Online blackjack is a popular casino game because it offers a very low house edge. However, for the player not tuned in to the game the play can get boring after a while. This is the reason that online gaming software providers introduce variants in blackjack from time to time. Two of these variants have introduced significant changes in the way the game is played. These variants are Double Exposure Blackjack from Microgaming and Blackjack Switch from Playtech. Both of these variants make it easier for the player to win but compensate by adjusting the other rules of the game.

The major point of deviation in Double Exposure Blackjack is that both the dealer’s cards are dealt face up. This provides the player with additional information and therefore increases in his chance of winning. In normal blackjack only one of the dealer’s cards is dealt face up. Therefore the player has to guess what the second card might be and make his moves accordingly. The correct strategy for the player is to base his moves on the more likely values of the second card. Hence the strategy fails when the second card revealed is a card with a low possibility of being dealt. Also what happens very often in double exposure blackjack is that the dealer’s hand value reaches 17 or more with the two cards. In this event and the dealer cannot take a third card and the player’s target is clear. For example if the dealer’s hand value is 18 and the player’s hand value is 17, in Double Exposure Blackjack the player will have to take the third card in the hope of beating the dealer without going bust, even though his chances of succeeding are marginal. If he does not do so he has already lost the hand. In normal blackjack player would have stood with a hand value of 17 and lost to the dealer when the second card was revealed to give a hand value of 18. Double Exposure Blackjack can be played at all Microgaming online casinos such as Platinum Play Casino, All Slots Casino, Spin Palace Casino and Lucky Nugget Casino.

Blackjack Switch has an even more interesting variation. Players have to wager on two hands. They are also dealt two cards each for each hand as is the usual practice in blackjack. Then they can make the switch. If they want to players can exchange the second cards of each of the hands. This is an option given to the player to exercise only if he can improve his chances of winning by switching the cards. It is not a move that he is compelled to make. When he makes the move he should have at least one very strong hand or both fairly strong hands. An example of how the switch can help is explained below. The first hand has ten as the first card and two as the second card. The second hand has eight as the first card and ten as the second card. By changing the two second cards the first hand holds two tens which gives a formidable hand value of 20. And the second hand holds eight and two which gives a hand value of 10. The player can then draw a third card with the likelihood of reaching a good hand value. Blackjack Switch can be played at all Playtech online casinos such as Casino Tropez, Casino Del Rio and Bet 365.

Players should keep in mind that both Double Exposure Blackjack and Blackjack Switch have higher house edges than normal blackjack and therefore these games should be played with the sole purpose of entertainment or alleviating the boredom of playing normal blackjack. For serious wagering players should stick to the normal variants of blackjack.