Which Blackjack Games Can Be Played On Smartphones And Tablets?
Blackjack is an online casino game where players form hand combinations that total as close to the number 21 as possible. In Blackjack, players take it in turns to compete against the dealer, they never play against each other. It’s one of the most popular casino table games around and is very popular at online casinos too.
Just like most other casino games, there are multiple variations of Blackjack that can be played at online casinos. While all of these are heavily based on the traditional version of Blackjack, they all have varying rules and gameplay mechanics that slightly change how the game works. If you’d like to learn more about Blackjack variations, just take a look below:
- Super Fun 21: A round of betting occurs before cards are dealt. Players can also double, surrender, hit or stand on any two cards and, according to rules, a player Blackjack always beats the dealer’s and getting a Blackjack suited diamonds will pay out two to one.
- Spanish 21: This variation removes all cards with a face value of 10, and plays with a deck of 48 cards. There are extra payouts and any number of cards can be doubled down. In addition, the game features a late surrender as well.
- Double Exposure: The first two cards received by the dealer are dealt face up and Blackjack pays out at even money.
- Blackjack Switch: Every person playing receives two cards but one card from each hand can be switched. A natural Blackjack pays more money and a dealer with 22 is considered a push.
- Vegas Strip: If the dealer shows an ace or 10 point card, they must immediately check for Blackjack before the players can take their turn. You can double down on both cards and can split three times and double down after a split but you can only split once after getting aces.
- Pontoon: Like Spanish 21, all cards with a face value of 10 are removed from the deck to leave 48 cards. The dealer doesn’t receive a hole card and the dealer’s second card doesn’t get revealed until the end of the round.
- Multiple Action: Players can place multiple bets on a single hand but the dealer receives a hand for each wager made by the player.
- Double Attack: Blackjacks pay more money and players can increase their bet after seeing the dealer’s up-card.
- Perfect Pairs: Played with four decks, players can make side bets where they win if their first two cards make a pair.
- Atlantic City Blackjack: Like Vegas Strip Blackjack, this variation allows players to double down on two cards and double after a split. Meanwhile, if the dealer has an ace or 10 point value as their up-card, they must check their hand and take all table bets on Blackjack.
- Blackjack Surrender: You have the ability to surrender your hand. However, you’ll lose half of your initial wager.
- Multi-Hand Blackjack: Players can play more than one hand per round.
- Stravaganza: Achieve a higher score than the dealer while being dealt only three cards.
- Live: Live Blackjack is when you can play the classic table game and some of its variations with a real-life dealer who is being streamed directly to you from somewhere else in the world. You’re also able to chat with fellow players too.
There are even more variations available, but these are currently the most popular. As mentioned, each variation features different rules and gameplay, so it’s important to understand which variation you’re playing and how it differs from the classic version. Discovering this is as easy as loading up the game and reading through the paytable or instructions.
Variation Availability
Some of the above variations are available at online casinos but it depends on which casino you’ve registered with and how you’re playing. Remember there are two ways for you to play at online casinos, either through your browser or through dedicated iPhone apps.
You may find that the dedicated smartphone apps may only feature a small number of Blackjack games or sometimes nothing at all while an in-browser casino will support more but may not necessarily offer the complete catalogue of mobile Blackjack games otherwise found on the desktop site. This could be because they haven’t been optimised for smartphone devices.
For example, Casimba casino offers a whopping collection of 30 Blackjack games on their desktop casino site. However, Casimba’s mobile casino has less than half of those games at only 14. Missing variations on Casimba’s mobile Blackjack casino include Double Exposure, Blackjack Pro, Players Choice, Common Draw, Pontoon and more.
What’s even more interesting is that the Casimba’s mobile casino has four added games including Blackjack Touch, Blackjack Single Deck, Blackjack Classic and Classic Blackjack Gold. Casimba’s desktop casino lacks those four games.
Is Free Game Mode Available On Mobile?
We’ve mentioned above that some online casinos allow you to take advantage of a free game mode. Demoing a casino game can be done as both a registered and unregistered user. It allows you to try it out and test out the gameplay and rules before making dedicating time and money to the ordinary version, after all, you wouldn’t want to spend money wagering only to discover you don’t enjoy the game, right?
These free game modes play out the same way a real-money game would. The main differences are that you’re not playing with any money and you cannot win any money because it’s completely free. Demo game modes are available on most casino games, it just depends on the casino you’re trying to play at.
While many mobile casinos such as Casimba do not allow users to demo their games for free, other casinos such as PlayFrank and Casumo do. The games run just like they would if you were playing a real-money casino game and are incredibly useful to help you come to terms with new rules or gameplay.
Mobile Casinos With Free Game Mode
We’ve researched which casinos offer free game mode and here are our Top 5 Mobile Casino Sites.
- PlayFrank [Read Review | Play Demo]
- Casumo [Read Review | Play Demo]
- Casino Joy [Read Review | Play Demo]
- Mr Play [Read Review | Play Demo]
- Play OJO [Read Review | Play Demo]
If you’d like some more recommendations for mobile casinos, we suggest you take a look at our in-depth guide on the best casinos available in the United Kingdom.
What To Keep In Mind When Playing Mobile
When mobile casinos first landed on the scene they were rather difficult to use and play because they hadn’t been optimised properly for smartphone use. Today, however, mobile casinos work and run perfectly.
One of the reasons for this is due to NetEnt, one of the most popular software providers. The firm released a collection of Touch games specifically optimised for smartphones back in 2011, allowing users to log in to their casino accounts and play their favourite NetEnt games on the move.
