Blackjack Variants Compared
12 games that all start from 21. Each one changes the house edge β and many change how you should actually play.
"Blackjack" is not one game. The number of decks, whether the dealer takes a hole card, whether they hit or stand on soft 17, what you may double, whether you can surrender, and above all what a blackjack pays β every one of these moves the odds, and some of them change the correct play.
The single most important number on any table is the blackjack payout. A game paying 6:5 instead of 3:2 costs roughly 1.4%, which is more than every other rule difference on this page put together. Check it before you check anything else.
The games below fall into three groups: the classic casino rule sets, casino variants that add a twist of their own, and the traditional and home games that blackjack grew out of. Rules and figures come from Wikipedia, cited on each page.
Side by side
| Variant | House edge | Decks | Soft 17 | Surrender | Blackjack pays | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Blackjack | β0.39% | 2 (commonly 6β8 online) | Stands (S17) | Not offered | 3:2 | Play |
| American Blackjack | β0.46% | 6 or 8 (single and double deck still exist) | Hits (H17) in most modern games; S17 is better for you | Late surrender commonly offered | 3:2 β avoid any table paying 6:5 | Play |
| Atlantic City Blackjack | β0.35% | 8 | Stands (S17) | Late surrender offered | 3:2 | Play |
| Vegas Strip Blackjack | β0.35% | 4 | Stands (S17) | Not offered | 3:2 | Play |
| Single Deck Blackjack | β0.15% at 3:2 | 1 | Varies β S17 is much better for you | Rarely offered | 3:2 or 6:5 β check before you sit | Play |
| Spanish 21 | β0.37% | 6 or 8 | Varies β S17 is notably better | Late surrender, including after doubling | Always beats dealer blackjack, pays 3:2 | Play |
| Blackjack Switch | β0.25% | 4, 6 or 8 | Varies by casino | Varies by casino | 1:1 (even money) | Play |
| Double Exposure Blackjack | Varies | Varies by casino | Varies by casino | Varies by casino | 1:1 (even money) | Play |
| Double Attack Blackjack | Varies | 8 | Stands (S17) | At any time during the hand | 1:1 (even money) | Play |
| Super Fun 21 | Varies | β | Varies by casino | Varies by casino | 6:5 β and beats a dealer blackjack | Play |
House edge assumes perfect strategy for that variant's rules. Figures are approximate and move with the exact rule set on offer β each page states the rules its number belongs to. "Varies" means no single figure is published for the game. Games marked Play can be played free on 21Count now.
Casino rule sets
European Blackjack
β0.39% house edge
vs
The no-hole-card game β the dealer takes a second card only after you have finished acting.
American Blackjack
β0.46% house edge
vs
The hole-card game that every standard basic strategy chart is written for.
Atlantic City Blackjack
β0.35% house edge
vs
Eight decks, but one of the most player-friendly rule sets you will find.
Vegas Strip Blackjack
β0.35% house edge
vsFour decks, dealer stands on soft 17, and no surrender to fall back on.
Single Deck Blackjack
β0.15% at 3:2 house edge
vsThe best odds in blackjack β or the worst, depending entirely on the payout.
Casino variants
Spanish 21
β0.37% house edge
vs
Every ten removed from the deck, and a pile of player bonuses to make up for it.
Blackjack Switch
β0.25% house edge
vs
Two hands at once β and the right to swap their second cards before you play them.
Double Exposure Blackjack
vs
Both of the dealer's cards dealt face up β in exchange for even-money blackjacks and losing every tie.
Double Attack Blackjack
vsSee the dealer's up-card first, then decide whether to double your bet.
Super Fun 21
vsDouble on any number of cards and win automatically with six cards totalling 20 β at a 6:5 blackjack payout.
Traditional and home games
Pontoon
vsThe British cousin of blackjack: twist, stick, buy β and a five card trick that beats a 21.
Chinese Blackjack (Ban-Luck)
vs
Southeast Asia's home game of 21 β where an Ace can be worth 10 and a pair of Aces pays 3 to 1.
Which rules actually matter
| Rule | Effect on house edge |
|---|---|
| Blackjack pays 1:1 instead of 3:2 | +2.3% to the house |
| Blackjack pays 6:5 instead of 3:2 | +1.4% |
| Dealer hits soft 17 (H17) instead of standing | +0.2% |
| Doubling on hard 10 and 11 only (European) | +0.2% |
| No double after split | +0.12% |
| No hole card (dealer draws after players act) | +0.11% |
| Doubling on 9, 10 and 11 only ("Reno rule") | +0.1% |
| Eight decks instead of six | +0.02% |
| Hitting and re-splitting split aces allowed | β0.13% for the player |
| Re-splitting aces allowed | β0.03% |
| Single deck instead of six (at 3:2) | β0.48% |
Effects are approximate and not perfectly additive β rules interact. They are accurate enough to rank tables by. Source: Blackjack β Rule variations and effects on house edge, Wikipedia.
Sources
Rules and figures on these pages are taken from Wikipedia:
- Blackjack β Rule variations and effects on house edge β Wikipedia
- Spanish 21 β Wikipedia
- Blackjack Switch β Wikipedia
- Blackjack β Variants and related games β Wikipedia
- Double Attack Blackjack β Wikipedia
- Super Fun 21 β Wikipedia
- Pontoon (card game) β Wikipedia
- Twenty-one (card game) β Wikipedia
- Chinese Blackjack β Wikipedia
Put it into practice
- Strategy calculatorLook up the correct play for any hand against any dealer up-card.
- Strategy trainerDrill the decisions until they are automatic, with accuracy scoring.
- Counting trainerPractise seven counting systems over a 1β8 deck shoe, with true count drills.
- Play a handTry the decisions out in a full game with a live running count.