Blackjack, one of the most popular casino games in the world, has been around for more than 300 years. Today, it’s played at brick-and-mortar casinos and online. The object of blackjack is to beat the dealer by getting cards whose sum is closer to 21 than the dealer’s while avoiding going over 21. The player can gain an edge over the house through skillful play, optimal decisions and advantage play.
Blackjack is also popular with recreational players, as it is easy to learn and follow even if one lacks substantial experience at the tables. In the last decade or so, Twenty-One has gained popularity among online players, who can now choose from a range of exciting variants offered across many interactive casinos.
If you are new to the world of blackjack, you should know that it is a fun game and an excellent way to spend your free time. The following article will introduce you to some basic concepts related to blackjack rules, strategies, and online play.
Basic Rules
Blackjack is played against a dealer, who is at the same time acting as the house. Each gambling venue sets its own rules for blackjack, but most agree on the key points.
In games with one deck and some variations, cards are dealt face down. Multiple-deck games use a box or shoe to hold all the cards, which speeds up the game.
Before a game begins, the dealer shuffles the decks and a player cuts the pack. The dealer removes or “burns” one card from the top of the deck and either places it in the discard tray or at the bottom of the deck. Players then position their chips in betting boxes on the layout and play begins.
Blackjack is a card game in which players compete against the dealer. The dealer receives one face-up card and one hole card at the beginning of each hand. A player must form a hand with a total that is higher than the dealer’s, but without going over 21. The deal starts in a clockwise direction, with the player positioned immediately to the left of the dealer being the first to receive their cards.
Face cards count as 10, Aces can be counted as 1 or 11, and the rest of the cards are valued by their face value. If you have a 10-value card and an Ace in your hand, it’s called a blackjack and will win you more money than any other combination. If you get blackjack but the dealer doesn’t, you’ll win one and a half times your bet; if it’s vice versa and he has blackjack but you don’t, then you lose your bet. When both players get blackjacks, the hand pushes and neither party loses or gains anything.
Players who don’t start with a strong hand can choose to hit and receive additional cards, or they can stand.
When the dealer has flipped over their hole card, the players act on their hands in turn. The dealer wins if they have a higher total than any player or if any player busts (goes over 21). Players win when they have a higher total than the dealer or if the dealer busts.
When the player is dealt a pair of cards of the same numerical value on the initial deal, he or she has the option to split it into two separate hands. However, only players can split pairs; dealers cannot. Each hand is played separately and additional bets are made for each hand. Some tables prohibit players from splitting Aces which works to their disadvantage and gives the house edge a 0.06% boost.
Additional Rules
There are often big differences in the rules of blackjack games. For example, at some casinos players may split pairs only of a certain value. And sometimes dealers must hit on soft 17–giving the house an even bigger edge over players.
In addition to the rules of basic strategy, there are other rules that apply in specific circumstances. We will cover these below.
Payouts
When you win at blackjack, you will always receive even money. For instance, if you beat the dealer’s hand by one point and bet $10, your winning hand will earn you $20 for a net profit of $10.
Double Down
Blackjack players are allowed to double down on their initial bet, doubling their money if their hand has an ace as well as a ten or face card. A full double down involves placing a side bet equal to the amount staked; this is sometimes called a “doubling down for one.” Players can also choose to double down for less than they initially bet, in which case they keep their original stake and make another wager equal to half of their original bet.
The most profitable hands to obtain are naturals, which pay 3 to 2. If you bet $10 and are dealt a blackjack, you will be paid $15 plus your initial stake for a net profit of $25.
Many online casinos pay 3 to 2 on naturals, but many land-based gambling establishments have introduced blackjack tables where the payout on this hand is adjusted to 6 to 5. Experienced players know about this detail, but some inexperienced players don’t notice it or don’t realize how important it is.
Double Down TipsWhen doubling down, many experts recommend either doubling down for the full amount or not to double down at all. After doubling down, players receive only one more card to add to their two-card hand. At some blackjack tables, players are allowed to double down only on specific two-card totals, such as 9, 10 and 11. However, others do not allow doubling down after splitting pairs.
Some players mistakenly believe that the goal of a double down is to improve one’s hand total. It is not. Players double down so that when the dealer has a weak hand, they can collect more money than they would have been able to if they had not doubled down.
Insurance
When the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, players can bet on insurance to ensure that the dealer does not get a blackjack. The player makes a wager equal to half of their initial stake and wins if the dealer does not have blackjack.
