Double Exposure Blackjack
Both of the dealer's cards dealt face up — in exchange for even-money blackjacks and losing every tie.
About Double Exposure Blackjack
In Double Exposure Blackjack the dealer's first two cards are both dealt face up. There is no hole card to guess about: you know the dealer's total before you make a single decision.
That information is worth a great deal, so the game takes it back with two rules. Blackjacks pay only even money instead of 3:2, and the player loses on ties — a push in standard blackjack is a loss here.
Playing it well means forgetting the standard chart and playing against the dealer's actual total.
Rules at a glance
| Dealer cards | Both dealt face up |
|---|---|
| Decks | Varies by casino |
| Dealer on soft 17 | Varies by casino |
| Surrender | Varies by casino |
| Blackjack pays | 1:1 (even money) |
| Ties | The dealer wins |
Rules vary between casinos. Always check the blackjack payout and the dealer's soft 17 rule; they move the house edge more than anything else on this page.
What makes it different
Both dealer cards visible
You play against the dealer's real total rather than the average of what the hole card might be.
Even-money blackjack
A natural pays 1:1 instead of 3:2.
Ties lose
Matching the dealer is no longer good enough: a tie that would push elsewhere costs your whole bet.
How seeing both cards changes play
A few decisions become certainties once the dealer's total is on the table. The standard play shown is the one for the dealer's up-card alone.
vs
Hard 20 vs dealer 20
Standard: Stand Double Exposure: Hit
Standing is a guaranteed loss because ties go to the dealer. Only an Ace wins, but that beats certain defeat.
vs
Hard 12 vs dealer 16
Standard: Hit (dealer shows a 10) Double Exposure: Stand
The dealer must hit a hard 16 and will bust more often than not. Any card you take only adds risk.
vs
Hard 11 vs dealer 20
Standard: Double (dealer shows a 10) Double Exposure: Hit
Only 21 beats a visible 20. A double gets one card; hitting lets you keep drawing towards 21.
Frequently asked questions
What is Double Exposure Blackjack?
A blackjack variant in which both of the dealer's first two cards are dealt face up. In return, blackjacks pay even money and players lose on ties.
Do you lose ties in Double Exposure Blackjack?
Yes. A tie that would be a push in standard blackjack is a loss for the player.
Can I use normal basic strategy in Double Exposure?
No. Standard basic strategy assumes you cannot see the hole card. Here you play against the dealer's actual total, which changes many decisions.
Sources
Other blackjack variants
- European BlackjackThe no-hole-card game — the dealer takes a second card only after you have finished acting.
- American BlackjackThe hole-card game that every standard basic strategy chart is written for.
- Atlantic City BlackjackEight decks, but one of the most player-friendly rule sets you will find.
- Vegas Strip BlackjackFour decks, dealer stands on soft 17, and no surrender to fall back on.
- Single Deck BlackjackThe best odds in blackjack — or the worst, depending entirely on the payout.
- Spanish 21Every ten removed from the deck, and a pile of player bonuses to make up for it.
- Blackjack SwitchTwo hands at once — and the right to swap their second cards before you play them.
- Double Attack BlackjackSee the dealer's up-card first, then decide whether to double your bet.
- Super Fun 21Double on any number of cards and win automatically with six cards totalling 20 — at a 6:5 blackjack payout.
- PontoonThe British cousin of blackjack: twist, stick, buy — and a five card trick that beats a 21.
- Chinese Blackjack (Ban-Luck)Southeast Asia's home game of 21 — where an Ace can be worth 10 and a pair of Aces pays 3 to 1.