creating a basic premise and even the potential for strategic moves. After all, strategy is the key to success, whether it’s in cards or in the world of business.
Today, the leading online casino platforms have also doubled down on the popularity of blackjack. Alongside table games like roulette, baccarat and poker, casino operators have sought to introduce new blackjack variants, freshening the landscape with new rules and gameplay dynamics.
Are you new to the world of blackjack and you’re wondering which game format will suit you best? read on as we peek behind the curtain of the blackjack variants making a splash, including Atlantic City, European, Spanish and live dealer options. All of the above blackjack formats are now available to sample at the Canada-licensed Betway Casino. This operator embraces the heritage of the classic game of “21” as well as its future and we’ll talk about some of their live dealer gameshow variants in the live dealer section below.
European Blackjack
European blackjack is one of the most popular versions of the game. It’s considered the classic format which sets the benchmark for other variants. Most casinos will use two decks of cards for European blackjack, so it’s not quite as competitive as single-deck blackjack, which is known as the purists’ version of the game.
In European blackjack, the dealer isn’t dealt a second card until the player has completed their hand. Players are only permitted to split hands once. The absence of a dealer’s hole card means that you can apply an element of strategy to the game. If lots of high-value cards are dealt to you and others at the table, it increases the chance of the dealer’s second hole card being a low-value card and vice versa.
Atlantic City Blackjack
Atlantic City blackjack is said to have more lenient rules in favour of the player. However, the use of eight decks instead of two is surely a negative as it creates four times as many permutations to work for and against players.
The addition of six more decks than European blackjack is counteracted by the dealer standing on soft 17, while surrender is offered to players whenever the dealer checks for blackjack. Players are also allowed to split a hand as many as three times, apart from aces which can only be split once. Players can also double down on any cards, rather than hands with a value of nine, ten or 11 in European blackjack.
Spanish 21
Spanish 21 comes with its own unique set of house rules and dynamics. It’s played using a Spanish deck of playing cards – 48 cards with all tens removed from play. Spanish 21 is played across six-to-eight decks, in a similar fashion to Atlantic City blackjack.
One of the biggest advantages to playing Spanish 21 is that players’ blackjacks pay out even if the dealer has a blackjack too. In other formats, bets are considered a “push” (void) if the player and dealer have blackjacks. Double down and surrender is also offered and there’s further bonuses on offer for making certain hands i.e. 21 using five cards or suited hands.
Live Dealer Blackjack
Live casino blackjack games are the closest thing you’ll get to playing the game on the casino floor of a brick-and-mortar establishment on the Vegas Strip. Of course, with the advent of technology, some blackjack fans no longer need to fly to Nevada to play their favourite card games, instead focusing their vacations on wellness. The health and beauty industry has rallied impressively in the last few years. With real-time HD-quality streams of games played out in casino-style studios, it’s as authentic and immersive as it gets.
Most live casinos will offer blackjack games in all three of the formats listed above. However, some go one further and provide fusion blackjack games based on popular slot titles, such as the Mega Fire Blaze series that’s based on localised jackpots. All you need is a stable Wi-Fi or 5G connection to get started.
The wide array of online blackjack formats ensures that there is a game to suit every player’s preferences and skill level. Whether you prefer the classic rules of European Blackjack, the player-friendly features of Atlantic City Blackjack, the unique twists of Spanish 21, or the authenticity of live dealer games, online casinos offer a wealth of options to explore.