5 Cool Casino Blackjack Variations
For When You Want to Play the Most Entertaining Blackjack Games
Blackjack has spawned a huge number of variations over the years. Some of these are additional bonus games (side bets) which go with an ordinary main game. Others completely change things around, with different rules, cut down decks and even combinations of Blackjack and Poker in one game.
The question is; which of these variations are entertaining, and which are duds?
This page outlines 5 variants which are out of the ordinary as far as your enjoyment goes. If you thought of blackjack as kind of boring, these games will certainly add some spark to your gambling session. If you are already a fan then they will also add a new angle to your strategy and how you approach the game.
5 Cool Blackjack Variations
#1 – Blackjack Switch
I’ll try not to be too biased here (this is a personal favorite).
In Blackjack Switch, you get dealt 2 hands (youll make 2 separate bets). When you see the dealer’s up card you can choose to swap the top card from each of the two hands over. This can give you spots where you can turn 2 bad hands into 2 good ones. For example:
- Hand #1: 10-5 (5 on top)
- Hand #2: 5-Ace (Ace on top)
You can now make Blackjack + a 10, which you can double-down on if the dealer is showing the right card.
Not all hands will be so clear, which is what makes this game interesting in the first place. A good strategy for beginners is to go for the single best hand you can make, and then just play a good basic strategy from there. As you get more advanced, you’ll see opportunities to split, double and to play in counter-intuitive ways in certain specific spots.
#2 – Live Dealer Online Blackjack
It might sound like a bit of a cliché, however those live games really do make casino table games more entertaining. You’ll have the action streamed to your machine, and sit at a 7 seat table just like in Vegas. The dealers are almost all attractive young women, mostly students dealing their way through college. They are friendly and personable, and you can interact with them via a text chat box (they will reply verbally).
There are two kinds of game you can play. The 7 seat ones are the main variety. These are very entertaining, however can be a little slow, especially when you get the odd slow player at your table. The other type is a one-to-many game, where multiple people can bet on the outcome of a single hand. This might not be for the Blackjack purists out there, though it is the quicker game.
Stakes are higher for the live streamed Blackjack games, most casinos start at $5 per hand, though you can find games for $2.50c per hand at the US friendly 5Dimes casino. High rollers can play at exclusive tables (which naturally are hosted by the best croupiers!).
This format is definitely worth a try, you’ll be surprised how big a difference that social element makes.
#3 – Super Fun 21 Blackjack
The main reason to try this game is the liberal rules for just about every action possible! My favorite rule is that you can double-down at any point during the hand, and not just after 2 cards. There is also the nice change-up that player Blackjack beats dealer Blackjack, oh and you’ll get 2:1 for 6 cards totaling 20 or under too. Add to this the splitting (or should I saw multiple resplitting) rules, and you have a very entertaining game.
Of course, the casino does not give you all these ways to win without taking something back. In this case Blackjack only pays out at 1:1, and there is a side bet (based on Blackjacks) which does have a high enough house edge to warrant an ‘Avoid’ sign.
#4 – Blackjack Burn
This game is specific to PlayTech casinos. If you have ever been in a position where you get a nice 10 as your first card and then a pesky 5 or 6 lands, then you’ll wish you had the ability to make that card burn (disappear). With this variation, that is exactly what you can do, for an additional half a bet. This is counted as a side-bet, which makes sense. It does feel like the equivalent of a surrender in some ways, instead of giving up half of your bet, you add more and get the chance of a better outcome.
Oh, and you win 7:1 on this bet if your burn card is the Ace of spades.
#5 – Zappit Blackjack
This game is exclusive to Bovada (for US players only at the moment) and works really well on mobile devices. Think of a speeded up Blackjack game, where you have the ability to get rid of any score of 15, 16 or 17 by hitting a ‘Zap button which appears in addition to the regular action buttons.