Blackjack is one of the oldest casino games still played regularly around the world. Despite the fact that it has several centuries of history behind it, modern versions of blackjack continue to introduce intriguing new rules that have given us different ways to play.
How Random Multipliers Affect the Payout
The most important rule in blackjack is that you win if the total of your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, without going over that figure. The second most important rule is the amount you win if this happens. This has traditionally been 1:1 for any hand other than blackjack. A blackjack hand is where you get 21 in just cards, and it’s paid at 3:2.
This payout rate has been used in most games over the years, but the introduction of live–streamed blackjack for real money has added a new dynamic. Games including Lightning Blackjack and Quantum Blackjack add random multipliers that are applied to certain cards before they’re dealt. If we look at the example of Lightning Blackjack, the payout for a standard win can reach 25:1, while it can climb as high as 49:1 on Quantum Blackjack Plus.
Switching Your Cards Between Two Hands
The next rule change doesn’t affect the amount you can win, but it may make a difference in how you play the game. That’s because versions like Blackjack Switch give the option of moving cards between hands. This game begins with two player hands being dealt, with the option of switching cards between them before you make any other type of move.
This change adds a new level of strategy to the classic card game, as you have the option of trying different approaches to reach 21. It also affects the game’s payouts list, which doesn’t have that special 3:2 blackjack option. However, extra payouts have been added, such as a pair paying at 1:1 and two pairs at 8:1.
Cards That Have Been Removed
The number of decks of cards used in blackjack affects your chances of beating the dealer, which is why online games tell you how many decks are used. Generally speaking, the player’s chance may increase very slightly when fewer decks are used, although the difference is so small that most recreational players won’t even notice it.
A more substantial rule change has been added to Power Blackjack, where all the 9s and 10s have been removed from the eight decks used. This makes it more difficult to get 21 on your first two cards, as you need an ace and a face card to do this. By making this simple change to the common blackjack rules, Evolution has created a new way of playing and has based the game’s return to player figure on a modified basic blackjack strategy that takes into account the lack of 9s and 10s.
These changes are just some of the ways that emerging technology has helped push blackjack and other casino games in new directions. Expect to see the game continue to evolve as different providers create new versions that each add something different.
