5 Unique Types of Blackjack You’ve Never Heard Of

What are switch and double-exposure blackjack, and why should you play them? Read on.

Casinos

Blackjack, by far, is the most popular table game at land-based establishments that permit Class III gaming and on casino online USA platforms.

Blackjack, and online blackjack are derived from the family of games that includes the French Vingt-et-Un and the British Pontoon, this house-banked, player versus dealer pick has ruled the table gaming genre for the past seventy years. In other words, since casinos assumed the form we know them as today.

The top reason that makes this beat the dealer game stand out from its competition, aside from a ruleset that virtually everyone knows, is the dramatic variety it offers. Concerning blackjack, dozens of variations of this classic exist, many of which cannot get found at any brick-and-mortar locale on Earth.

Live dealer and software-powered blackjack variations may not allow gamblers to count cards and gain an edge over their operator through this famous method. But they do let them boost their gaming journey with generous bonuses that supply vast amounts of free-play cash that significantly extends their sessions.

Hence, those interested in exploring novel/unique twenty-one fun should read on to discover tweaked variations of the planet’s most renowned casino card gambling choice, the odds these picks offer, and where they are available.

  • Top Rated Casino
    #1
    5/5

    BONUS $400
    Min Deposit $20 650+ Slots
    Deposit Methods
    E-Wallet
    E-Wallet
    ecoPayz
    ecoPayz
    InstaDebit
    InstaDebit
    +6
    Interac E-transfer
    Interac E-transfer
    Mastercard
    Mastercard
    Neteller
    Neteller
    Skrill
    Skrill
    Trustly
    Trustly
    Visa
    Visa
    Payout Speed

    1 day (Process) up to 10 days (payment)

    #2
    4.9/5

    BONUS $1000
    Min Deposit $20 300+ Slots
    Deposit Methods
    eCheck
    eCheck
    ecoPayz
    ecoPayz
    Flexepin
    Flexepin
    +6
    InstaDebit
    InstaDebit
    Interac E-transfer
    Interac E-transfer
    Maestro
    Maestro
    Mastercard
    Mastercard
    Neosurf
    Neosurf
    Visa
    Visa
    Payout Speed

    24-48 hrs

    #3
    4.8/5

    BONUS $1500
    Min Deposit $20 400+ Slots
    Deposit Methods
    Bank Transfer
    Bank Transfer
    ecoPayz
    ecoPayz
    InstaDebit
    InstaDebit
    +7
    Interac E-transfer
    Interac E-transfer
    Mastercard
    Mastercard
    Neosurf
    Neosurf
    Paysafe Card
    Paysafe Card
    Skrill
    Skrill
    Visa
    Visa
    Voucher
    Voucher
    Payout Speed

    1-5 days

    #4
    4.75/5

    BONUS $3000
    Min Deposit $25 12+ Slots
    Deposit Methods
    American Express
    American Express
    Bank Transfer
    Bank Transfer
    Bitcoin
    Bitcoin
    +8
    Bitcoin Cash
    Bitcoin Cash
    Discover
    Discover
    Ethereum
    Ethereum
    Litecoin
    Litecoin
    Mastercard
    Mastercard
    Person to Person Methods
    Person to Person Methods
    Ripple
    Ripple
    Visa
    Visa
    Payout Speed

    Instant (Bitcoin) 10 days (check)

    #5
    4.72/5

    BONUS $3000
    Min Deposit $20 150+ Casino Games
    Deposit Methods
    American Express
    American Express
    Bank Transfer
    Bank Transfer
    Bitcoin
    Bitcoin
    +8
    Discover
    Discover
    ecoPayz
    ecoPayz
    Ethereum
    Ethereum
    Litecoin
    Litecoin
    Mastercard
    Mastercard
    Ripple
    Ripple
    Skrill
    Skrill
    Visa
    Visa
    Payout Speed

    1 to 15 Business Days

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack switch was invented in 2000 by Geoff Hall, who patented it in 2009, Switch is a variant of twenty-one where a player gets dealt two hands instead of one. The extra catch here is that upon viewing his given cards, a gambler has the option to exchange or switch the top ones in his hands. Thus, the name – Blackjack Switch.

