Blackjack variants

Pontoon

Pontoon is perhaps most famous as the British version of Blackjack. It originated from the French game Vingt Et Un or Twenty-One and has become popular around the world. As with classic Blackjack, players attempt to make a hand that is as close as possible to 21, and the cards are valued in the same way. The key difference between Pontoon and classic Blackjack is that in Pontoon, both of the dealer’s cards are kept face down. Which obviously has a significant impact on any online Pontoon player’s strategy.

There are also some terminology differences in Pontoon. In this variation, ‘twist’ means ‘hit’, ‘stick’ means ‘stand’ and ‘to buy’ is the same as ‘to double’. In Pontoon, players can split ten-valued cards and they are also forced to twist if their hand is worth less than fourteen.

Multi Hand

This is a popular Blackjack variant, which enables players to play more than one hand at a time, making it ideal for players looking for a challenge. It is also better suited to online play as it can require some time to consider your move in Multi Hand Blackjack. This isn’t always easy when you are playing under pressure at a live casino.

The basic game is the same as with classic Blackjack, but the main difference is that players can play more than one hand. During a Multi Hand session, all of the games are played and treated separately. The big advantage of Multi Hand is that it can lead to much bigger profits, particularly through doubling down. On the other hand, with multiple hands being played at once, it is possible to lost money more quickly.

Multi Hand Blackjack isn’t for everyone. It is popular with many South African online casino players and by playing multiple hands at once. You may find that this variation helps you to improve your overall Blackjack technique.

Blackjack Switch

This is one of the newest variations on Blackjack and in fact dates from 2009. It was invented by a Blackjack player who was dealt two weak hands and realised that both hands could be improved if he was allowed to switch cards. That original idea was developed into Blackjack Switch, which has become popular all over the world. Players have welcomed the ability to play simultaneous hands and the extra dimension of being able to switch cards.

The essential rules of the game are no different to classic Blackjack. The main difference is that players can play two hands and are able to switch their top card to improve the other hand. Both hands are viewed as separate and both require separate stakes. In this version of the game, players can double down on any two cards and they can also double down after they have split, while re-splitting is allowed for up to four hands.

Blackjack Switch is a version of the game that offers an improved chance of winning, as the house edge is lower than with classic Blackjack. It is a challenging game that requires players to play more than one hand and to spot potential switching opportunities. The downside of Blackjack Switch is that in this version, if the dealer’s cards add up to 22 and none of them is an ace, the dealer does not go bust, and all of the players’ hands are tied. Blackjack Switch therefore requires different strategies to the traditional versions of the game.

Conclusion

There are many variations on the classic game of Blackjack, but these are three of the most popular enjoyed by South African online players. All of them add a new twist to the exciting game of Blackjack and offer features that will appeal to all players, no matter what their style.