Like many casino games, blackjack’s exact origins are shrouded in mystery, uncertainty and a ton of poorly kept records. However, what most gambling historians agree on is the fact the game we now call blackjack is almost certainly derived from the 18th century card games Chemin de Fer and French Ferme.
While these uncertain roots might make life difficult for those trying to trace the exact lineage of the game, it does have one benefit: it makes the game flexible. Because the game has clearly been derived from a variety of sources and cultures, blackjack has not only evolved over the centuries, but has the power to continue evolving. Indeed, it’s this inherent ability to draw from new situations that’s made the game one of the most diverse in the online casino world.
Sure, you can stick to a “classic” version of the game when you go online, but virtually every platform now offers multiple blackjack variants. Because blackjack can take inspiration from the world around it, you’ll now find many online lobbies have a mix of old, new and innovative casino games. Of course, all versions of blackjack, whether it’s a popular variant such as European Blackjack or something more modern such as Switch, come down to one question: hit or stand? In the same way that forex trading and spread betting are different but still have the same goal – i.e. you’re speculating on the value shift of a commodity – you’re always shooting for a total of 21 in any game of blackjack.
Of course, it’s the route you take towards the hallowed total of 21 that counts and this will be partly influenced by the rules of the game you’re playing. To help you understand some of the most popular forms of blackjack you’ll currently find online, we’ve compiled quick breakdown. Although we can’t tell you how to beat each game, we will conclude with the mindset you should take into any game, regardless of the rules. So, with all of this in mind, here’s a breakdown of blackjack and its best variants.
Popular Blackjack Variants
Classic Blackjack = Perhaps the most basic version of the game, classic blackjack follows the stand/hit dynamic in the pursuit of 21, but it has some individual rules. For example, classic blackjack games typically involve a single deck. Although some iGaming brands, including NetEnt, offer more decks, classic usually has one 52-card deck in play.
Additionally, dealers are forced to hit on soft 16 (soft hands contain an ace) and stand on soft 17. On top of this, you can buy insurance if the dealer is showing an ace (costs half your bet size) and pays out at 2:1 if they they have blackjack (i.e. 10 value card + an ace). Finally, you can surrender your hand and receive 50% of your stake back if your opening hand is too weak.
European Blackjack = This variant follows many of the dynamics classic blackjack has, except for these individual rules: six decks in play, you can only double on hard totals of 9, 10 and 11, you can double after splitting and the dealer won’t check for blackjack if their up card is an ace or ten (known as no-peek).
Atlantic City Blackjack = In contrast to European blackjack, this variant uses eight full decks instead of six. Additionally, you can only double down on any starting total, you can split a hand up to three times and the dealer will ‘peek’ if their face card is an ace or ten. When it comes to your chances, Atlantic City blackjack has a house edge of just 0.36%, so your mathematical expectation of a positive result is better than 1 in 100. Compared to other variants, this is a favourable stat and one of the reasons seasoned players often choose this game.
Live Blackjack = Despite being a modern innovation, we’ve put live blackjack in this traditional category because, on the whole, these games follow a traditional format. However, the feature that stands out in this variant is the fact you can play with real people. Using modern technology, including RFID chips that track the movement of cards and HD webcams, these games essentially fuse real and virtual gaming.
Best of the Rest
It’s impossible to run through every variant of blackjack currently available online. However, before we leave you with a quick tip on how to approach blackjack from a psychological perspective, here are some of the more exotic options you’ll now find in the iGaming arena:
Blackjack Switch = You’re dealt two starting hands for the price of one and get to swap the top cards from one hand to the other if you wish.
Bonus Blackjack = In this game, you can make side bets and win bonus prizes when certain combinations are dealt.
Spanish 21 = One of the defining features of this variant is that you’re allowed to double and surrender after doubling down.
Once you’ve got the variants down and you’re ready to play, there’s one thing you need to keep in mind before you play blackjack online or live. No, this doesn’t mean checking to see if the house if using Copag playing cards or those manufactured by Gemaco, what we mean is getting the right mindset. Whatever betting endeavour you’re in, you have to accept that you’ll lose even if you make all the right moves. Because of something known as variance, no move is ever guaranteed to work 100%. For example, even if doubling down on 11 vs. the dealer’s 5 has a positive expectation (i.e. over an infinite number of trials it will show a profit), it won’t always work. Because of this, it’s important to embrace a loss. Don’t get emotional if you lose, especially if you made the right move. If you can learn to do this and find a variant that suits your playing style, you’ll find that blackjack is one of the best card games around.
