Online Blackjack Variations
Everyone knows blackjack, right? It is one of the most iconic casino games of all time, after all, so the rules are pretty much known to everyone. You aim is to get the value of your cards as close to 21 as possible, and then hope that the dealer doesn’t get closer. You are initially dealt two cards, and may select to hit, get another card, or stick, keep the total you currently have. A picture card and ace are most desirable, since the ace can count as 11 or 1, and picture cards count as 10. The trick is, of course, that if you go beyond 21 you are bust, and instantly lose. This is the game of blackjack. You may have noticed, however, that many online casinos have more than one type of blackjack. In fact, some online casinos have so many variations that it can make your spin. Many prefer to stick to the tried and trusted form of blackjack described above, since who wants to spend their timing learning new rules to a game that already worked perfectly well? But don’t be so quick to ignore the other forms of blackjack. Yes, some of the variations are so different that they can hardly be considered blackjack at all, but they are still fun and entertaining gambling games, all of which have something to offer. And as they say, you are never too old to try something new. You may just discover that the other versions of blackjack strike your fancy so much that you’ll wonder why you haven’t been playing them for years.
Double Exposure
The name almost sounds like the title of a B-grade dirty movie, but Double Exposure blackjack is a variation that many find incredibly interesting. Has it always irritated you how the dealer gets to have one of his cards dealt face down, obscuring his hand and keeping you in the dark? Well, Double Exposure solves this problem by simply having the dealer have both of his cards face up as well. Impossible, you are exclaiming, that goes against everything that makes blackjack what it is. A person who was good at the game could never lose. Well, it isn’t the only rule that has been changed, of course, balance has to be kept somehow. First of all winning with a blackjack only pays out even money, which is less than standard blackjack. Also, the player automatically loses if the cards are a tie. Check out Double Exposure blackjack for a very interesting twist on the standard rules.
Blackjack Switch
Another very interesting twist on the rules, Blackjack Switch has the player dealt two hands of two cards, as opposed to one hand. Not interesting enough already? Alright, how about you also get to swap one card from either hand, as you fit. Got your attention now? Blackjack Switch is very popular at some online casinos, especially with those who like to tax their brains a little extra. Added rules include the dealer getting 22 to be considered a push, and a natural blackjack paying out even money.
Spanish 21
This is one of the variations where the game can hardly be said to be blackjack anymore. All 10 cards in the deck are found and removed, leaving a deck of 48 cards. This may have some of you spluttering in your drink and having to adjust your monocle, but trust us when we say that the resulting game is a great deal more interesting than you might think. It really does entirely change the way you assume you will reach 21, and put a whole new spin on an old idea. An added rule pays out bonus cash for using 7 cards to hit 21, as well as a few other additions, like allowing the player to double down on any hand.
Multi-Hand Blackjack
Multi-hand blackjack is pretty much what it says; the player is allowed to play multiple hands simultaneously. For some this can get very confusing, while others find it is a perfect way to keep their active brain busy. Many online casinos offer this option, and even give the player a choice of how many hands they would like to have running. Be cautious, however, as every hand will obviously need its own separate bet, which can quickly add up to a lot of cash in a very short space of time. Recommended only for those who are very familiar with the game.
Jump In
There are even more variations than are listed here, many more; so don’t be afraid to check out some of the options at your favourite online casino. Remember that many online casinos offer the option to play the games for free, before putting down cash, so what’s to stop you from at least jumping in and giving them a go? We recommend at least one new thing every day. It keeps you young.