Surrender
In some blackjack games, players are allowed to surrender their hands before the dealer checks for a blackjack. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, the player surrenders their cards and gets half of their bet back. In poker, players who fold lose all of their bet but at least have the chance to keep their cards secret.
If a player has an ace and a ten-value card in the hole, they can take out insurance against the dealer having a natural. If the dealer does not have a natural, then the player wins their bet, but if they do have one, then the player loses their bet.
Some blackjack players believe it’s a good idea to accept insurance when offered; others think it’s a bad bet for recreational players because the dealer’s chances of being dealt a blackjack are not as great. However, if you have a natural hand (i.e., an ace-6 or better), always accept insurance if it’s offered. Another general rule states never to accept insurance with weak hands; these include 2-3 or 2-4 upcards.
One variation of the surrender rule applies to casinos that allow players to forfeit their hand before the dealer looks at his or her hole card. This is called “early surrender,” and it works in favor of the player.
The “late surrender” rule is always an option at blackjack tables where it is available. If the dealer first checks their hole card and finds a natural, they will flip over the card immediately, thus giving players no opportunity to “surrender” their hand. With early surrender, this isn’t an issue; however, late surrender gives the house a slightly higher edge than early surrender does–which is why it usually prevails at tables where this option is allowed.
Soft and Hard Hands
In blackjack, a player can be dealt the Ace of Spades and assign it either a value of 1 or 11. When this happens, the player is in a better position than the dealer since it is highly unlikely that they will bust (go over 21) when drawing a third card. The dealer will then remind them of this fact by saying “3 or 13”, “5 or 15” and so on.
Push
Ties and push hands occur when both player and dealer have the same totals. In a tie, the player keeps their original bet with no additional winnings. Some blackjack variations deviate from this rule and have the dealer take all ties with the exception of naturals.
While it is generally a good idea to double down or take an additional card when you have a total of 19 or 20, there are two exceptions: Soft 19 and Soft 20. These hands are already in the safe zone, so it would be best for the player to leave them alone altogether.
A hand with no Ace, or whose Ace is inflexible–such as an Ace and 2 or an Ace and 3–is called “hard” or “stiff” because it’s more likely to bust. Aces count as 1 in this case, not 11.
When the dealer and player are both dealt totals of 12 through 16, it is often called a breaking hand because another hit is likely to lead to a bust. The same goes for when the dealer is dealt an up card with a value of 2 through 6; these cards are more likely to lead to a bust. In these cases, most blackjack players recommend staying on your total and letting the dealer take the next hit.
Casinos rarely offer push tables where dealers win on ties. This rule variation usually applies on cruise ships and during charity events. If you participate in a charity event, you may want to forfeit your chips on ties as a donation. Otherwise, avoid these tables because they boost the house edge to 9.5%.
Blackjack Types
In recent years, casinos have made blackjack more interactive by introducing new variants on the game. Each variant comes with its own quirks, rules and side bets. Here are some of the most popular variations:
Blackjack Surrender
Blackjack Surrender is one of the most popular blackjack variations, which allows a player to forfeit half of their initial bet when folding.
Perfect Pairs
Perfect Pair is a fun blackjack variant where players can diversify their session by placing different side bets on whether or not the initial deal will result in a pair.
Blackjack Surrender, like other casino games, offers players a number of standard options for playing. In addition to the standard options for playing, Blackjack Surrender by Playtech allows players to choose from some special options when the dealer shows a ten-value card.
Perfect Pairs side bets are paid out when a player has two cards of the same rank. The payouts for this side bet differ between casinos and software developers; however, most payouts range from 30 to 1 for suited pairs and 10 to 1 for off-suit pairs (five-card and six-card).
Pontoon
In the United Kingdom and Australia, blackjack has a variation called pontoon. A natural in this version of the game is called “pontoon”–which is where the game gets its name.
Double Exposure
In the game of blackjack, Double Exposure is a popular variation in which both cards dealt to the dealer are exposed. To balance this advantage for the house, several rules changes have been made.
In pontoon, a five-card trick reward is given to players who have a hand totaling 21 or less.
The rules for Pontoon are similar to those for blackjack, with one major difference. If a player draws five, six or seven cards without busting in a friendly game of Pontoon, that player automatically wins regardless of what the dealer has. In blackjack, there are no automatic wins; ties go to the dealer.
In Pontoon, you can request additional cards, called a twist. When declining more cards, the player says stick. The dealer’s two cards are dealt face down.
