Playtech software stands alone in offering some common blackjack variations that a player may encounter in a brick and mortar casino. Players can enjoy standard blackjack with or without the option to surrender a hand or blackjack switch, where the player is allowed to switch cards from two hands in order to get the best possible initial hand. Click for other software versions - boss media, cryptologic, microgaming and realtime gaming.
Game play can be sped up by selecting an options menu while in the blackjack game and maximizing the speed rule. Players can also enlarge the cards dealt in this options menu. Lastly, players can turn off the dealer’s voice and music while playing to speed up the game play slightly.
The following are the house rules for each blackjack variation that Playtech offers and the specific house advantage (HA) percentage:
Blackjack – 6 deck shoe, dealer does not peeks on 10s and Aces, dealer stands on soft or hard 17, double on any two cards, double after split, split up to 2 hands, Aces split only once. HA = .57%
Blackjack Surrender – 6 deck shoe, dealer peeks on 10s and Aces, dealer stands on soft or hard 17, double on any two cards, double after split, split up to 2 hands, Aces split only once, late surrender allowed. HA = .38%
Pontoon – 8 deck shoe, dealer hits soft 17, player must hit on 14 or less, double after split, double on any 2 to 4 cards one time only, player loses ties, dealer peeks on 2 down cards for pontoon, split up to 2 hands, 10 and Ace after splitting Aces considered pontoon, 5 card trick (5 cards without busting) beats any hand except dealer Pontoon. HA = .17%.
Blackjack Switch – 6 deck shoe, dealer peeks on 10s and Aces, dealer hits on soft 17, double on any two cards, double after split, split up to 2 hands, Aces split only once.
In this variation, the player is dealt two hands with all cards face up. The player can then decide whether to switch the second cards in each hand. This option is along with additional rules such as a push on 22 for dealer and blackjack paying 1 to 1 instead of 3 to 2. HA = .16%
The player can also make an optional “Super Match” bet, which pays on any of the following combinations in the player’s first 4 cards:
1 pair pays 1 to 1
3 of a kind pays 5 to 1
2 pair pays 8 to 1
4 of a kind pays 40 to 1
HA on the “Super Match” bet = 2.55%
Blackjack Progressive – 6 deck shoe, dealer does not peeks on 10s and Aces, dealer stands on soft or hard 17, double on any two cards, double after split, split up to 2 hands, Aces split only once. HA = .57%
Optional bonus bet given if secondary bet is played and pays on player’s first two cards:
1 Ace pays 5x secondary bet
2 Aces pays 50x secondary bet
2 suited Aces pays 100x secondary bet
3 Aces pays 250x secondary bet
4 Aces pays 2500x secondary bet
3 suited Aces pays 5000x secondary bet
4 suited Aces pays Jackpot
An interesting note on Playtech’s blackjack variations is the inclusion of the “10-card Charlie” and “7-card Charlie” rules. When playing standard blackjack, if the player receives 10 cards without busting (10-card Charlie), they automatically win the hand. When playing blackjack surrender, if the player receives 7 cards without busting (7-card Charlie), they automatically win the hand. The “7-card Charlie” rule benefits the player by subtracting .01% from the house advantage.
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