There’s perhaps no casino table game that’s more accessible to players of all experience and skill levels than blackjack. While numerous live dealer casino games add creative twists, the basic premise remains the same in all of them: beat the house by getting closer to 21 without going over that number.
It’s that low barrier to entry that has made blackjack enormously popular, and the different blackjack variations have only built upon that success. As players gain experience, the numerous blackjack variants keep the game fresh and exciting.
At the same time, that means that players can make mistakes in choosing blackjack variants that aren’t the best match with their experience level or preferred way to play. The keys to choosing the right blackjack variant include knowing what you like and then understanding the various types of online blackjack that work best for your individual tastes.
Assess Your Preferences Before Choosing a Blackjack Variant
The philosopher Socrates said that the path to wisdom begins with knowing yourself, and that’s absolutely true when it comes to deciding on the best type of blackjack to play. There are two key things to consider when it comes to your individual blackjack style: tolerance for risk and knowledge level.
Knowledge level is pretty simple. It’s just about how well you understand the nuances of the game. For example, how easily can you look at all the cards in a blackjack game and deduce the likelihood of getting the card you need to win? Can you quickly determine whether it would pay for you to double down in a given situation?
In tandem with that component is your tolerance for risk. Just because you know the relative odds of getting the ace you want doesn’t mean that you’re comfortable with those odds. You need to recognize whether you prefer to play it safe or are ok with taking some losses in pursuit of bigger payouts.
As soon as you‘re confident that you know your playing style, the next step is to learn about the multiple blackjack variants at BetMGM Casino and which of them suits your tastes the best.
Doing so won’t only help you manage your bankroll wisely but also ensure you get the optimum enjoyment out of playing blackjack online.
Which Kind of Blackjack Fits Your Style?
With your playing style identified, the fun part begins – checking out the various types of blackjack games to find which suits you best. With BetMGM Casino, you’ll not only find all the best blackjack variants but frequent promotions that can make your experimentation easier on your bankroll, too.
While you can certainly read about all the different types of blackjack tables, and you would do well to familiarize yourself with blackjack rules before you start the game, the best way to learn is by playing. With the varying bet amounts on BetMGM, you can play around and not deplete your gambling budget.
With enough experience and study, you’ll find variants that suit your taste. For example, if you’re comfortable with higher-risk games, you might find that playing BetMGM’s exclusive Double Up Blackjack fits your style.
If you prefer to hedge your bet by giving yourself a chance to win big on a side bet while playing conservatively on the main action, progressive blackjack games could be for you.
While learning all the various BetMGM blackjack games and which of them suits you best might sound like more of an investment than you’re looking for, with enough luck, it’s an investment that could pay off.
How Players Cheat Themselves By Rushing Into Blackjack
When it comes to exhausting your bankroll, there’s probably no faster way to do that than simply jumping into the game and throwing it all down on a few hands in the blind hope that you get a good deal. Not only is this a bad blackjack strategy, it probably won’t be much fun either.
A better approach is to take your time and try out various blackjack types and ways of playing. Find out which number you should stay at and where you want to hit. Learn the ways to combine cards to get the result you want and how the variants affect which cards to prioritize.
If you’re new to BetMGM’s blackjack variants, a great place to start your blackjack journey is to use your casino welcome bonus code on a few hands after you register. That way, you can gain some valuable experience at very little monetary cost. Playing around with blackjack variants could lead to more instances of you standing to collect when the dealer busts.
Most Popular Types of Blackjack
Playing blackjack with confidence is more than a matter of simply feeling lucky. It’s the result of knowing the game well and having enough experience that you can react to any situation.
It’s easiest to gain this level of familiarity with the most popular versions of blackjack because you’ll find the highest number of these popular games. Many of these games emphasize the basic rules that all blackjack variants build on too, making them a good starting point.
Classic (American) Blackjack
When you think of a traditional game of blackjack, this is the type you’re likely picturing. Within this category, there’s still some room for variation.
For instance, you might find both face-down and face-up versions of American or classic blackjack. The probabilities aren’t substantially different in either case, so which you play is a matter of availability and preference.
You can find both live dealer and online blackjack versions of American blackjack regularly. A second type of blackjack is nearly as common.
European Blackjack
European blackjack is a popular version among players who prefer more conservative approaches to the game. This variant typically includes two decks of cards compared to the usual six to eight in American blackjack, decreasing the number of potential combinations.
However, European blackjack also contains a wrinkle in which the dealer typically only starts the game with one face-up card instead of two cards. Players have to make their moves based on that solitary card, which makes the game more challenging.
Many European blackjack games also restrict when blackjack players can double down to hands that add up to nine, 10, or 11. A final consideration is that European blackjack also limits players to a single split opportunity in most cases.
Other blackjack variants focus on the aspect of blackjack that divides players’ interests between several hands. It’s a great way to learn quickly or demonstrate your expertise.