For example, in Double Exposure blackjack the dealer takes all ties except those on naturals. Players are not allowed to re-split pairs, and they receive even money on blackjacks.
Blackjack Switch
Blackjack Switch is a variant of blackjack that offers players an interesting twist. In most games, you’re dealt one hand and can switch the top cards so as to improve your chances of winning. However, in Blackjack Switch you’re dealt two hands and given the option to switch the top cards between them. This gives you greater control over your chances of winning or losing. In addition to that, some online variants include side bets where players can bet on being dealt a pair or four of a kind at the start.
Choosing a Blackjack Casino
There are hundreds of online casinos that offer blackjack, allowing fans to enjoy the game on their desktop or mobile devices. Fans who are considering switching from landbased to online play should consider these three criteria when selecting an online casino to play at.
Bonuses for Blackjack
To increase your chances of turning a profit when playing blackjack online, sign up with real-money accounts and deposit for the first time. You’ll be awarded a welcome package full of various bonuses, including the welcome package itself.
Security
When playing online, consider the following: first, find out whether the casino has a license and which authority regulates it.
Blackjack can be a great game to play with bonus credits, because it has a low house edge and acceptable volatility. You can take advantage of various promotions, including cashbacks, sign-up and reload bonuses. Just make sure to check the terms and conditions of the blackjack bonuses you’re interested in to see if they are excluded from participation in free play.
A casino’s licensing information is just as important as its reputation. If you see a casino’s licensing information on its website, you can rest assured that it is legitimate and trustworthy. If the casino has no licensing information, do not register there.
A licensed, regulated gambling operator will protect your financial information with the latest security technology, so you can trust that your details are safe.
Payouts
When playing blackjack online, it’s important to know the average return of each game. The outcome of each round is determined by a special software called Random Number Generator (RNG).
Game Variety
If you play blackjack, it would be best to choose an online casino that offers a wide range of titles from several software developers.
To ensure that a blackjack game is fair, and to prevent advantage players from gaining an edge, the dealer reshuffles the cards after every single hand. A blackjack variant with a high theoretical percentage (typically 99% or 97%) is better for the player than one with a low theoretical percentage (typically 85%).
For instance, if you play Classic Blackjack at Slotland Casino and bet $100 per hand, over the long term you can expect to lose $0.50 per hand on average. However, this number is only accurate over the long term and may not matter as much if you play frequently. It would be better to opt for the variant mentioned above instead of choosing a game where the average payout is estimated at 94.30% over the long term.
To keep your interest, you should choose an online casino with a variety of games. If the site offers only one or two variants of a game, you will quickly grow bored and look for another gaming operator. Live dealer games broadcast in real time are also an attractive option.
Winning at Blackjack
Blackjack is a game of dependent events, meaning that what happens one round of play depends on what happened in the previous round. The basic strategy for winning at blackjack involves knowing when to hit, stand and split your cards. There are several ways to go about this, depending on your own personal goals when playing the game and the amount of efforts and time you are willing to invest into becoming a consistent winner.
Rules and Card Values
To be a successful blackjack player, rookies should first learn and master the rules of the game. They should also know which rules are advantageous to them.
Basic Strategy
One of the smartest ways to reduce the house edge in blackjack is to follow basic strategy. This strategy is designed for recreational players, who are looking to have fun rather than win a lot of money.
Card Counting
Blackjack players who are skilled in card counting can increase the advantage they have over casinos. One way they do this is by keeping track of the ratio of high and low cards.
In the tables where a natural would pay 6 to 5, the house has the upper hand. Avoid these tables to increase your chances of winning.
The best option is to find a table where naturals return 2 to 1. These tables are rare, however, so any 3 to 2 table will do. If you’re allowed to surrender early and re-split pairs of Aces, that’s even better. Also, if you can double down on three or more cards, your expected return will be increased.
When you are dealt a pair of Queens, for example, never split them. Soft hands include pairs of Aces that can be either 1 or 11 and should always be played optimally.
Expert players recommend hitting or doubling down on soft totals of 18 against a dealer showing a ten-value card or a 9. The reason is that the total of 18 appears stronger than it really is; 59 out of 100 times, you will lose if you stand on a total of 18 against the dealer’s face card. However, if you hit your soft total of 18 against the dealer’s 10 or 9, you will only lose 57 out of 100 hands. Therefore, the mathematically sound decision with such soft totals would be to draw rather than stand.
Basic strategy is a chart that shows the best decisions to make based on your own hand and the dealer’s face-up card.
