Despite being a very simple and straightforward game, blackjack software has multiple variants of the base game available for players to pick from. Various game providers offer these variants with slightly differing rules and playstyles, and your company is spoilt for choice when choosing. This article will explore some interesting blackjack online game variants your casino can purchase from providers, as well as what makes these variants attractive for players.
Table of Contents
1. Perfect Pairs Blackjack
2. European Blackjack
3. Free Bet Blackjack
4. Multi-Hand Blackjack
5. Spanish 21
6. Conclusion
Perfect Pairs Blackjack
This variant of blackjack was one of the first that allowed side bets.
The rules of Perfect Pairs are very similar to the standard American Blackjack, except for the additional side bet. This side bet allows players to wager if they think they will get the same values on their first two cards. For example, 2 Kings, or 2 fives.
The payout for winning this wager is 6:1, and can go up to 12:1 if the cards also have the same colour (black or red) on top of that. And even better, your casino players stand to score up to 25:1, for two cards with the same colour, value, and suit (clubs, hearts, diamonds, or spades). The potential for winning big with this bet makes Perfect pairs a highly attractive option for players.
European Blackjack
European blackjack emerged as a variant very early on in blackjack’s lifespan. Unlike American Blackjack software, the European version is played using two 52-card decks. This increases the house edge, but it is balanced out to be fairer for players, by the fact that European Blackjack dealers are required to stand on soft 17.
European Blackjack software’s odds are similar to its American counterpart at 3:2. However, the additional difficulty lies in a restriction for players who want to double down. They are only allowed to do so when the initial value of their hand is 9, 10, or 11. Another European blackjack software rule applies when a player scores blackjack at the same time as the dealer. When this happens, the result is a tie, also called “push”, which means the player’s initial bet is refunded.
Despite its more complex rules compared to American blackjack online games, European Blackjack is still an attractive variant, drawing players who seek more challenging games.
Free Bet Blackjack
Free Bet blackjack was invented by a legendary figure, known for his contributions to the world of table games and blackjack. This was the inventor Geoff Hall.
Unlike regular blackjack, players have it easier here in terms of bets. They do not need to spend additional funds to split or double down on hands. Free double downs can be used on initial hands worth 9, 10 and 11. Free splits are offered on every paired hand, but not pairs of 10 value cards, which means tens, jacks, queens and kings.
The downside is that if the dealer goes bust by scoring 22, it counts as a push (tie) instead of a win for the player.
Multi-Hand Blackjack
If your casino is looking for a much newer and fresher blackjack online game variant, Multi-Hand blackjack software might be a good idea. All of Multi-Hand blackjack’s rules follow standard blackjack, but as the name implies, players can play multiple hands at once. Six decks, each with the standard 52 cards each are used.
Multi-Hand Blackjack has a low house edge of roughly 0.47%, meaning the game is very profitable for players if they can play well.
Like European Blackjack, dealers in Multi-Hand blackjack must also stand on soft 17, which adds even more advantages for the player.
Since this variant involves players playing more hands at a time, it offers a lower risk option for your players, who can spread out their risks by betting a smaller sum on each hand instead of a large amount on one.
Spanish 21
Lastly, we have Spanish 21. The unique twist in Spanish 21 compared to American Blackjack online games, is that all 10s cards are removed from the dealer’s shoe. Players can also “resplit” their hands and double down on any hand, regardless of the number of cards that have been dealt. Players can also still double down after splitting or resplitting!
The win conditions of Spanish 21 also differ slightly from normal blackjack. In Spanish 21, a player that achieves 21 (blackjack) will always win, even if the dealer’s hand also equals to 21.
The challenge lies in getting 21 to begin with, since all 10s cards are not in play during Spanish 21.
In Spanish 21’s payout system, the amount of cash players win depends on how many cards they are holding to make blackjack.
Five-card hands pay with a 3:2 ratio. Six-card 21s pay 2:1.
Seven-card hands, the riskiest of all, pay out 3:1.
There are also other rules for blackjack payouts, like any three sevens or 6-7-8 paying 3:2, three sevens of the same suit paying 2:1, and three sevens when the dealer has the 4th seven paying 50:1.
Spanish 21 offers your players a unique experience compared to some other blackjack variants, and has some interesting payout rules as well that can be very rewarding.
Conclusion
There are many unique and interesting variants of online blackjack that your company can choose from to stock in your casino. It really depends on what your company’s target market is, as well as the provider you have on hand. Be sure to scout out providers carefully, and go with reliable and proven names like Nautilus, to ensure your company’s games are in good hands.
