Blackjack Rules Variations

The rules of most online blackjack games are pretty standard. The object of the blackjack game is to beat the dealer by getting closer to 21 without going over. Cards are worth their face values, except face cards are worth 10 and aces are worth 1 or 11. The player has discretion on how to play his hand: stand, hit, split, double down, or surrender. The dealer is bound by the blackjack rules to hit on anything up to 16, and to stand on hard 17 or any 18 or over.

The rules noted above are the standard rules of blackjack. But there are many blackjack games in the online casino, and there are variations in the fine points of the blackjack rules. Some blackjack games use one deck of cards, others use two, four, five, or eight. In some games the dealer stands on soft 17, in others he hits. In some games you can double down on any two cards, in others only on certain card totals. And some blackjack games allow you to surrender half your bet when your hand looks bad, in others you can't.

There are also many variations in the blackjack splitting rules. Can you split unlike 10-value cards, like a king and queen? Can you re-split if you receive another pair after splitting. Can you double down on your split hands? Is there a special rule saying split aces can receive only one more card, or can you hit as per usual after splitting aces? The answers to these questions vary among the different blackjack games.

Knowledge of the variations in the rules of blackjack is your best guide to choosing which online blackjack game to play. Maybe you're looking for a single-deck game, or a game in which the dealer stands on soft 17, or a blackjack game in which you can double down whenever you want to. If you know the rules of the different blackjack games, you can make an informed decision. Otherwise, picking a blackjack game is just a random shot in the dark.

Knowledge of the rules is also important in making sure that you are using the correct blackjack basic strategy table. If you are playing a 4-deck game, and using a blackjack basic strategy table designed for a single-deck game, you will not be playing the optimal blackjack strategy. You won't want to play blackjack with a disadvantage like that, especially if you are playing blackjack for real money.

Finally, you don't want to have any rude surprises in the middle of playing blackjack online. If you really want to double down on a soft 15, and the blackjack software is not giving you a double down option, you could get angry or frustrated. The better option, however, is to understand that the rules of your particular blackjack game do not allow doubling in that situation. Then you can either decide calmly to hit instead of doubling, or you can search for a different blackjack game that does allow doubling down on soft 15. Either way, understanding of the rules will lead to your playing online blackjack in a good mood and a calm spirit, instead of with rancor and bitterness. That's certainly no way to have fun.

The rules for the online blackjack games offered at All Slots Online Casino are as follows:

Atlantic City Blackjack: Eight decks; dealer stands on soft 17; double down on any two cards; split up to three times (but split aces only once); unlike 10-value cards may be split; split aces receive only one card; double down permitted after split; surrender allowed.

Big Five Blackjack: No dealer's hole card; instead, the dealer receives his second card after the player has finished playing his hand. Five decks; dealer hits on soft 17; double down on any two cards; split up to three times (but split aces only once); unlike 10-value cards may be split; split aces receive only one card; double down permitted after split; surrender allowed.

Classic Blackjack: No dealer's hole card; one deck; dealer stands on soft 17; double down only on 9, 10, or 11; split only one time; unlike 10-value cards may not be split; hit on split aces allowed; no double down after split; no surrender.

European Blackjack: No dealer's hole card; two decks; dealer stands on soft 17; double down only on 9, 10, or 11; split only one time; unlike 10-value cards may not be split; hit on split aces allowed; no double down after split; no surrender.

Vegas Downtown Blackjack: Two decks; dealer hits on soft 17; double down on any two cards; split up to three times (but split aces only once); unlike 10-value cards may be split; split aces receive only one card; double down permitted after split; no surrender.

Vegas Single-Deck Blackjack: One deck; dealer hits on soft 17; double down only on 9, 10, or 11; split only one time; unlike 10-value cards may be split; split aces receive only one card; no double down after split; no surrender.

Vegas Strip Blackjack: Four decks; dealer stands on soft 17; double down on any two cards; split up to three times (but split aces only once); unlike 10-value cards may be split; split aces receive only one card; double down permitted after split; no surrender.

The blackjack games described above all follow some variations of the standard rules of blackjack. But there are also other blackjack games that have far more unusual rules. In Spanish Blackjack all the 10s are removed from the deck, a player's 21 beats the dealer's 21, and special bonuses are awarded for certain card combinations. In Double Exposure Blackjack, both of the dealer's cards are face up, which gives the player a big advantage in determining his blackjack strategy, but the dealer wins all ties, definitely a disadvantage.

In Triple 7s Blackjack there is a side bet that makes you eligible to win bonus jackpots for one or more 7s in your hand, including a really big progressive jackpot for three 7s of Diamonds. Other unusual online blackjack games with unusual blackjack rules include Bonus Blackjack, High Streak Blackjack, Perfect Pairs European Blackjack, Pontoon, and Super Fun 21 Blackjack.

There is a reason why All Slots Online Casino offers so many different blackjack games. The reason is to allow you, the consumer, the freedom of choice to select the best online blackjack game for you, depending on your preferences, your moods, and your style of play. And, of course, you don't have to play blackjack the same way all the time. You can choose European Blackjack as your everyday blackjack game, Double Exposure when you are in the mood for something different, and Triple 7s on days when you are feeling unusually lucky.

The important thing when playing blackjack online is to know that different blackjack games have different rules, some to your advantage and some to your disadvantage, and to use this knowledge to pick the best blackjack game for you.