The chart shows the dealer’s up cards and the totals of your hand. Find the squares where your situation intersects with the row and column corresponding to the dealer’s up card. This will help you decide whether to hit or stand.
When you’re playing online against the RNG, it can be helpful to keep a chart close at hand. Basic strategy is proven to work because it’s based on computer simulations involving over 9 billion possible combinations of player hands against all dealer up cards.
When there are more high cards remaining in a shoe, the player has better odds. When the deck is rich in tens and aces, card counters increase their bets.
The odds of blackjack increase for the players when there are more low cards in the deck. When the ratio of high cards drops down, so will the bet sizing of card counters. This helps maximize one’s profits and reduce their losses. There are various blackjack counting systems that can be used with great success at the blackjack table, but so far Hi-Lo has gained the most prominence.
Blackjack History
Blackjack is a card game that has been around for hundreds of years. There is still debate as to when, where and how the game first appeared. Miguel de Cervantes, a Spanish author who lived from 1547-1616, mentioned blackjack in one of his short stories written at the beginning of the 17th century.
Some historians believe that blackjack was developed from an earlier Spanish game where players tried to obtain a three-card hand with a total of 31. Other historians assert that blackjack comes from two other card games, Chemin de Fer and French Ferme.
Twenty-One, or Blackjack as it is known in the United States, was originally played by French colonists. In the 1930s, casinos in Las Vegas introduced a promotion that paid 10 to 1 for a natural–an Ace of spades and a black Jack.
Online Blackjack Featuring Real Money – Play Now!
If you are looking for real money online gambling games, you can play live dealer blackjack. Live Casino software companies have become an integral part of the iGaming industry, and you can find a wide selection of live blackjack tables online. These games are only available to players who make real money bets because it’s too expensive to offer live dealer games in fun mode.
Below, we’ve gathered a list of live dealer blackjack games that you can try for real money. Some games offer better rules and payouts than others, so it’s important to know what makes each one unique.
Top 10 Real Money Live Blackjack
1VIP Blackjack
If you enjoy live dealer games, you might be familiar with Evolution Gaming. This company provides Live Casino solutions to players, offering a variety of different blackjack games. One of the most popular variations is VIP Blackjack, which can be played for real money at Evolution casinos.
Blackjack tables at Evolution casinos typically offer multiple VIP tables, each with a different dealer and varying bet limits to suit players’ preferences. However, the rules for all VIP blackjack games are the same. The minimum bet starts at €50 and goes up to €5,000.
Eight decks are used in the game, and the dealer must stand on a 17. Players can double any two cards but not after splitting. Splitting pairs is allowed only once per hand, and players receive one card per split pair. Aces can be split only once if they’re valued at 1 or 11. Insurance bets pay 2 to 1, while blackjack pays 3 to 2. The game is considered a push if players tie with the dealer.
You can place your bets on a hand played by another player at the table.
In addition to the regular gameplay, VIP Blackjack will also include side bets like Perfect Pairs and 21+3. Players who make a Perfect Pairs side bet win when their first two cards are a pair. There are three different types of pairs: same suit (25 to 1), same color (12 to 1), and mixed suit/color (6 to 1).
Players can win a side bet called the 21+3 if they have specific cards, such as three of a kind or a straight flush. The payouts for these combinations are 100 to 1, 40 to 1, 30 to 1, 10 to 1 and 5 to 1.
VIP Blackjack Gameplay
2Infinite Free Bet Blackjack
Evolution’s Infinite Free Bet Blackjack is a revamped version of Infinite Blackjack, with the provider adding the Free Bet option to the gameplay. While playing this live table, you can get double bets on hard 9 and 10 as well as split any pair but 10s, Js, Qs, and Ks for free. The betting limits tend to range between €1 and €1,000.
In addition to the basic rules, Infinite Free Bet Blackjack has several special features. A standard 52-card deck is used, with eight decks being used in multiplayer games and one deck in single-player games. The dealer always stands on 17 and pushes bets when tied or when the dealer busts with 22.
Doubling is allowed on any two initial cards dealt to the player, with this option being free on hard 9s, 10s, and 11s. After splitting any pair but 10s, Js, Qs, and Ks, each hand gets a single card. There is no double after a split. If the dealer shows an Ace, players can make use of insurance–which pays 2-to-1 if it is won–but blackjack pays only 3-to-2.
