Different blackjack games
The original form of the game is Standard Blackjack and, not unsurprisingly, this has the greatest number of players at Mr Green.
It is easy to learn the standard blackjack rules and this will set you up for adapting them to other variants. The differences normally revolve around the timing of the dealer’s participation or when you can ‘double down’ on which cards. Either way, before each game, players should know the rules in full.
The table you choose will define what rules you are playing to and you will notice small differences between the blackjack games. But let us get acquainted with the ground-rules first, so you are confident before you start betting real money:
As a result of these ground-rules, you can start to build up an idea of the strategy you will use for the required situation. Nevertheless, you must remember that each blackjack variant creates its own dynamics and this needs its own particular strategic response.
While in standard blackjack only one of the dealer’s cards is visible from the beginning, double exposure blackjack games make for much more riveting experiences. As its name implies, both the cards of the dealer are facing up from the beginning. This ‘two-card game’, as it is also known, requires a change of strategy too, which must be factored in by the player.
As with everything there are some clear pros and cons. While the cash you get for each combination is identical to standard blackjack, the dealer will always win when there’s a draw. Of course, a blackjack will always take the pot, although getting a top score of 21 is not as profitable as in original blackjack games. This is one of the drawbacks of this alternative.
These differences from the standard blackjack games also call for their own strategic approaches, being aimed at those who like to take risks. Don’t be fooled by the reassurance of knowing what you are trying to beat, because with a tie leading to a loss you need to be surer of your tactics than ever before.
As one of the games most related to blackjack, pontoon might be more familiar to those who played it in their childhood as ‘twenty-one’. In fact, Pontoon Blackjack is a derivative of Spanish 21 and it thus has its own quite unique and interesting hallmarks.
One major shift from the family game is the terminology, where ‘stick’ is used over ‘stand’ and ‘twist’ replaces ‘hit’. Pontoon blackjack games are characterised by only being able to stand on a hand of 14 or over. But every time you hit for a new card, you can double the bet which is a big thrill.
While the best hand is still a blackjack (ace with a ten-valued card) you can go for a five-card hand to win. Of course, this takes guts because you cannot get more than 21, but as you need to score less than 14, it might be worth it. This is one of the rules that can make pontoon even more of a challenge.
Apart from occasional differences in splitting hands, Pontoon Blackjack is very similar to Spanish 21. It is this connection that gives these blackjack games a boost in the popularity ranks, as this variant is known all over the world.
You might think that surrendering is the last thing you want to be doing when you are playing blackjack games. But what if your starting hand is so poor you want to quit right away?
Well, Blackjack Surrender allows you to do just that. While it is identical to standard blackjack in every other way, you can ‘surrender’ the first pair you get in return for half your original bet.
This creates its own strategical challenge, since at first this might sound like an unnecessary loss of funds. But for the thinking player this remains a very interesting choice. Of course, it is necessary to use this option in only certain situations, but if these can be calculated correctly, a surrender can be very effective.
Poker players, in particular, tend to be fans of this form of blackjack as it is similar to ‘folding’. If for instance you see that the dealer holds a ten card or Ace, it might seem pointless to continue. In this scenario, it may be easier to let go of the ego and do a ‘late surrender’ hoping for better luck in the future.
If you play this form, just be aware that a surrender is only possible if the dealer has no blackjack from the off. If the dealer does have an ace and a ten-value card it is all over before you can even say ‘surrender’!