Blackjack Games
Blackjack is a great game, however, from time to time any game can benefit from being spiced up a little. Just look at all the poker variations that are out there, invented pretty much by typical home players looking for a different way to lose next week’s alcohol money to their scheming friends. And while you might not find these available for play at your local neighborhood casino, blackjack online offers it’s fair share of “variations”, as well. Some are a different way to play, and some simply piggyback on the standard rules of play, elaborating with opportunities to bet on something outside your cards alone. Let’s take a look at some, call them what you like.
- Here’s a side bet option. The player gains the ability to wager the first two cards in his hand will be of the same suit. Odds are 3:1 on the payout. If the lucky player makes this wager and the King and Queen, or Queen and Jack come up of the same suit, the odds are 10:1 and 8:1 on the payouts.
- Staying with the suit bets, instead of waging on your cards, this one allows you to gamble online as to whether the dealers’ up card will be red or black…you can put your bet in the corresponding R or B area. Odds are just a one to one return, and the dealer takes an automatic win if his up card is a deuce.
- Spanish 21 (This one does have an official name) – Up to eight decks used, but no fewer than six. The strategy requires adjusting because 10’s are eliminated from the deck (increasing the difficulty for the player). Other basic changes (ones that actually do benefit the player): Getting 21 is a guaranteed winner (no ties with dealer), and blackjack is a guaranteed winner. Other general rules apply regarding doubling, splitting, surrendering, hitting, etc… Now for the extras: Suited bet odds pay two to one. If that suit is spades, the payout is three to one, and, get this, if you have three sevens against the dealer’s seven up card, you’re cashing in a cool grand.
- Lastly (for now), a straight switch game from golden casino. We used to do this playing home games of Caribbean Stud, but it definitely works well for online blackjack. Each player gets two hands to work with, same bet for each. Everything remains separated except the second dealt card, which you can switch between hands. However, the dealer won’t give up this advantage without implementing one of his own. So, if you think the dealer’s busted on this one, be careful. A dealer 22 is actually going to push, no matter what you end up with.