In addition to the regular game, Infinite Free Bet Blackjack offers optional side bets. The pairs bet is won when you are dealt a pair of any suit or color, or when you get a suited pair. Just like in VIP Blackjack, the 21+3 side bet is won when the dealer’s face-up card and your first two cards form a combination. The HOT 3 side bet is similar to 21+3 as you will be betting on two initial cards plus the card that dealer reveals. In this case, however, you will be betting on certain totals or triple 7s. As the name of the bet suggests Bust It is won when dealer busts; payout depends on number of cards busted by dealer.
This game’s return to player (RTP) is estimated at 98.45%. It has several side bets with RTPs of 95.90%, 94.60%, 96.30%, and 94.12% respectively.
Infinite Free Bet Blackjack Gameplay
3Power Blackjack
Evolution Live Dealer Blackjack is one of our favorite games. The dealer will peek for blackjack on any J, Q, K, or Ace. And if you hit two pairs, you can double or triple your bet! The bet limits vary between €1 and €1,000 at most casinos.
In this Blackjack game, the dealer always stands on a soft 17, and checks for blackjack more often than face-up cards being Aces. Players can double down, split any cards of equal value and make use of these betting options after a split. Only one card can be dealt on any Split Ace.
A blackjack pays 3 to 2 when you win and the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack. If the dealer shows an Ace, you can bet on insurance, which pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has a blackjack. A push happens when both you and the dealer have 21 or near 21.
Like other live dealer blackjack tables by Evolution, Power Blackjack offers players the side bets Hot 3, 21+3, Any Pair, and Bust It. The rules for winning these optional bets are the same as those in Infinite Free Bet Blackjack and other live dealer blackjack games offered by Evolution.
The RTP of Power Blackjack is based on the first hand in the shoe. The RTP of the base game is 98.80%. The potential return on Any Pair, 21+3, Hot 3, and Bust It are 96.58%, 96.09%, 96.21%, and 94.71%.
Power Blackjack Gameplay
4Lightning Blackjack
If you love real money betting and want to try out a game with big bonus features, we recommend you try Lightning Blackjack. Game limits start at €1 and can go up to €2,500 per betting round.
Blackjack is often played with 8 decks of cards, which makes it more likely that the dealer will bust. Players can double on any two initial cards and split any pair, both of which require no fee. The player cannot double after splitting their cards, but they can split Aces as many times as they want.
If the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, players can make use of an insurance bet, which pays 2 to 1 if the dealer gets a blackjack. If players win by getting a blackjack, they will be paid 3 to 2 or up to 25 times their bet depending on whether they have placed a multiplier on their hand.
Live blackjack players must pay a 100% Lightning fee, which doubles their bet on each new hand. The usual minimum bet is €1 and the maximum is capped at €2,500. If you lose, your original bet will not be returned to you, but the Lightning fee will be deducted from your balance. A random multiplier may be displayed on screen after bets are closed, representing the value that will be added to your next hand.
Lightning Blackjack offers players a chance to multiply their winnings by up to 25 times. Certain hand values will carry a random multiplier, which can be as high as 15x. The multiplier is stored and applied to the next hand you play on Lightning Blackjack.
If you choose to quit the game but win a multiplier, that same multiplier will be available on your next bet within 180 days. If you increase the original bet amount and Lightning fee in the round with the applied multiplier, your win will be based on the Lightning fee paid when the multiplier was won. The base game has an RTP of 99.56%, which is calculated based on the first hand from the shoe.
Lightning Blackjack Gameplay
5Speed Blackjack
Evolution Gaming’s Speed Blackjack is a live dealer casino game that allows players to enjoy a faster version of blackjack. The rules are the same as a standard game of blackjack, but the play is faster. Speed Blackjack has seven seats at the table and also an option called Bet Behind, which allows players without seats to place bets on other player’s hands.
Speed Blackjack can be played at various table limits, with different dealers and rules. VIP tables are also available for high rollers.
After players place their bets on the blackjack table, the dealer draws one card to each player and one card to the house. Then they deal out the second cards, followed by their hidden card. Once all players have made their moves, the dealer reveals their hand. If they are not holding 17, they draw another card. The pace of the game is quick and makes it a great option for seasoned players who do not enjoy longer gaming sessions.
The rules for this blackjack variant are straightforward, with the game using eight standard 52-card decks. The dealer always stands on 17 and checks for a blackjack if holding an Ace. Players can double in any two initial cards but cannot double after a split. It is allowed to split any pair of cards of the same value, with one split per hand allowed. For example, if you receive Aces as your first two cards, you can split them into two hands or play each Ace separately. When you split Aces, however, only one card will be dealt to each split Ace; thus, if you split Aces and receive 10 and 2 as your second two cards, you will have 10 in one hand and 2 in the other hand (not 10 and J).
