Online Blackjack Games

Traditional blackjack may be the most popular of all online blackjack games but it’s far from the only contender in town. As online gambling grows in popularity, new blackjack variations pop up ever more often. A few of the most popular online blackjack games are explained here.

Standard Online Blackjack

This is the most common form of all blackjack games, the version that people think of when you say the word “blackjack.” In this game, you receive two cards and the dealer receives two cards. With one of the dealer’s cards exposed, you then try to get as close to 21 as possible.

The name “blackjack” comes from what happens when your first two cards total exactly 21. You are said to have a blackjack when you are dealt an Ace and a face card, for a total of 21 points. This also results in a payout of 3:2 instead of the normal 1:1 for winning.

Online Face Up 21

Face-Up 21 is a popular variation of online blackjack in which both of the dealer’s hole cards are dealt face up! There’s no such thing as a free lunch, though, and Face Up 21 is no exception. The cost of that extra information manifests itself with the following rules:

  • Blackjacks are only paid even money
  • Dealer wins all ties
  • Splitting is allowed one time
  • Doubling is only allowed on 9, 10 and 11
  • No surrenders

European Blackjack

European blackjack is played similarly to regular blackjack except for a few differences. The most notable difference is that the dealer only receives one card (face up) at the beginning of the hand. After the player finishes his hand, the dealer then draws another card and plays his hand out.

As a result, players stand to lose more money when the dealer does indeed have a blackjack. In standard blackjack, the dealer checks for blackjack before the hand continues any further. In this variation, the players may split or double down and lose extra money if the dealer ends up with a blackjack.

In order to make up for that disadvantage, European blackjack uses the following player-friendly rules:

  • Game uses two decks
  • Dealer stands on soft 17
  • Insurance is available when dealer’s up-card is an Ace
  • Hitting allowed after splitting Aces

Pontoon

In Pontoon, both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face down. After the player finishes playing his hand, the dealer then plays his own hand out. Additionally, the dealer wins on all ties. Five card hands and “pontoons” (different name for blackjacks) pay 2:1. There are also several other differences in Pontoon:

  • Dealer checks for pontoon at the beginning of the hand
  • Player must hit on all totals of 14 or less
  • Hitting after doubling allowed
  • Splits and re-splits allowed (max three hands)
  • Dealer hits soft 17

Match Play 21 or Spanish 21

Match Play 21 and Spanish 21 are two different names for the same game. In this online blackjack game, the 10 cards are removed from the deck, leaving only 48 cards in each deck. The rules of Match Play 21 are as follows:

  • 8 decks are used, minus the 10 cards in each deck
  • Player 21 always wins except against dealer blackjack
  • Player blackjacks beat dealer blackjacks
  • Dealer hits soft 17

Match Play 21 also offers special payouts for achieving certain hands:

  • Blackjack pays 3:2
  • 777 of the same suit plus a dealer-up card of 7 results in 40:1 payout
  • 777 of spades pays 3:1
  • 678 of spades pays 3:1
  • Seven cards totaling 21 or less pays 3:1
  • 777 of the same suit pays 2:1
  • 678 of the same suit pays 2:1
  • Six cards totaling 21 or less pays 2:1
  • Any 777 pays 3:2
  • Any 678 pays 3:2
  • Five cards totaling 21 or less pays 3:2

Super 21

Super 21 is an online blackjack game that only pays even money for blackjacks but makes up for that by offering several player-friendly rules. The game uses a single deck of 52 cards and employs the following rules:

  • Player hands of six cards or more totaling 20 or less automatically win
  • Five or more cards used to achieve 21 points automatically wins and pays 2:1
  • Player blackjacks beat dealer blackjacks
  • Blackjack made with diamonds pays 2:1
  • All other blackjacks pay 1:1

Perfect Pairs Blackjack

Perfect Pairs blackjack is played with all the standard rules of blackjack plus an extra side bet option. When you place the Perfect Pairs side bet, you receive special payouts if your first two cards are a pair. If your first two cards are not a pair, the side bet is lost. The payouts for pairs are as follows:

  • Perfect Pairs (pairs of the same suit) pay 30:1
  • Colored Pairs (pairs of the same color such as 8 of diamonds, 8 of hearts) pay 10:1
  • Mixed Pairs (all other pairs) pay 5:1

Caribbean 21

Caribbean 21 is a blackjack variant offered at the Bodog Blackjack Casino. In this game, there are several player-friendly rules but one major drawback: the dealer wins all ties. Aside from the standard blackjack rules, the following rules apply to Caribbean 21:

  • Player may split any two starting cards
  • Players may re-double after doubling
  • Players may hit after doubling
  • Aces always count as 1 point
  • Player may surrender at any time, even on specific hands after splitting
  • Blackjacks are called “Caribbean 21” and are ranked highest
  • Caribbean 21 pays 3:2 on the original hand only
  • Ties go to the dealer