Games

Pick Your Poison – 7 Top Online Blackjack Games

By

Mohit Kamboj

Pop into any land-based casino, and you might fancy your chances at the blackjack table. After all, blackjack is one of the simplest real money card games you can learn to play. If you were to step into the digital domain, though, you’d find that blackjack games come in far more variants than conventional Classic Blackjack. These have their own perks, alter the house edges, and bring a few new rules into play. If you’re looking for an edge when playing blackjack, then opting to have a look at these top blackjack variants could be worth your time.

Classic Blackjack

Classic Blackjack may not actually be a variant per se (it is deemed to be the original game), but we must start somewhere. Often available with the 21+3 Perfect Pairs side-bets in play, Classic Blackjack is worth a mention as this should be the default game for any newbies who are thinking of wagering on the famous card game for the very first time.

Double Exposure

Double Exposure is a blackjack variant that allows you to see both the dealer’s cards. Of course, this good fortune comes with a catch. Instead of blackjack paying 3:2, it pays 1:1. Moreover, you won’t get to take insurance bets, and the dealer wins every tie unless that push is a blackjack. The upside is that because of the doubly exposed cards; the house edge is just 0.67%.

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack Switch gets its name because it allows you to swap cards between two hands. Here, you’re going to need to have two bets of equal size. To compensate for this good fortune, the dealer won’t bust at 22, with the hand pushing instead. Meanwhile, blackjack pays even money instead of 3:2.

Multi-Hand

Multi-hand blackjack is in some ways similar to Blackjack Switch in that you’re playing with several hands at once. However, you’re not going to be permitted to swap cards between those hands. As a result, you’re effectively taking on the role of several players at once. These games are handy if you want fast-paced action.

Pontoon

Pontoon is popular in the UK, where it has as large a following as blackjack. There are slight rule changes (and name changes) in this game, but in many ways, it is largely the same blackjack. In Pontoon, the dealer’s cards are face down, tied hands lose, and you can double down before hitting. Higher payouts, doubling with three or four cards, and the five-card trick hand add extra spice to this game.

Live Dealer Blackjack

Live dealer blackjack is one of the more exciting games to spring up of late. This game is played over the internet using a video stream. Here, a human dealer takes control of the action for you, with your decisions made on-screen. Live dealer games include several blackjack variants, most of which come with side-bets.

High Roller/High Limit Blackjack

Lastly, if you want to bet with sizeable sums, you can’t go wrong with high roller online blackjack. These games aren’t found everywhere, but if you know where to look, you can find epic table limits allowing you to wager anything from a tenner a hand right up to $10,000 a hand or more. Many of these high roller games can also be played in tournaments. If you consider yourself a blackjack pro, they may be worth a look.