Blackjack is basic – plain and simple. This casino card game can be interpreted in any number of ways, but the gist of it remains constant. It’s about scoring 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going bust, and beating the dealer in the process. But luckily, the inventive minds of gamblers and gaming aficionados the world over have created loads of exciting variants for this worldwide sensation.
Without further ado, let’s get on with it:
Pontoon – This is a super game to play and comprises a deck of 48 cards (the 10s have been removed). The reason it’s known as Pontoon is that when the player hits a J, Q, K and A, as opposed to blackjack, he/she wins. The dealer stands on a hard 17 or more.
Caribbean 21 - Blackjack tempo just got cranked up a notch with this island-style favourite. It allows players to split any 2 initial cards and to hit and re-double after doubling down. Aces are valued at 1 only. Interestingly enough, an Ace and two 10-value cards is known as a Caribbean 21 and wins out over all other combinations.
Blackjack Switch - Here blackjack punters will have the chance to play 2 hands at one time. And players are able to switch the top 2 cards of each hand. Fortunately the standard rules apply (dealer stands on hard 17s) and both player hands are treated as separate from one another.
Crazy Eights Black Jack – 5 cards are dealt to each player. The deck of cards is left on the table with the top card face-up. The goal here is to rid your hand of cards by pairing them up with the up-cards on the table according to number or suit. Note this game has the name ‘Black Jack’ but is unrelated to the game blackjack.
Double Attack Blackjack – In this game the 10s are removed and six decks of cards are used. There are big payouts owing to the obvious house advantage to this game. Players bet that the dealer will go bust with 3 cards. A dealer holding a 6 and drawing a 6 pays off 15:1 while a dealer holding an 8 and drawing an 8 pays off 50:1. Odds can increase to 200:1 in this game.
Spanish 21 – 6 to 8 decks of cards are used in this game but each deck contains only 48 cards (10s have been removed). There are various compensatory measures for players in big payout odds for certain betting outcomes. If the dealer holds blackjacks, the player wins. Plus doubling/redoubling/late surrender and re-splitting of A’s is allowed