SB

Blackjack Switch is one of the most popular 21 variants ever.

Hall, a card counter, came up with the idea for Switch after getting frustrated when playing two hands at a table and getting weak cards in both. In 2003, he modified Switch to include a Push on 22 rule. Interactive gaming juggernaut Playtech loves Switch, offering an excellent version of it. Nevertheless, other providers have a take on this variant, and some highly reputable safe online casinos have developed their Switch RNG-fueled options.

  • House Edge: 0.58%
  • Where to Play: BetUS

Blackjack Surrender

Blackjack surrender is an option that some blackjack tables allow, and it refers to a gambler surrendering his half to get half of his initial stake back. It is a tactic that permits players to control their losses when they assume they have a low chance of beating the dealer’s hand.

There are usually two opportunities presented for surrendering. These are early and late ones. The first is when all the cards have gotten dealt. The latter scenario is after the croupier has checked for blackjack and before the player receives his third card.

Again various online game developers have their take on Surrender, with Playtech creating some of the most popular internet choices. Few online casino games for real money exists that allow as much decision-making as Blackjack Surrender.

European Blackjack

European Blackjack has the same rules as the traditional version with one essential difference. A hand starts with every player getting two hole cards. Then the dealer receives one card face up, and he will get his second one after gamblers have played their hand. If a player gets dealt an ace and a ten-value card as his initial combo, he will instantly win the round.

European Blackjack usually gets played using anywhere between two and eight decks, with blackjacks paying 3:2. Microgaming and Betsoft have super-established RNG versions of this variant, but others are also available at online casinos for real money.

Double Exposure Blackjack

ss

Double Exposure has been around since 1979. It is one of the oldest 21 variations.

In Double Exposure, dealers get two cards face-up in the initial deal. That supplies gamblers with more information regarding their winning potential than first deals in other versions of blackjack. Also, in most Double Exposure games, surrendering and buying insurance is off the table. They are not options. Blackjack here pays 3:2, and other wins feature a 1:1 ratio.

Double Exposure debuted at Vegas World in 1979, and it is good to know that it requires a slightly different blackjack strategy than classic twenty-one.

  • House Edge: 0.67%
  • Where to Play: BetUS

Zappit Blackjack

Here is another Geoff Hall invention. It is a casino product that many Las Vegas and Atlantic City venues offer and one that can get easily located online. The name of this game comes from the option to zap cards. That refers to gamblers having the option to zap any two cards in scenarios where their hands total a hard fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen. These (zapped ones) then get replaced with new ones, making the game more dynamic and enjoyable for most players.

Doubling and splitting are usually an option at most Zappit tables. Scientific Games owns the right to Zappit, and the internet variation of this product got created in collaboration with Red 7 studios. Check out our casino reviews to learn what sites carry it.

  • House Edge:15%
  • Where to Play: Bovada

Without question, the classic, old-school form of twenty-one is the most popular one in most corners of the globe. Its gameplay takes minutes to grasp, and pretty much everyone with as much as a fleeting interest in casino-style online gambling already knows it.

How Many Types of Blackjack Tables Are There?

CAS

The quality of a 21 table also depends on the offered pay table and betting options.

It is hard to count all the different blackjack variants out there. A conservative estimate would be that there are at least twenty versions of this famous card gambling pick. Highly-played ones we did not mention are Spanish 21, Perfect Pairs, and Multi-Hand Blackjack.

However, when someone refers to types of blackjack tables, they can also mean the payout structure games implement and the betting options they allow.

For example, most blackjack games in Las Vegas now pay 6:5 instead of the old 3:2 standard. Some allow surrendering and splitting aces, while others don’t. So, many factors determine the quality of a twenty-one game, and the same criteria apply when assessing live dealer VIP blackjack and software choices.

Note that gamblers can also use famed betting patterns such as the Paroli and Martingale system when trying to earn riches over the World Wide Web at virtual/streaming twenty-one tables.

Joseph Ellison

Joseph is a dedicated journalist and horse racing fanatic who has been writing about sports and casinos for over a decade. He has worked with some of the UK's top bookmakers and provides Premier League soccer tips on a regular basis. You'll likely find him watching horse racing or rugby when he isn't writing about sport.

Back To Top
Back To Top