For those of us who like to play online blackjack games, variety is important. The crucial part of an online blackjack game, other than visual quality and ruleset, are certain interesting innovations that make the game feel fresh. We have outlined some game elements that make modern online blackjack games feel special and different from their land-based counterparts. Note that developers usually put the name of these mechanics in the title so users can easily recognize them when browsing online blackjack games.
Without further ado, let us take a look at some fun online blackjack features.
Multi-hand Option
One of the basic additions to an online blackjack game that makes it feel innovative is the addition of multiple hands for the players to control. This essentially gives the player more options in their decision-making and allows for more freedom. Multi-hand Blackjack games usually allow the user to play 3-5 hands at once against a dealer. Each hand would be treated separately and have its own cards and bets.
Usually, this is a benefit for the player from a gameplay point of few. However, there are some disadvantages. The main one is that with multiple hands come multiple bets that need to be placed. This is all well and good when you are gambling with a dollar chip on each one but once you start wagering higher values things can get out of control. When playing a multi-hand blackjack game, players should adjust their bets according to the number of hands available. Otherwise, the high number of hands being played per hour can lead to some serious overlooked losses.
Side Bets
Blackjack side bets are an excellent way to introduce a little high-risk high-reward spice into your game. Side betting is not for the lighthearted, however. While they provide massive payouts, they are usually quite rare. That being said, they are quite fun to gamble on from time to time.
The usual side bets in blackjack include pairing. This can be betting on whether your hand will consist of two same-color cards or same values, or both. Another popular side bet is the poker-inspired 21+3 side bet. This one introduces several poker combinations into the mix that players need to land with their two cards and the dealer’s card. These bets like a Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, and so on usually have quite high payouts too.
While side betting is quite an interesting mechanic, be careful how much of your bankroll you invest in them.
Re-Deal
Some online blackjack games have implemented the re-dealing feature. This feature has a couple of variations but it more or less focuses on receiving a new combination of cards if your opening hand is weak. In some games, players can also use the Re-Deal feature to change the dealer’s hand or the last card they receive.
This is definitely one of the more powerful online blackjack mechanics, but it comes with a cost. In these types of games, the re-deal option is usually pricy. The price is based on the combination of cards you have and the dealer’s hand. If the dealer has a more powerful opening card like an ace or a 10-value card, the re-deal is more expensive. However, some games offer the re-deal option for free once in a while.
Win Streak
Another exciting feature is the win streaks. Online blackjack developers sometimes implement bonus rewards when players chain victories together. Games like High Streak Blackjack will have the player place a regular bet and then a special win streak bet. This win streak bet will then grow as the player keeps winning and continually reward the player for each consecutive win.
If the player loses then the win streak bet is lost too. After a certain number of wins, usually 5, the wins streak bet will return to the player. This is a great feature that is always fun to have but can it be played around. A sneaky thing you can do if you are a card-counting player is wager the win streak bet once you feel the deck is rich in high-value cards that suit you. All in all, win streaks are fun in all casino game formats and developers can never go wrong by implementing them.
Miscellaneous Special Features
Finally, there are several smaller special features you can encounter in online blackjack games. These features are nothing major like multiple hands or re-dealing your cards, but they are nice little extra benefits.
An interesting example is the Free Bet feature in some games. For example, these allow the player to have a free double-down if they get a hard 9, 10, or 11. In Evolution’s Free Bet Blackjack this feature is implemented quite well.
Another example are surrender features. These special mechanics revolve around giving the player an option to surrender in various ways. The Cashback surrender is one we have seen often where the player can receive an extra reward if they surrender in certain situations.
Finally, and least extravagant on our list, there are the strategy-chart online blackjack games. These online games implement a strategy chart in the online game itself. The strategy chart can therefore be reviewed inside the game. Additionally, some games implement this feature by having the chart suggest optimal moves during play. This is a great feature for beginner players who need a little help while they learn the game.