21Blackjack Variants
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Complete Advantage Play Strategy Guide

21
21

Blackjack Variants

Quick Stats

Expected Edge

1.04% house edge

Bankroll Required

Low ($500-1,500)

Time to Learn

1-2 weeks

Additional Metrics

house Edge
1.04%
free Bet Value
~2.5%
push22 Cost
~3.5%

Overview

The casino pays for your doubles and splits on certain hands. While this sounds amazing, dealer push on 22 gives most of it back. Still, proper strategy makes this very playable.

Strategy

Free doubles on 9, 10, 11 and free splits on all pairs except 10s. Adjust strategy to take maximum advantage of free bets. Hit less and double more aggressively on the qualifying hands. Learn which hands get free bets.

What to Look For

  • Standard 3:2 blackjack payout
  • 6 decks better than 8
  • Dealer stands on soft 17 (uncommon but exists)
  • Lower table minimums for bankroll conservation

Risks & Considerations

  • Dealer push on 22 is costly
  • Can't double on soft hands (except with free bet)
  • Strategy errors expensive when free bets available
  • Higher house edge than standard blackjack

Pro Tip

Always start with proper bankroll management. Even with an edge, variance can be brutal. Never risk more than 1-2% of your total bankroll on a single session, and ensure you have at least 20-30 buy-ins for your chosen stakes.

Basic Strategy Chart

4-6 Decks, S17, DAS, Late Surrender

Legend
HHit
SStand
DDouble (Hit if not allowed)
DSDouble (Stand if not allowed)
PSplit
RhSurrender (Hit if not allowed)
RsSurrender (Stand if not allowed)
Hard Total2345678910A
9
H
D
D
D
D
H
H
H
H
H
10
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
H
H
11
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
12
H
H
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
13
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
14
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
15
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
Rh
Rh
16
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
Rh
Rh
Rh
5-8
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
17+
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S

Pro Tips

  • • Always split Aces and 8s
  • • Never split 5s or 10s
  • • Double down on 11 against everything except Ace
  • • Stand on 17 or higher (except soft 17)
  • • Never take insurance (unless counting cards at TC +3)

More Blackjack Variants Strategies

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