Back then, NetEnt adapted many of its popular games to work as part of the Touch series including Blackjack and paved the way for mobile optimisation. Since then, game developers have begun creating their games using HTML5 for use on both desktop and smartphones, allowing users to play games wherever and whenever they want.
By the way, when it comes to HTML5, there is no difference whether you are playing on an iPhone or Android phone. Both devices fully support this web technology.
However, you may notice that the graphics may not be as clear or crisp as they appear on desktop computers or you may discover that games don’t run as well on your smartphone compared to the desktop version. Well, that’s because you’re playing on mobile. Developers have worked hard to make sure games run as smoothly as possible and they may have had to water down the graphics somewhat to accomplish this.
It’s important to remember that the device you’re using to play on will also affect the performance of games. Blackjack games generally aren’t as graphically demanding as some video slots out there, but it may struggle on an older iPhone or Android.
Lastly, you may realise that mobile Blackjack sometimes combines actions you can take. For example, a mobile Blackjack game may give you a “rebet and deal” option to speed gameplay up and to save you from having to click multiple times.
Are There Restrictions?
When it comes to mobile gaming there’s a common misconception that mobile devices lack the same payment options that are found on desktop casinos. However, they’re actually wrong. You should be able to find the same payment options at a mobile casino as long as it’s available in your country. You may also find some additional payment options such as Apple Pay or Boku, a payment provider that allows you to make deposits via your mobile bill or data.
The main disadvantage you’ll find that comes with playing at mobile casinos is that customer support services may be somewhat limited. Some casinos may not allow you to use their live chat services while others, such as PlayFrank, will.
Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games and many people choose to adopt a strategy in order to win against the dealer. While it’s easy to learn how to play, most people forget that Blackjack requires you to make choices in order to ensure a win.
Players use strategies to decide whether it’s better for them to stand, hit or fold depending on their hands and the dealer’s hands. The best way to utilise strategies is by checking out some Blackjack strategy tables.
Blackjack Strategy Tables
Blackjack strategy tables basically list all the possible combinations of your cards and the dealers in order to help you make the best possible decision and potentially make a win. A lot of mathematics goes into the tables and they’re hugely popular and well-known within the gambling industry.
Most tables are split into three parts for hard hands (Without an ace), soft hands (With an ace) and pairs. The tables are easy to use, you just have to find the hand you currently have and move along to spot the dealer’s card to find the best move you can play.
If you’re glancing at the table above and feeling a little confused, this might help clear things up:
- S: Stand
- P: Split
- H: Hit
- H/P: Split if double after split is allowed
- H/R: Surrender if allowed
However, due to the number of Blackjack variations, you may actually need to look at different tables due to rule and gameplay changes. If you’re considering using a strategy table, make sure it matches the Blackjack variation you’re playing or you may find yourself losing.
Can You Use Blackjack Strategy Tables On Mobile?
Luckily enough, you can actually use strategies when playing mobile Blackjack games. When you’re playing Blackjack through a dedicated casino app, you may find it hard to view a strategy table as you’ll need to constantly switch apps to your browser and then pop back into the casino app. Unfortunately, you may find that minimising the casino app may actually end the game, so be careful.
It’s somewhat easier to view strategy tables when you’re playing through your browser as you only need to switch tabs rather than an entire app. While it’s possible to do it, it’s still somewhat clunky and annoying to do.
Live Blackjack On Mobile
Many users who play online enjoy live casino games because it provides them with an authentic casino experience. When playing live casino games, a real-life dealer sat at a Blackjack table in a studio is streamed directly to you, the player.
You can interact with the dealer and other players through a chat room or messaging system and the dealer responds back to you through the stream.
Live Blackjack games have become increasingly popular and are available to play on mobile devices. They play the same as other mobile Blackjack games available only but the major difference is that the dealer is real and can be interacted with instead of a computer.
A live mobile Blackjack game will start with the players selecting how much money they want to bet. To do so, players just select the virtual casino chips that appear on-screen and they’ll be placed on your betting space for the dealer and other players to see. When all users have made their bets the dealer will begin dealing cards.
The dealer’s cards also show up on your screen so you can see what they have. When the dealer has dealt all cards the users will be asked whether they want to hit, stand, double down or split. The dealer will follow through the users’ request and when the results are revealed, one of two things will happen:
- Winnings will be paid out
- You will lose your virtual casino chips
Once the hand is over, a new round can begin. It’s easy to navigate live mobile Blackjack games as they often have a small menu bar you can tap for more options. From the menu, you can access the lobby (Where the game is played), the cashier, the chat service, bet limits, your history, settings, help and the casino’s homepage.
You’re free to use Blackjack strategy tables when playing live Blackjack games but it may be difficult to minimise the app or swap tabs when a live casino game is playing. In addition, you’ll be required to make faster decisions during a live game as you play alongside other users. Minimising the app or swapping tabs can also lead you to miss out on messages or important information from the dealer.
Summary
Mobile Blackjack games are more popular than ever and it’s easy to see why. There are dozens of different variations you can play and most of them are accessible on smartphones. It’s now easier than ever to play when and where you want as long as you have a Wi-Fi or 3G or 4G connection.
The fact that so many games developers are working hard to optimise Blackjack games for mobile is great too as it provides users with smooth experiences. And since technology is constantly evolving, maybe we’ll see more variations coming to our mobile casinos. Overall, mobile blackjack games are great for people who enjoy playing classic casino tables and the variety of games available and the ability to play from the comfort of your own home will keep you interested for a long time.