In addition to standard blackjack, casinos, both live and online, offer numerous variations of the game. Some of these variations offer side bets and other potential wagers, while some variations simply alter the rules slightly –sometimes in favor of the player, but most often in favor of the house.

Here is a look at some of the most popular variations of Blackjack:

• Single Deck Blackjack

Single Deck Blackjack is played precisely the same as multiple deck blackjack with the exception that the dealer shuffles the cards after every hand. Additionally each player’s cards are dealt face-down to prevent card-counters from gaining an edge, especially if four or five players are sitting at the table –this would give a card counter access to the value of up to 11 of the 52 cards in the deck.

• Multiple Deck Blackjack

Most blackjack games use six or seven decks which allow the casino to deal out numerous hands before reshuffling. With a six or seven deck “shoe” one of the players will cut the deck –this usually has to be at least two decks deep—and the dealer will continue dealing until the cut-card is reached. Multiple deck blackjack is where card-counting systems can come into play.

• Spanish 21

Spanish 21 is the one variant that has really caught on in the world of blackjack. In Spanish 21 the four Tens are removed from the deck, which benefits the house, but players receive a number of advantages as well:

• A five-card hand totaling 21 pays out at 3-to-2
• A six-card hand totaling 21 pays out at 2-to-1
• A hand totaling 21 of seven or more cards pays out at 3-to-1
• A hand of 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suit pays out at 3-to-2
• A hand of 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of the same suit pays out at 2-to-1
• A hand of 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of spades pays out at 3-to-1
• A hand of 7-7-7 Suited pays 50-to-1 IF the dealer’s up-card is also a 7

Here is a look at some of the less popular blackjack variants you might also come across:

• Caribbean 21
• Three Card Blackjack
• Pontoon
• Bonus Blackjack
• Triple 7s Blackjack
• 21 Duel Blackjack
• Anything Goes Blackjack
• High Streak Blackjack Gold
• Hi Lo 13 European Blackjack
• Lucky 7 Blackjack
• Perfect Pairs
• Premier Blackjack
• Atlantic City Blackjack
• Big Five Blackjack
• Blackjack Stand or Bust
• Blackjack Surrender
• Blackjack Swap
• Blackjack Switch
• Double Attack Blackjack
• Double Exposure
• Downtown Vegas
• Elimination Blackjack
• Live Aces Blackjack
• Lucky Blackjack
• Multiple Action Blackjack
• Retro Blackjack
• Super Fun Blackjack 21
• Vegas Strip Blackjack
• Multiple Action Blackjack
• Chinese Blackjack