Multi-Hand Blackjack
For many players, the preferred path to making a profit with blackjack is playing multiple hands at the same time. However, this can be a test for your blackjack bankroll, as it’s easy to burn through it quickly if you run into some bad luck.
The big benefit of these games is that the extra hands give you more opportunities to try to collect a win. But whether those wins will be enough to supersede your losses is still a matter of luck.
If you’re a more conservative player, you might not enjoy multi-hand blackjack as you would a single-hand game. Additionally, for less-experienced players, multiple hands can get confusing and increase the chances of making a wrong move.
At the same time, playing multi-hand games can act as a kind of crash course. For players who enjoy the challenge of figuring the probabilities, multi-hand games can be ideal.
Speed Blackjack
People love blackjack because it can be a fast-paced game. No variant builds on that aspect of the game better than Speed Blackjack. As the name suggests, playing fast is to your advantage.
Quick decisions mean higher priority for cards if you’re taking a hit and player timers are shorter in this version. This game is perfect for experienced players who want to play several hands in a short amount of time.
Responsible gambling is an important consideration in this variant because the pace of the game can make it easy for losses to pile up. Set a budget with strict loss, time, and win limits before trying out this game.
Blackjack Switch
Have you ever played a multi-hand blackjack game and wished you could swap cards between the hands? If you have, Blackjack Switch is the best blackjack game online for you.
In Blackjack Switch, you can swap the second cards dealt to each of your two hands. From there, the game is a pretty standard American blackjack variant.
The ability to swap cards can make both of your hands stronger but the luck of the draw will still decide whether either hand is a winner. Still, many players prize this extra level of control.
Spanish 21
Among all online blackjack games, Spanish 21 has the most intriguing title. It’s also a unique game in terms of the potential combinations.
In Spanish 21, the 10 cards are removed from all the decks in play. That reduces the potential paths to a natural blackjack or a hand adding up to exactly 21 for everyone.
For that reason, Spanish 21 allows players to surrender after the dealer checks to see if they have hit 21 exactly. It’s a fun twist on the traditional blackjack surrender rule.
Pontoon 21
If you love blackjack but are looking for a change of pace, Pontoon 21 is perfect. It’s very similar but not identical to blackjack.
Among the key differences is that the dealer’s cards remain face down until each player has had their turn. Also, Pontoon requires players to hit with totals of 14 or less.
Pontoon players can double down as much as they like, even after taking a card. Overall, Pontoon can heighten the anticipation and deliver huge payouts if players get lucky.
Double Exposure Blackjack
If you’re used to playing face-down versions of blackjack, you might wonder what it would be like if you could make your decisions knowing exactly what the dealer is holding. Double Exposure Blackjack grants that wish when you play blackjack online.
In this variant, both of the dealer’s cards are face-up. However, the house wins all ties and players do not have the options to surrender or take insurance. Players can also only split once and there are no side bets. All these rule variations make Double Exposure Blackjack a challenging play regardless of the extra information.
Live Dealer Blackjack
Live dealer blackjack is the ultimate in bringing the casino to your computer, phone, or tablet. In this version of the game, you interact with a human dealer who’s dealing physical cards on a real table in an actual studio.
The broadcast streams directly on the app or website you’re playing in and you participate in the game just as you would at a land-based casino in real time. Within this category, there are also different variations to accommodate most players’ budgets and interests.
Some of the variations previously mentioned are available in both live dealer or RNG formats, while some of the titles even allow you to switch between live dealer and basic RNG online play, affording more flexibility. Live blackjack is something you must try just for the experience.
Which Blackjack Variation Should You Choose?
Many aspects of versions of blackjack can act as deciding factors in whether you’ll enjoy them or not. For example, some games treat how you can proceed when playing an ace in blackjack differently, restricting aces to be worth one or 11 only as opposed to giving players options.
Some people determine which blackjack games they’ll play depending on the house edge, too. In most titles, there is a range instead of a fixed number because players’ decisions can alter the house edge.
Blackjack Variants with the Lowest House Edge
Two blackjack variants that are beloved by players because of their potentially lower house edge are Blackjack Switch and Spanish 21. The ability to swap cards in Blackjack Switch manipulates the math in players’ favor while in Spanish 21, the option to surrender after the dealer checks for a natural blackjack does the same.
The blackjack house edge still exists in these games and it’s impossible to completely eliminate it even if you play a perfect game. Still, you statistically stand a better chance to snag some wins in these games compared to other titles.
Blackjack Variants with the Highest House Edge
BetMGM is the best online casino for blackjack players because it offers the best variety, including games with a higher house edge. Some players may wonder why anyone would choose to play a version of the game with a higher range but games with a higher house edge may offer more valuable potential payouts.
In gambling, as in most other aspects of life, you get what you pay for. If you want a chance at the biggest payoffs that BetMGM blackjack titles can offer, you have to take on an appropriate amount of risk.
These games tend to offer intriguing side bets like those in Infinite Blackjack. Perfect Pairs and other wagers of that kind are the path to the biggest prizes.
