Variations of Blackjack

Spanish 21

Spanish 21 is probably the most famous of the blackjack variants. The rights to the game are owned by Masque Publishing, Inc., and can be licensed for a fee. One of the major differences to the actual game rules is that the tens are taken out of the shoe, so that one deck contains just 48 cards.

Of course, this reduces the chance of making a natural 21, for which a ten-value card is needed. But this potential disadvantage is compensated for by paying out 3 to 2 on blackjack, regardless of whether the dealer ties. Incredibly (and appealingly), when the player gets 21, it's an instant win — even if the dealer also gets to 21.

However, the player cannot beat a natural 21 with 21 because of the "peak" feature, which requires the dealer to check for blackjack upon being dealt a ten or an ace as an upcard. If the dealer does have blackjack in this situation, he wins all bets (except when the player has a natural 21, as well).

Another great feature of Spanish 21 is the ability to surrender even after doubling, which will lose your initial bet but allow you to keep your double.

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack Switch is another great variant, and a relatively new one, invented by British casino game designer Geoff Hall. The player is dealt two hands in the same fashion as standard blackjack, with the bonus that the player can switch the two top cards. So, if the player is dealt a pair of kings and a pair of aces, the top two can be switched, making both the hands ace king.

To compensate for this, blackjack is paid out at even money. Also, a hard 22 for the dealer pushes all hands, apart from a natural 21.

Even though the rules are the same (apart from the switching) the strategy for playing is very different since blackjack pays out even here. In fact, in some cases, the best move is to actually switch a natural — adding a whole new layer of strategy to the classic blackjack gameplay.

Pontoon

Pontoon is a British game with many similarities to blackjack and banking game twenty-one. There are also Australian and Asian versions of the game, which are completely different and do not include a hole card.

Pontoon became particularly popular in the armed forces during the 20th century with many English-speaking nations. Since it's more of a social game, it's fairly unregulated and can vary depending on who's playing it.

Side Bets

Side bets can add an extra element of fun to any normal game of blackjack. It's generally not advisable to play side bets as they almost always raise the house edge, making the idea of playing with a basic strategy redundant. However, given the popularity of side bets among blackjack players, they certainly warrant a mention.

Side bets are an extra bet that can be placed on pretty much anything to do with the outcome of the cards — for example, being dealt two cards of the same suit or a pair. However, they're rarely advisable and offer some of the worst odds in the casino. Some of the more notable variations include Super 7s, which pay out if the player's first card dealt is a seven, more so if both are sevens and having three sevens wins you the jackpot. Another well-known side bet is "Perfect Pairs", where being dealt a pair pays a bonus, with a pair of the same suit paying 30 to 1.

Again, although some of these side bets can bring some excitement to an otherwise formulaic game, they're absolutely not advisable to players looking to win, since they always result in a loss of your winning edge.