21 Duel Blackjack Review - Diversify Your Gaming with 2 Up Side Bet
The 21 Duel Blackjack game from Playtech offers an interesting and unusual variant of the typical blackjack rules. This is a unique version of the classic card game, with some fun rules that make it fresh and entertaining to play. Read on to find out how to play it and how to get going on the demo play or with real money stakes.
The 21 Duel Blackjack Rules You Need to Know
The starting point here is with 6 standard packs of 52 cards. However, things vary from there on, as the rules are very different from any other online blackjack game you will have played before. Even the dealer’s approach is different from normal, as they stand on 17 but also need to follow some other rules to build their hand. You also need to make some big decisions about which cards to play with.
The 2 Up Side Bet: Details and Special Features
One of the most interesting aspects of 21 Duel Blackjack is the 2 Up side bet. This is based on the player’s initial card and the 2 community cards. If these cards contain any pair, you win 3:1 on your bet. If the cards make up 3 of a Kind, you can win 20:1 on your bet.
This Duel 21 Blackjack side bet adds an edge of excitement to the action, although if you make this bet it does also lower the RTP. In the other features you’re able to decide whether to fold early and, if not, which of the community cards to choose. After that, you hit or stand as usual.
21 Duel Blackjack – The Gameplay Features You Need to Be Familiar With
The gameplay is different from other blackjack titles right from the beginning. You start off by choosing an initial ante bet and deciding whether you want to make the 2 Up side bet too. After this, you are dealt one card face up and another face down. The dealer gets a couple of face down cards and there are also two community cards in the middle of the screen that come into play as the action progresses.
If you fold after getting your first cards, you lose the ante bet. The other option is to raise the bet by adding the same amount as the ante while choosing either of the community cards. You then need to either hit or stand unless you already have 21. If you choose to hit then your face down card is turned over and added to your total. If you stand, then the face down card is discarded. The dealer then goes through the same process with their hand, following a set of rules to decide what to do at each stage.
The minimum bet you can place on 21 Duel Blackjack is $1, and your stake can go up to the maximum of $100. Feel free to try with the top blackjack sites. It is also worth remembering that you can play with up to three hands at once if you want to. As usual on Playtech games, it is easy to set up the sound effects to suit you perfectly.
None of the typical blackjack features such as splitting, doubling down, or insurance are offered.
Having discovered the information in this 21 Duel Blackjack review, you may now decide that the time is right to play the demo first for fun and get comfortable with the gameplay.
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The RTP and Payout Specifics of the Game
A decent RTP of 98.38% should see you winning fairly regularly at this game. Yet, if you add in the 2 Up side bet then the house edge grows, with 93.47% the RTP on this side bet. Playing with more than one hand at a time will also mean that you win or lose bigger amounts each time.
When you win a hand, the payouts are as follows.
- A standard win gives you a 1 to 1 payout on the ante and raise bets;
- Blackjack counts as a standard win as 1 to 1;
- If the dealer fails to reach the 13 qualifying total the player wins 1 to 1 on the ante bet. The raise bet is a push in this situation.
The Unique Strategy for Playing 21 Duel Blackjack Online
The different rules used here mean that you need to find a unique strategy to play on it. This means understanding whether to choose the right or left community card in each case. You will also want to know when it might be worth folding on the ante bet rather than raising the amount staked.
This is definitely the kind of online blackjack game where it makes sense to practice on the demo game before wagering real money. If you currently have a trusted blackjack strategy, then you will need to alter it to make it work in the 21 Duel Blackjack game.
Other Blackjack Variations
Blackjack Switch
This variation is based on traditional blackjack but has a few specific rules. Most notably, it offers the chance to switch two cards, and thus get a better hand.
Blackjack Surrender
When you play blackjack long enough, you will notice that there are certain situations when you can tell the positive outcome isn't very likely. That's when the option to give up your hand but still not lose your wager may come handy.
Progressive Blackjack
It's an exclusive online game that not only caters to your blackjack needs and rewards your strategy knowledge and skills but also offers the chance to try your luck with a progressive jackpot.
Conclusion
Playtech is one of the biggest and best developers of internet casino games globally. This is why there are many reasons to try 21 Duel Blackjack. It gives a fun spin to the standard rules of Blackjack, while the top-quality graphics and sleek design contribute to the smooth gameplay. If you feel like playing something different, 21 Duel is definitely worth a shot.