6 Games Related to Blackjack
There's more than one way to make a blackjack. Well, sort of. The card game known as 21 has many variations. We give some of the better known games in this page.
Quinze
This was an early card game played in France. The target score was 15 instead of 21. It was very popular among the nobility, who would play wearing masks to keep anonymous. Quinze was soon eclipsed by Vingt et Un, the ancestor of modern blackjack.
Pontoon
Pontoon is a British version of blackjack. It is played with a standard 52 card deck and is best played with 5-8 players. If more than 8 players are playing, two decks are used.
The rules are very similar to standard blackjack. One unique feature is the 5 Card Trick. This is a hand of five cards that is not bust. A Pontoon (a starting hand of 21) beats a 5 Card Trick. But the 5 Card Trick beats a 3 or 4 card hand that totals 21, even if the former is less than 21.
Triple Shot
Triple Shot is a mixed game featuring casino war, blackjack and poker in that order. Players are required to play at least two of the three games. The mixed game setting is reminiscent of HORSE poker.
Spanish 21
This is a popular variant of blackjack. Its most striking feature is that the four 10 cards are removed. While that is disadvantageous for the player, Spanish 21 offers many attractive bonus payouts that make up for it. If your hand totals 21 and it is of a certain number of cards, you qualify for a special payout. For example, if you make 21 with 5 cards, you get paid 3:2. If you make the 21 with 6-7-8 of the same suit, you get paid 2:1 and 3:1 if spades only. A 7-7-7 hand and a dealer card of 7 gets a "super bonus" that pays out thousands of dollars.
One and Thirty
This is an old game in which players try to score 31 instead of 21. Players are up against each other, not just the dealer. The ace counts as 1 only.
Seven and a Half
This is an old Italian game, said to be a popular Christmas game. The highest target score is 7 1/2. Only cards 8, 9, 10 and court cards are used. Court cards are counted as half a point. Seven and a Half is said to be the first game with a "bust" rule.