By John M.
The journey of blackjack from the dimly lit taverns of 1600s France to the smoke filled gaming halls of 20th century Las Vegas was a fairly routine one. Over the course of those 500 or so years and thousands of miles of travel, the game didn’t change too much.
In the past two decades however, the game has changed and shifted more than ever before thanks to the emergence of the online gambling industry brought on by the digital revolution. This move has breathed new life into the game of blackjack, bringing it to a new audience of players and a much, much wider market.
Finding the Right Provider
Before we delve any further into our exploration of the best blackjack variants to play online, it’s important to remind readers that finding the right provider is absolutely vital. Before signing up to any new site or provider we would advise you to do your research, not only to verify whether you can trust a particular site, but to see if they have the games that you want to play. Thankfully, specialists are on hand to help at Casino.org, Jemma McColgan helps you find the best casino in Canada while also covering any bonuses and any potential downsides.
The Online Gaming Revolution
Today the blackjack landscape is largely dominated by online platforms that offer an unprecedented level of convenience, customisation and variety to players. The transition to digital gaming has not only made the game of blackjack more accessible, but it has also opened the door for a greater level of innovation.
The second most significant moment for blackjack came with the large scale proliferation of mobile gaming towards the end of the 2000s when Steve Jobs and Apple launched the first iPhone, thus paving the way for a smartphone takeover.
Since then almost everyone on the planet has access to a smartphone, and, as such, access to mobile casino gaming. This new and unheard of level of online accessibility introduced the game of blackjack to brand new demographics.
Whilst enjoying the classic game of blackjack, the new and increased playing base demanded more in the way of innovation and excitement.
The Best Online Blackjack Variants
Classic Blackjack
This variant remains the foundation on which all the other variants are built. Played with standard 52-card decks, the objective is to achieve a hand value as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it.
The face cards are worth 10 with Aces being worth either 1 or 11. To win, players must beat the hand of the dealer or hope that he or she goes bust. The fact that the player has to beat rather than simply match the dealer is how the house edge is built into the game.
However, there are ways in which individual players can use strategy to mitigate and reduce the house edge.
European Blackjack
This variant of the game has a subtle but significant rule change that impacts upon general gameplay as well as the house edge. In this variant the dealer only receives one card initially, receiving their second only after all players have completed their hands.
This variant thus eliminates the possibility of dealer blackjack being revealed early and affecting player decision making.
This game allows players to play two hands simultaneously with the ability to switch the second card dealt to each hand. This complex modification allows for more exciting and strategic gameplay, but it relies on a greater level of concentration and mental gymnastics from the individual players.
All 10-value cards (excluding face cards) are removed from the deck, leaving a 48-card deck that dramatically alters the probabilities inherent in the game. In order to balance the disadvantage that this gives to the player, Spanish 21 has a number of specific rules that help to redress the balance. The most significant of which is the rule whereby a player hitting 21 always wins, regardless of the dealer’s hand.
Spanish 21 is the ideal game for those who have grown bored of classic blackjack and are looking for a bit of chaotic fun.
Atlantic City Blackjack
This variant was set up specifically to reduce house edge as much as possible and ensure regular wins for players. To do that, eight decks are used and the dealer checks with both ace and 1-value up cards to provide greater chances of natural 21s.
In addition to that, the dealer will always stand on soft 17 and allow the player the ability to double down on any two cards.
In Summary
Online blackjack has something for everybody. Whether you are new to the game and looking to simply get acquainted with the rules of are an old-hand looking for something a little out of the ordinary.
Despite the range of variants on offer, the most appealing aspect of online blackjack remains the fact that you can play it on the bus, on the sofa or even lying in bed.
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