Caribbean 21: Blackjack with a Difference

If you have never heard of Caribbean 21, it's because this Blackjack variant is not as prominently featured in land based and online casinos. Be that as it may, once you find a site that does include it, you won't be disappointed.

Playing Caribbean 21 is the best way to learn about the rules that distinguish it from traditional Blackjack. Once you place your bets, the dealer hands you and all the other players two cards each. Because they are all face up, it makes card counting so much easier. Here you get to see almost all the hands in play, making it easier to track cards.

Another point where Caribbean 21 departs from Blackjack is that the Ace always counts for 1 point only; there are no soft hands here. In return, however, you have the option of doubling down not just every game, but even every time you take a card. If you get good cards, your potential for bigger payouts will increase significantly.

In Caribbean 21 you also have the option of splitting with any kind of hand, unlike in Blackjack, where it is limited to only certain combinations. There is also a surrender rule installed in most games, wherein you can lay down your hand and lose only half your bet.

Because an Ace counts for 1 point, you can't get a natural; the best hands in Caribbean 21 are two 10s and an Ace, known as the Caribbean 21 hand. This is the best hand you can get in the game. The payout with this combo is 3 to 1, compared to the even money in all other combinations of 21. Even if you get two tens and an Ace after splitting, it won't pay out 3 to 1 like when you hit them without splitting your cards.

There is also an insurance option available, and the rules are the same except you have the choice to add to it as the dealer hits for more cards. You might want to do this if she gets some more tens. In some casinos the payout can get as high as 9 to 1.

The rule variations in Caribbean will take some time getting used to, but it's going to be well worth the effort. As word gets out of the high payouts and unique play settings, expect this Blackjack variant to appear more frequently in live and online casinos.