Every blackjack variant changes a few rules from the classic game, and each change moves the house edge. Features that help the player are paid for by another rule: Blackjack Switch lets you swap cards but pays blackjack at 1:1; Free Bet Blackjack gives free doubles but pushes when the dealer makes 22. This page compares the variants found at Australian-facing online casinos and in local venues, with the rule that defines each one and its typical house edge. For the standard rules see blackjack rules; the full section is the blackjack guide.

Comparison Table

House edges are approximate figures for basic-strategy play under the rule set described; actual figures depend on the deck count and table rules, and the game info panel shows the RTP for the version you are playing.

Variant	Defining rules	Approx. house edge
Classic / American (6–8 decks, S17, 3:2, peek)	Hole card, dealer peeks for blackjack	0.4%–0.6%
European (no hole card)	Dealer’s second card after players act; often double 9–11 only	0.5%–0.7%
Spanish 21	48-card decks (10s removed), player 21 always wins, bonus payouts	about 0.4% (S17) to 0.8% (H17)
Pontoon (Australian venues)	Spanish 21-style game played in Australian casinos	depends on local rules
Blackjack Switch	Two hands, swap top cards; blackjack pays 1:1; dealer 22 pushes	about 0.6%
Double Exposure	Both dealer cards face up; blackjack pays 1:1; player loses ties	about 0.7%
Free Bet Blackjack	Free doubles on hard 9–11 and free splits; dealer 22 pushes	about 1%
Infinite Blackjack (live)	Unlimited seats, all players share the same first two cards, Six Card Charlie	RTP around 99.5%
Lightning Blackjack (live)	Fee on each bet; multipliers on winning hands in the next round	see the game’s help screen

Classic and European Blackjack

The classic multi-deck game is the reference point: 3:2 blackjack, dealer stands on soft 17, double on any two cards, double after split. With basic strategy the house edge is roughly 0.4%–0.5% with 6–8 decks. Dealer hitting soft 17 adds about 0.22%.

European blackjack uses no hole card. The dealer draws the second card after all players act. If that makes blackjack, strict tables take doubled and split stakes as well (about +0.11% edge). Many RNG European games also restrict doubles to 9, 10 and 11 (+0.09%) and do not allow resplits (+0.10%). Full differences are on the European vs American page.

Spanish 21 and Australian Pontoon

Spanish 21 removes the four 10-spot cards from each deck (face cards stay), leaving 48 cards. Removing 10s alone would raise the house edge by roughly 2%, so the game hands back value through player-friendly rules:

• A player 21 always wins, even against a dealer 21.
• Late surrender, including after doubling in many versions (“double down rescue”).
• Double on any number of cards; often redouble.
• Bonus payouts for 5-card, 6-card and 7+-card 21 and for 6-7-8 and 7-7-7 hands.

Basic strategy for Spanish 21 differs substantially from the classic chart; the classic chart applied to a 48-card deck loses noticeably more. Australian land-based casinos have long dealt a game called Pontoon that follows the Spanish 21 pattern. Rules vary by venue, so read the rule card before playing.

Blackjack Switch

You play two hands of equal stake and may swap the second card of each hand. Switching 10-6 and 5-10 into 10-10 and 5-6 is the typical example. The cost: blackjack pays 1:1 instead of 3:2, and a dealer total of 22 pushes all non-blackjack hands. Strategy is different from classic blackjack because you double and split more often after switching.

Double Exposure

Both dealer cards are dealt face up, so you always know the dealer’s total. In return, blackjack pays even money and the dealer wins ties (except player blackjack in most rule sets). Strategy changes completely: you hit 17 against a dealer 18, double totals you would never double against a known stiff, and so on.

Free Bet Blackjack

A common live game. You get a free double on hard 9, 10 and 11 and free splits on all pairs except 10s. The casino places the matching stake; if the hand wins you are paid on both. The cost is the “push 22” rule: when the dealer finishes on 22, all remaining player hands push instead of winning. With an S17 dealer, a final total of exactly 22 occurs on about 7.3% of hands (infinite-deck calculation), the most frequent bust total. Optional side bet “Push 22” pays when the dealer gets 22 and is a separate bet with its own house edge.

Infinite Blackjack

Evolution’s Infinite Blackjack seats unlimited players. Everyone receives the same first two cards, then each player makes their own decisions and receives cards from a shared sequence. Rules are 8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, and a Six Card Charlie (six cards without busting wins automatically). The provider lists the RTP at around 99.5% with optimal strategy. It offers 21+3, Any Pair, Hot 3 and Bust It side bets, each with its own lower RTP — compared on our blackjack side bets page.

Lightning and Other Multiplier Games

Lightning-style blackjack charges an extra fee on each initial bet and applies a random multiplier to a winning hand’s payout in the following round. Because the multiplier only pays out after a win and in the next round, the RTP depends on continuing to play; the help screen states the exact figures. Power Blackjack lets players increase the stake after seeing the cards and uses modified decks. Treat each as a separate game and read its rules panel before playing; the basic strategy chart for the classic game does not transfer unchanged.

Which Variant Costs Least?

1. Standard 3:2, S17, 6–8 deck games with double after split and surrender sit at the low end (about 0.4%).
2. Spanish 21 with S17 is in the same range but only with its own strategy.
3. Switch, Double Exposure and Free Bet games give back value through 1:1 blackjacks or push-22 rules; they sit around 0.6%–1%.
4. Any 6:5 game is at least 1.39% worse than the same game at 3:2.

Live versions are covered on the live blackjack page, and casinos carrying a range of tables are compared on our blackjack sites list. If you clear bonuses, check game weighting because many variants contribute 0%–10% towards wagering.

Frequently Asked Questions

18+ only. Help is available 24/7 from Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.