Blackjack is probably the most popular card game in the casino besides poker stats, and there are several variations in terms of both the games that are offered and variations in the rules from casino to casino for even the standard game. The articles in this section examine some of these different blackjack games and variations.

Blackjack is easily the most popular table game offered in gambling establishments. It is a game which requires concentration, nerves of steel, a keen eye, and more than just a little luck thrown in. Called blackjack (or “21” in Nevada casinos), it is essentially a banking game, the object of which is to achieve a hand whose points are closer to 21 than the banker’s hand, but without going over 21. It is most often played with two (counting the house dealer) to seven players.

The name "blackjack" is used in Britain for a game which is similar to Crazy Eights (they refer to the American game of blackjack as Pontoon). Although, strictly speaking, Pontoon has somewhat different rules too.

Below is a list of rules variations you'll find in different casinos:

1. Dealer Stands on Hard 17-- This is the classic, and most common, rule of blackjack. Under this rule, the dealer will stand as soon as his/her score reaches 17 or above (without an ace in the hand). (Strictly speaking, this isn't even a rules variation, since it's almost always in place.)

2. Dealer Stands on Soft 17-- The dealer stands if she has 17 or better and an ace in his hand. This is more advantageous than if the dealer hits a soft 17.

3. Dealer Hits on Soft 17-- Soft 17 is an optional rule which is not used widely, since most casinos require their dealers to stand on a 17 or better, but it is always used in Blackjack Switch (which we’ll discuss later). This variation requires the dealer to draw another card if he’s holding a soft 17 (that is, a 17 with an ace in the hand). However, the dealer will still stand on a hard 17. This variation slightly increases the house edge.

If the dealer his on soft 17, the house edge is increased by about 0.2%.

4. Doubling-- Considered one of the most profitable player options, some online casinos entirely prohibit doubling, while others allow it. Some casinos only allow doubling on the first two cards, while others allow doubling on any number of cards. (Being allowed to double down on any 2 cards improves your expectation by a little more than 0.2%.)