Even for seasoned blackjack veterans, the variety and breadth of blackjack variations can be pretty intimidating at times. Especially now, with the constant growth of legal online casinos, the selection has never been greater. If you’re looking at Virgin Online Casino asking, “How do I pick a blackjack game?” we’re here to help break it down for you.
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How Do I Pick A Blackjack Game At Virgin Online Casino?
When you first visit Virgin Casino Online and head to the blackjack options, you’ll see things like First Person, Poker and Pairs, Multihand, Vegas Strip, Classic — what do all of these games entail? The bottom line is, at their root, they are all the blackjack you know and love. Having different variations such as the games pictured above is a win for you because it enables you to pick the rules, side bets, and styles that you enjoy the most. In addition, it gives you more opportunities to find a game with a low house edge.
At their core, all of these blackjack games come down to the basic rule of beating the dealer. Where they change, for the most part, is in their offered side bets, which we’ll go into more detail about below. But, when you’re thinking about how to pick one, the bottom line is you should pick the one that allows you to play the way you’d like.
Top 5 Blackjack Games At Virgin Online Casino
If you’re looking to pick a blackjack game at Virgin Online Casino, you’ve got no shortage of options. We’ve picked the top 5 most interesting to highlight below:
1. Single Deck Blackjack
Single Deck Blackjack is arguably the most coveted version of blackjack both online and in-person at brick-and-mortar casinos. The reason is simple: Single Deck Blackjack has the lowest house edge of any blackjack variation when the casino uses an automatic deck shuffler between rounds, which is true for all online blackjack. So, if you’re simply looking for the best blackjack at Virgin Online Casino based on the odds, Single Deck Blackjack is your best bet – and it’s available for as little as $1 per hand.
2. First-Person Lightning Blackjack
This game lends itself to full immersion by putting you in a first-person perspective. In lightning blackjack, you’re guaranteed a multiplier between 2x and 25x the winning score. That multiplier will then be saved for use in the following round, where your payout will be increased by that number if you win.
3. Blackjack Blazing 7’s
This game offers an additional optional side bet based on how many sevens you receive in your hand. It also features an insurance option.
4. Blackjack X-Change
Perhaps one of the most unique blackjack variations, in this game you’re actually allowed to buy and sell cards, which gives you more control over your outcome. In this variation, blackjack pays a standard 3:2.
5. Blackjack Poker & Pairs
Blackjack Poker & Pairs features the above-mentioned Perfect Pairs and 21+3 side bets, which will delight online and land-based players alike. As with Blackjack X-Change, this game offers a standard 3:2 blackjack payout. In addition, insurance pays 2:1 and the dealer must stand on 17 and must draw on 16, which helps to increase your odds of winning.
Blackjack Basic Rules
Come closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over. That’s blackjack at its most basic, and that’s what you should keep in mind when you play. While most cards come in at face value, face cards are worth 10, and aces are worth 1 or 11.
You’ll begin the game by receiving two face-up cards, while the dealer receives one face-up card and one facedown card. Once the initial cards have been dealt, provided the dealer didn’t get 21 with their first two cards, you’ve got a selection of moves you can make:
- Hit: Receive an additional card.
- Stand: Lock your current hand value.
- Double Down: Double your wager and receive an additional card.
- Split: This can only be done if you’ve been dealt a pair. This splits them into two separate hands, where each hand will receive another card. Afterwards, you can hit, stand, double down, or split again on each hand individually.
- Surrender: This option is not available in all variations. If available, it allows you to surrender your hand early and only forfeit a part of your wager instead of the entire bet.
If you tie with the dealer, that’s known as a push and you’ll receive your bet back. If you beat the dealer, you’ll double your wager. If you get a two-card hand worth 21 points, that’s known as a blackjack and will give you a larger payout that depends on the variation you’re playing.
We’ve put together a nice blackjack strategy chart to help increase your odds of winning, and recommend you keep it open to reference as you play.
What Are Side Bets?
Side bets are additional wagers that can be placed in addition to the wager you place directly on the result of your hand. We’ve included some popular side bet options below for your reference.
Perfect Pairs
This is a bet that the first two cards you’re dealt will be a pair. This side bet has three typical payouts, ranging from 5:1 for a “mixed pair” (same value, but different suit and color), all the way up to 30:1 for a “perfect pair” (same value and suit).
- Mixed Pair – 5:1
- Colored Pair – 12:1
- Perfect Pair – 30:1
21+3
The 21:3 blackjack bet is the most common side bet. This bet pays out if your two cards and the dealer’s face-up cards make a poker combination, from a flush (5:1) up to three-of-a-kind (100:1). We’ve listed the full typical payouts below:
- Flush – 5:1
- Straight – 10:1
- Straight Flush – 40:1
- Three of a Kind – 100:1
There are other side bets available in different blackjack variations, but these are far and away the most popular and can be found both online and in land-based casinos.
Parting Advice on Blackjack at Virgin Online Casino
Our final advice is, as we mentioned earlier, to pick the blackjack game that you enjoy the most. That may be the game that offers the best odds, or it may be the game that offers you the side bets or features that are most exciting to you. Everyone likes what they like, but with blackjack, you can rest assured that you’re playing one of the best odds casino games available no matter what.
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