In blackjack, the dealer’s up card is known as a face-card. Players can purchase insurance when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, which pays 2 to 1. A winning hand pays even money while a blackjack will pay 3 to 2. A tie between the dealer and player results in a push.
Speed Blackjack has only seven seats, but you can bet on other players’ hands with the Bet Behind option. Perfect Pairs and 21+3 are the side bets available in this version of Speed Blackjack by Evolution. The house edge for the base game is 99.29%.
Speed Blackjack Gameplay
6All Bets Blackjack
We recommend All Bets Blackjack by Playtech to those looking for a thrilling online gaming experience. This version of blackjack is similar to Evolution, with side bets available that can pay out up to 2,000:1.
The game is played with eight standard 52-card decks, and no player is dependent on the decisions made by others.
When the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace and blackjack is not possible, he/she checks for a natural blackjack. The insurance bet pays 2 to 1, and a player can double after splitting any pair and after splitting Aces. However, there is only one split allowed and no doubling is allowed after a split. If players split Aces, each Ace will receive only a single card.
All Bets Blackjack is a standard game of 21 with the added excitement of side bets.
When you make a side bet on Player/Dealer Pair, you can bet on either the dealer or the player drawing a perfect, colored, or mixed pair. You can also bet on both of them drawing pairs. The payout for a perfect pair is 25 to 1; the payout for a colored pair is 12 to 1; and the payout for a mixed pair is 6 to 1.
You can make another side bet when playing All Bets Blackjack: the 21+3 wager. This pays 5 to 1 if your two cards and the dealer’s face-up card form a Flush, Straight, Three-of-a-Kind, Straight Flush or Suited Three-of-a-Kind. Another side bet called Lucky Lucky pays 2 to 1 for certain combinations like 19/20, suited 21 and 678; 15 to 1 for suited 678; 25 to 1 for 777; 50 to 1 for 777; 100 to 1 for 678; and 200 to 1 for 7777.
The Top 3 optional wager lets you make a side bet on the dealer’s face-up card and your first two cards. It offers payouts of 90 to 1, 180 to 1, and 270 to 1 for three-of-a-kinds and straight flushes respectively.
All Bets Blackjack offers a side bet called Buster, which pays when the dealer busts. The payout depends on how many cards the dealer busts with: 8 cards pays 2,000 to 1.
The main game of this slot has an RTP of 99.46%, while the player’s advantage in the side bets is as follows: Pair bets have a 95.9% chance of winning, 21+3 has a 96.3% chance of winning, Lucky Lucky has a 96.1% chance of winning and Top 3 has a 91% chance of winning. Buster has an RTP of 93.83%.
All Bets Blackjack Gameplay
7Quantum Blackjack Plus
Playtech’s Quantum Blackjack Plus offers a twist on the traditional game of 21. Players can choose from five different levels of play, ranging from $5 to $2,000. The dealer deals a single hand and players play their hands individually. Since multiple people can join in on each hand, there is no limit on how many people can participate. There are random multipliers that can be applied to players’ hands during the course of play.
Playtech made several changes to the Quantum Blackjack live dealer game in 2021. These alterations include a reduction from eight decks to six of the standard cards and an automatic shuffling machine that shuffles the cards after each hand. The dealer will stand on soft 17 and peek at a hole card when drawing for blackjack.
When you win with a busted hand, the game is considered a push. There is one exception: You can win if your hand contains a multiplier card and the dealer busts. In that case, your winnings are not returned to you. If there is no multiplier applied to your hand, the standard 3-2 payout applies.
In Quantum Blackjack Plus, as in the original version of the game, multipliers can be chosen at random. On each round, three to five multiplier cards are chosen; the value of these multipliers ranges from 2.5x to 10x. When you play with a hand that includes all five multiplier cards and one of them has a 10x multiplier, your cumulative multiplier will be 50x.
The newer version of Quantum Blackjack has lower multipliers but more multiplier cards. This gives players more chances to multiply the value of their hands.
In addition to the main game, Perfect Pairs and 21+3 side bets will be offered. The RTPs of these side bets are 93.89% and 95.38% respectively.
