Playtech offers a number of unusual blackjack variants at its online casinos such as Omni Casino and Mansion Casino. Lucky Blackjack, Blackjack Switch and 21 Duel Blackjack are a few of them. This article reviews 21 Duel Blackjack. There are three features that make this online blackjack variant stand out from others. 21 Duel Blackjack makes use of community cards in the manner of online casino poker variants. There is no special value or payout attached to a natural blackjack, which is just like any other hand of value 21. The split and double down moves are not available.

21 Duel Blackjack begins with the player placing the ante wager. Then the player is dealt two cards, one of which is face up and the other is face down. The dealer is dealt two cards, which are both face down. Two community cards are dealt face up. Community cards can be used by both the player and the dealer. The first option the player has is to fold. If the player folds then the game will end and he will lose his ante wager. According to the optimum strategy the player should fold when his hand value with either community card is between 13 and 15. This value is not sufficient for standing and the player is likely to bust if he takes the third card. The second option is to select either of the community cards. If the player exercises this option he will have to place an additional wager equal to the ante wager. Now the player again faces two options. If he stands, then his face down card is discarded and the two-card hand is the final hand. If he hits, his face down card is exposed. If he busts with the third card added then he loses both bets, otherwise the three-card hand is his final hand.

The dealer’s hand is automatically played and his final two-card or three-card hand is displayed on the screen. The choices involved for the dealer are built into the software. If the dealer busts the player is paid even money on both bets. In Playtech 21 Duel Blackjack the dealer needs a hand value of 13 or more in order to qualify. If the dealer fails to qualify then the player wins even money on the ante wager and pushes on the additional wager. If the dealer qualifies then the hand values are compared. If the dealer’s hand value is higher than the player’s, then the player will lose both wagers. If the dealer’s hand value is lower than the player’s, the player will be paid even money on both bets. If the hands are tied, then both bets push.

Playtech 21 Duel Blackjack also has an optional 2 Up wager that has to be placed before the cards are dealt. It is decided by the player’s face up card and the two community cards, which are the first three face up cards dealt. If these cards contain a pair the player is paid at 3 to 1 on the 2 Up wager. If the three cards make up three of a kind the player is paid 20 to 1. These payouts are made irrespective of the outcome of the main game and even if the player folds.