One of the main advantages of online casinos over live casinos is the ability to offer an unlimited number of games. There is no need to worry about available space or dealers. This makes blackjack variants widely available on most online casino platforms.
Online Blackjack
Spanish 21
Spanish 21 was once a popular game in live casinos. Due to its lower house edge and the availability of new blackjack variants, the game gradually fell out of favor. Spanish 21 has been completely withdrawn from Las Vegas casinos and can now only be found online. It is often referred to as Match Play 21. The game does not have a 10 in the deck, but retains the J, Q, and K. Since there are no hard cards, the dealer busts less often. There are also fewer blackjacks. For this reason, there are special rules and payouts. The player 21 always wins. If the player has a blackjack, it is paid immediately, even if the dealer also has a blackjack. Any 21 drawn is paid immediately after it is hit.
Other unusual rules include the ability to double down on any number of cards, surrender after doubling, and special blackjack payouts on 678, 777, and five-, six-, and seven-card Charlie hands.
Zappit 21
Bodog and Bovada offer Zappit 21. It allows players to discard a dealt 15, 16, or 17 and draw two new cards. All of these hands are discarded regardless of the dealer’s door card. In exchange, players can discard any hand except a dealt blackjack if the dealer’s card is 22.
Pontoon
The online version of Pontoon differs from the version in some casinos in the South Pacific. Both of the dealer’s cards are face down. Players must hit cards until the point value is at least 15. After hitting, they can double up regardless of the number of cards. The best hand in Pontoon is a natural blackjack followed by five cards that do not bust. These hands pay 2-1. The dealer wins all ties, including blackjacks and five-card suits.
Face Up 21
Face Up 21, sometimes called Double Exposure Blackjack, is another game that was once seen in casinos but is no longer played live. The game deals two dealer cards face up to the player. To compensate for this rule, players can only double up on 9, 10, and 11. Doubling down after a split is not allowed. All ties are won by the dealer, except for blackjack. All natural blackjacks pay out even money, even if the dealer also has one.
21 Duel
Most Playtech casino platforms offer the 21 Duel game. Bet must be made before the cards are dealt. There must be two bets on the table so that the game can proceed with a favorable situation.
The player and the dealer are then dealt a card each, one face up and one face down. The two cards are face up in the center of the table. The player must decide between the three available ways to play.
Folding a card will immediately lose the Ante, and the next hand will begin. The second bet will allow the player to select one of the two center cards. After making that decision, the card to the left or right must be clicked. The next step is to stand, call, or double. Standing will discard the player’s hole cards. Calling will use that card. Doubling will double the bet to include the player’s hole cards. The maximum number of cards available in any hand is three.
The dealer then begins the game. He will pick the best middle card as his upcard. If the total of the two cards is equal to or greater than 17, he will stand. If the total is equal to or less than 16, the dealer will use another hole card. The cards will then be compared in the same manner as traditional blackjack, with one exception. If the dealer’s total is not 13, he will stand the player.