Quantum Blackjack Plus Gameplay
8ONE Blackjack
Join a Pragmatic Play-powered online casino and you can play a number of Live Casino games, including blackjack. Players can pick the dealer they find most charming, as well as bet limits at different tables. One of Pragmatic Play’s signature titles is ONE Blackjack; see what all the fuss is about!
ONE Blackjack is a live casino game that allows up to eight players to play blackjack simultaneously at the same table. Each player will have the same initial two cards, but they can make decisions independently of each other and bet any amount between €1 and €2,500.
ONE Blackjack is played with eight standard 52-card decks, which are automatically shuffled. The dealer must draw to 16 and stand on all 17s; doubling down is allowed on any two initial cards, with only one card dealt after doubling down.
In ONE Blackjack, you have the option to split pairs of identical cards. This includes Aces and after splitting Aces, you no longer have the option to hit. After the dealer shows an Ace, players can make use of insurance–a bet that pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has blackjack. The payout for a blackjack is 3 to 2 and Six Card Charlie applies: a win is awarded when players have not surpassed 21 with six cards in their hands. When both player and dealer tie, it’s considered a push and all bets are returned. The potential return for base game play in ONE Blackjack is 99.28%.
One Blackjack will offer players the option of making side bets like 21+3, Perfect Pairs, Bust Bonus, and Crazy 7. The rules for winning these side bets are identical to those in other blackjack games offering these options. Payouts for 21+3 and Pair combinations are also standard ones. If the dealer busts during this round, ONE Blackjack can also pay out a bonus for this event.
Crazy 7 is a side bet made on blackjack hands containing sevens. With this wager, players can win for one 7, two 7s, three 7s in a row (Suited Triple 7s), or three sevens of the same suit (Suited Triple 7s). The payouts are 5 to 1, 25 to 1, 150 to 1, and 2,000 to 1 respectively for the first four combinations.
ONE Blackjack Gameplay
9Mega Fire Blaze Blackjack
If you like your blackjack games with a bit of extra excitement, Playtech’s Mega Fire Blaze Blackjack may be right up your alley. This game offers standard Vegas-style blackjack with the addition of an exciting side betting option that may multiply your win between 1x and 1,000x.
Mega Fire Blaze Blackjack is a variation of the popular card game blackjack, with one major difference–it can accommodate up to eight players at once. In addition to having two hands instead of one, each hand uses eight standard 52-card decks instead of six. An auto shuffler mixes the cards on every new round, and the dealer always hits on 16 and stands on 17s. The dealer also checks for a blackjack if he/she is holding an Ace.
In a standard Vegas-style blackjack game, you can double on any two initial cards, split any pair including Aces, and double after a split. Re-splitting is not allowed and you will only receive one card to a split Ace.
In addition to regular side bets, Mega Fire Blaze Blackjack offers players Perfect Pairs and 21+3. The payouts for these wagers are standard: 1:1 for a pair of cards; 3:2 for a three-card 21; and 6:5 for a four-card 21. As far as the base game goes, players should have no problems understanding the rules.
The Mega Fire Blaze Bonus play is a side bet, which means it’s optional. If you play it, you can bet any amount on the Mega Fire Blaze section on the betting grid. If you qualify for this bonus round, you’ll win money if certain cards are dealt by the dealer. The minimum requirement to qualify is five points.
The bonus round can be entered by collecting a certain number of points. The higher the number of points collected in the base game, the higher tier of the Mega Fire Blaze Bonus you can enter. The Minor, Mini, Major, Grand, and Mega rounds will be unlocked by respectively collecting 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 points.
When Mega Fire Blaze Bonus is activated, a grid with three spins will appear on the screen behind the dealer. Each spin has a multiplier that can be won. If all three columns in the grid are covered in multipliers, special random multipliers will be awarded during the bonus round. The higher the level you’ve unlocked, the bigger the multipliers during Mega Fire Blaze Bonus can be.
Although the Mega Fire Blaze betting grid can be a bit confusing, the game’s interface is designed to help you concentrate on the base game without worrying whether you qualify for the bonus play or not. The base game’s RTP is 99.55%, while the RTPs for the Mega Fire Blaze Bonus game (which is triggered when three or more “Mega Fire Blaze” symbols appear in any position on adjacent reels), Perfect Pair side bet (which is triggered when two identical symbols appear on adjacent reels), and 21+3 optional bet (which requires players to wager an additional .25 credits per spin) are 97.47%, 95.9% and 96.3%.
