Blackjack and Its Many Variations
Coming second only to Poker, Blackjack is one of the world’s most popular card games, and millions of people across the globe enjoy it every day. The simplicity of Blackjack paired with its unpredictability makes it endlessly enjoyable to play for both new and veteran players, and it should be the first game that people turn to when they want something new and interesting to try.
But even normal Blackjack can become boring after enough time and players might start to look at other games to fill their time. Fortunately, Blackjack comes in a wide variety of variants, and each kind can usually be found online.
Spanish 21
Spanish 21 is not quite as popular as it once is, and many consider it a dying game, especially due to the fact that it could never be found at any of the bigger land-based casinos, such as those in Las Vegas. One of the reasons behind this is the fact that it tends to favour the player more than the house, where players are able to double down on number cards, and even splitting is permitted, even if the player has already hit. Players are also able to give up after they double down, which is known as double down rescue. One of the drawbacks of Spanish 21s is that there are no 10s present in the deck, which may make it a challenge for those used to the “normal” variants of Blackjack.
Super Fun 21
This variant of Blackjack can often be found in either a single or double deck format and sometimes even six decks, where players are able to double down on any of their cards, even after having suffered a split. Surrenders are also possible at any point of gameplay, even if the player has both hit and doubled down.
Face Up Blackjack
This kind of Blackjack encompasses any form of the game where all of the cards in play, including those of the dealer, are dealt facing upward, and makes a great choice for anyone that wants to play online Blackjack games. This gives the player an immediate advantage straight away, although there are a number of rules in place to ensure that the player can’t get too far ahead too quickly. The rules of the game very much vary from place to place, but for the most part, players are only able to double down on either 10 and 11, and never after splitting.
Pontoon
Pontoon is an otherwise unknown form of Blackjack that can only be found online, and while it makes use of the same base rules as Blackjack, it also comes with several of its own unique rule variations. Players receive two cards, and the dealer doesn’t get a card until after the player makes an act. A Pontoon is scored with a face and an ace, and it can pay out 2-1, making it the best hand, while a five-card trick is considered the second best. Any ties that occur in Pontoon are automatically won by the dealer.
