Variants of the game blackjack

We've already covered the rules for classic blackjack in a previous article, and now we're going to focus on the types of games you don't see very often. However, as it happens in gambling, knowing is winning. So it pays to learn as much as possible about the game in question, including its other types.

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack Switch is one of the other blackjack variants. It is very similar to classic blackjack, except that the player plays with two hands and places two equal bets. The dealer plays with only one. Before the player gets another card, he can exchange the second card from each hand between them. In BJ Switch, keep in mind that the dealer hit at a soft 17, blackjack pays 1:1 (instead of 3:2 because there are many more chances to get blackjack), and doubling and splitting is allowed. The dealer reaches a tie if he gets 22, although your blackjack still wins. There are two types of bets: the standard Blackjack Switch bet and the "Super Match" bet. BJ Switch - the bet is placed in the same amount on each hand. These are the two round spots on the sides of the table. Remember, when you click a bet on one of the hands, you are placing two identical bets. The super match is a small spot in the middle of the table, and you can bet higher or lower on it than on the hands themselves. It's sort of like a small analogy to poker and wins if you receive at least one pair of the initial four cards received in hand. The "super match" is just an extra bet and is not mandatory.

All rules are based on classic BJ except for the following:

• The player must make two equal bets.
• The player can switch two cards between hands to get a better hand, even blackjack. E.g. you have 5,10 on the first hand and 10,6 on the second hand - now you can switch the 10 and 6 between each other and achieve hands of 11 and 20.
• It is played with six decks of cards.
• The dealer hit on a soft 17.
• The player can double after the split and after the switch.
• Only two cards are allowed to double (unlike Spanish BJ).
• It is not allowed to split after split,
• The player's blackjack is paid 1/1,
• If the dealer gets 22, it is a tie, and the bets are returned. The player's blackjack, however, still wins.

Spanish Blackjack

Spanish blackjack (hereafter referred to as SP21) is another popular variation of blackjack and one of the best casino "bets" ever. If you're looking for a slight change from traditional blackjack but also require a low house-edge game, you may find a real liking to this game. SP21 uses six or eight decks to play. Each deck contains 48 cards - instead of the usual fifty-two because four ten cards are excluded. Anyone who counts cards can say that removing the tens from the deck puts the dealer at a significant advantage. But SP21 gives the player plenty of bonuses and favourable options. The rules are based on 6-8 deck blackjack, involving doubling after a split, later surrender, and resplitting aces.

In addition, Spanish blackjack offers the following enhanced rules for players:

• A player always wins if he reaches 21.
• The player's blackjack beats the dealer's blackjack.
• The player may double any number of cards.
• A player may usually draw and double after splitting aces (some casinos do not allow this).
• The player can surrender at any time and lose "only" half of the bet.
• Surrender is allowed even after doubling.
• 21 with five cards pays 3/2, 21 with six cards 2/1, 21 with seven cards 3/1, although bonuses are not paid if the player has doubled.
• 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 different suits pays 3/2, same suit 2/1.
• 7-7-7-7 of the same suit - if the dealer has a seven showing too, pays €1000 on bets between €5-24 and €5000 for bets of €25 and up. In addition, each of the other players at the table receives a bonus of €50. This bonus does not apply after the split.

Variable Rules:

• The dealer can hit or stand on soft 17.
• Some casinos allow redoubling up to 3 times.

Double Exposure

Double exposure is blackjack, in which the dealer reveals both of his cards. Although the house edge is slightly higher than in classic blackjack, Double Exposure is one of the most ever-expensive and fun games for players. Naturally, there are other rules and changes to compensate for this advantage.

The rules are the same as in classic BJ with the following exceptions:

• The dealer shows both cards.
• The dealer wins if there is a tie, except in standard blackjack.
• The player's blackjack is paid 1/1.
• The player is allowed to split only once.

The rules, which may vary, are not strictly limited:

• The dealer draws or stands on soft 17.
• On a tie, the stakes are returned. On all others, the dealer wins.
• The player may or may not double down after the split.
• A player may double after any two cards.
• A player may split more than once.
• A player may split two cards of the same rank (e.g. Queen and King)

In addition to these 3, of course, there are other separate versions or just modified versions. It is the rules of the individual games that contribute a lot to the house edge. That's why we have selected four types of blackjack that you should avoid.

Continuously shuffled cards

The dealer must put the cards on the table into these special devices instead of "burning" them after each hand. The way it's typically done. But with this game, then, there is an infinite deck of cards. Each round is played with cards from the top of the deck.

There is a 100% chance that an ignorant player will be at a significant disadvantage against the casino. It is mainly because the machine is constantly shuffling the cards. This fact speeds up the game by 20%, and the player loses 20% more in the same amount of time or loses all his funds 20% faster.

Hand-held multi-deck games

The dealer can "hold" one or two decks of cards, so it's essentially a 5-for-8 game, with at least one deck being shuffled each round. This game is usually marked directly on the table with the words "Hand-Held Multi-Deck Game". But beware, the casino tries to hide these signs or markings.

You can also spot a fake double or single deck game by using the back of the cards. If the backs of the cards dealt from the shuffler are the same as the cards on the table, it is most likely a fake single or double deck variant.

Superfun 21

This is the only one of our four blackjack variants in which an experienced player can beat the casino over the long term. However, this game requires an entirely different strategy than the classic blackjack variants. The house edge is 0.94% if you use the Superfun 21 strategy. If you are playing a classic blackjack strategy, the house edge is much higher.

So, in case you ever come across people who tell you that this variant of the game is played the same way as classic blackjack, they are lying to you. If you play this game according to the usual rules, you will only lose and lose.

MindPlay table

MindPlay is a table where marked cards are used, and the cards that come up are known in advance. These tables use a unique device that reads each player's cards and bets. By marking the cards and counting the chips, the casino can find out the average bets of each player and their abilities.

Casinos that offer MindPlay tables can provide players with very detailed reports of their games and bets. This device also counts the cards. The dealer can, therefore, very quickly find out when to shuffle and when not to. This step gives an additional advantage to the casino.

So what's the easiest way to find out if it's a MindPlay table? Very simply. There is something called a "well" next to the dealer. After the cards are shuffled or removed from the table, but before they are dealt, they pass through this "well". Here their value is established, and they are marked so that the dealer knows which cards will follow. This variant of the game is also not recommended.