10Super Stake Blackjack
If you are interested in playing blackjack for real money, we suggest you try StakeLogic’s Super Stake Blackjack. This variation gives players the chance to play standard blackjack and add multipliers to their wins.
Super Stake Blackjack is a variant of traditional blackjack that comes with its own set of rules. Unlike the standard game, where players can bet on their hands and win even money, 3 to 2 on blackjacks, or 2 to 1 on insurance bets, Super Stake Blackjack imposes a 50% fee on every hand played. So, if you bet €/$2 per hand and win your hand, you will only get €/$4 back as opposed to €/$6 or €/$7.50 for blackjacks and insurance respectively.
Super Stake Blackjack is a live dealer game, but it’s different from other live dealer games in that there’s no limit on how many players can join the table at once. Every player makes their own decisions independently of all other players, based on Basic Blackjack Strategy.
Super Stake Blackjack uses the same rules that you’d find in a Vegas casino. Eight decks of cards are used, with a cutting card placed at the end of the fourth deck, which marks the point at which a new shoe is added. The dealer hits on 16 and stands on 17; double down and splits are available options for players.
Blackjack with multipliers is interesting because it’s possible to get a random multiplier card, which can multiply your stake by up to 60 times its original value. A maximum multiplier of 60x will be applied when you draw one of six golden cards on the initial deal. If any of these special cards appear after doubling or hitting the hand, their multipliers won’t apply to your total winnings.
When you have a Golden card in Super Stake Blackjack, you can double down. If you do, your bet will increase by the amount of your original bet but the 10x multiplier will still apply only to your original stake. If your hand ends up winning, your return will be €/$28, with €/$20 being the multiplied €/$2 stake and €/$8 being the even money return on your €/$4 stake after doubling.
In addition to the main game of blackjack, players can bet on four side bets: Golden Pairs, 3, Golden 3, and Buzz-T. The Golden Pairs bet pays out when players get a suited pair of cards (such as a pair of kings or a pair of queens), with each type of pair having a different payout rate.
The 3 side wager is a side bet that pays for two cards in the player’s hand and a dealer card. If you have three of a kind or better, you will get paid 100 to 1, 40 to 1, 30 to 1, 10 to 1 and 5 to 1. If you make the Golden 3 side bet, you bet on suited threes and get paid 270 to 1 (6 cards), 180 to 1 (5 cards), and 90 to 1 (4 cards).
The Buzz-T side bet will allow players to enjoy a bonus payout if the dealer busts. A higher number of cards busted by the dealer means a higher payout for players, with 250 to 1 offered for an eight-card or greater bust.
The mandatory fee for Super Stake Blackjack reduces the actual return to player to 98.01%. This is done to increase the chance of hitting a Golden card, which multiplies your winnings by ten.
Super Stake Blackjack Gameplay
Blackjack FAQ
Is blackjack a game of skill?
Blackjack is not solely a game of chance. Although luck is involved in any card game, blackjack is not solely dependent on luck because players have some control over the cards they receive from the dealer. Even the most skillful players cannot get the cards they want unless cheating is involved.
Blackjack is a game of chance, but the element of luck can be reduced by making optimal decisions in all hands. This would increase players’ overall expected return on their bets.
Is blackjack a beatable game?
Blackjack is one of the few casino games where players have a chance to beat the house. Dice and roulette wheels have no memory, but cards do. Every time a hand is played, the odds change.
If the shoe has a high proportion of high cards, the player will be at an advantage. If low cards dominate, the dealer has an edge. A skilled professional knows how to exploit the richness of a shoe to his advantage but even a recreational player can reduce his long-term losses with perfect basic strategy.
Will the bad decisions of other players affect my odds?
The myth that bad players are a boon to the house is widespread among inexperienced and overall clueless players. The truth of the matter is that if everyone’s play was on par, the house would not be able to generate any profits from its blackjack tables.
Since you cannot know what cards a player has in their hand, it is impossible to predict how their bad playing decisions will affect the outcome of a round. A bad player’s hit could help you just as easily as it could hurt you.
What is better – playing single-deck blackjack or multiple-deck blackjack?
Blackjack players get a slightly smaller edge over the house in multi-deck games. This is because the removal of a single card from the deck has less impact on this game compared to a single-deck game, where the removal of one card from an eight-deck shoe changes things much more. It is easier for card counters to keep track of cards in single-deck blackjack games than it is in multiple-deck games, but many professionals prefer playing at tables with multiple decks because these often come with better rules and payouts than single-deck tables, where natural bets pay 6 to 5 instead of 3 to 2.