Blackjack’s Many Sister Games and Clones Explained
Pop into any online casino of your choosing, and you will likely find that there is a handful of online blackjack games you can play. Most will hover around the classic version, while many others are built upon European Blackjack, American Blackjack and other basic twenty-one variants. It is worth noting, though, that there are a couple of games out there that are very much like blackjack but that have rules that are so far removed from the original game that they are almost sister games, not blackjack variants. We’re going to look at a few of these for you here today.
The Basic Game
Of course, the basic gameplay of blackjack sees a handful of decks used, Aces worth a point (or eleven), 2s through 10s worth their numerical value and face cards (and 10s) being worth ten points. If you got over 21 points, you’ve busted and will lose. The objective is to beat the dealer’s hand by getting as close to 21 points as possible – this much, you know. However, there are games out there that try to do things a little differently. Let’s look at them.
Spanish 21
Spanish 21 uses six to eight decks, and unlike blackjack, the game removes all 10 cards. The faces remain, but the 10s are gone. The dealer will stand on seventeen and hit on sixteen. Blackjack will always pay at 3:2 and always wins. You can split on up to four hands, even aces in this game. Moreover, you can double down on any total and on any number of cards. You can receive various payouts based on the number of cards in a 21-point hand, too. For instance, while you can win 3:2 for a five-card blackjack, a six-card one is worth 2:1, and seven or more is worth 3:1.
Pontoon
Pontoon has quite a few differences between itself and blackjack. This British game is popular in its homeland but also in Australia. The key difference is that Pontoon lets you double down before you hit. Unlike blackjack, Pontoon will also leave the dealer’s cards face down, ties result in losses, and there is a five-card trick prize. If you have five cards and haven’t busted, you can win.
Pontoon pays 2:1 for a natural blackjack (on your first two cards). This prize is set to 3:2 in most blackjack games, so there’s a great reason to play Pontoon instead. Finally, it is possible to double down with three or four cards, split aces, and pocket higher payouts.
Where to Find Spanish 21 and Pontoon Online
Spanish 21 and Pontoon are quite popular variants. Many top online casinos worth their salt will support the games in their blackjack or table game collections. A few other sites may bung them in with the oddities, such as instant win games, arcade games and “others”. Even so, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find these games in most top casino sites in 2023.
