Classic Blackjack Review
Looking to play blackjack but aren’t sure which variant to go for? Let our Classic blackjack review help. Find out the rules, bonuses and best online bonus here
Blackjack needs little introduction these days. Virtually every player, old and new, has heard of this game and many have played it in some form or another. A sign of its worldwide appeal can be seen in games such as Pontoon and Spanish 21 which are both related to what most players say is the king of casino card games. Still, with so many forms of blackjack readily available, how do you find the right one to suit you?
In this Classic Blackjack review, we’ll delve inside this amazingly popular variant, and assess its strengths and weaknesses for you. Also, we’ve scoured the market to see what blackjack bonuses are worthy of your attention, and finally, our team has picked out 2019’s top Classic Blackjack casinos for you to try.
Classic Blackjack Review
Any online casino worth its salt will line up a premium selection of blackjack games for players to choose from. Experienced pros know which variants to play and which to ignore. However, if you’re a total beginner, you don’t have that luxury.
That is why we have written this Classic Blackjack review page. This will answer, in an easy-to-understand manner, what is Classic Blackjack? We’ll also take a detailed look at the rule book and find out what the RTP is of this variant. You can then check out our other blackjack reviews and compare them to find your favourite.
What is Classic Blackjack
In most players eyes, Classic Blackjack is the purest form of this game. Traditionally, it is only played with one standard deck of cards, although we have seen a few Classic Blackjack games using more decks than this. As a new player, this is the first thing to take note of. You want to play the single-deck variant because the house edge (a.k.a. the casino’s advantage) is less than if you were playing with four, six or even eight decks.
Blackjack is a player-favourite partly because of its simplicity. The objective is to get closer to 21 than the dealer. This applies to all variations, so what are the Classic Blackjack rules that set this particular format apart from the others?
Classic Blackjack Rules
The best way to cover the rules of a game is to actually jump in and play it, so that’s what our researchers did. Whilst there are a couple of software developers which provide this version, we have chosen to follow Microgaming’s Classic Blackjack rulebook.
- Blackjack pays 3:2
- Insurance pays 2:1
- Surrender not available
The payouts are inline with several other variants. We don’t advise ever using the insurance bet because it’s heavily weighted in the casino’s favour. The other Classic Blackjack rules are as follows:
- The dealer stands on all 17s
- Double down only available on your first two cards if a hard hand of 9, 10 or 11
- Cannot double after a split
- Can split all cards of the same value. However, for 10s, the faces need to match (i.e. Q-Q or K-K)
- Ace + 10 after a split equals 21 not blackjack
The RTP for Microgaming’s Classic Blackjack is an amazing 99.91%. That means in theory over the lifetime of the game, and if you follow the correct strategy you will only lose £0.09 for every £100 wagered.
Classic Blackjack Bonus
When deciding where you want to play this game, it’s always worth looking to see if there is a specific Classic Blackjack bonus available. Not all sites offer bonuses for this game purely because the house edge is so low, they would probably lose too much money.
That said, let’s run through a few common promos that you’ll encounter, so you know what to keep an eye open for:
Free Cash No Deposit
Many no deposit bonuses are free spins on video slots, but not all. If you can pick up some free casino cash, then you’re able to play whatever games you desire, including Classic Blackjack. The only drawback is the game weighting contribution on the wagering requirements is generally very low.
For instance, if you pick up £10 free to play with and it has 30x wagering requirement, you must wager £300 before any winnings are converted to real money. The snag, for Classic Blackjack players, is that this game will only contribute 5 or 10 percent towards clearing the wagering. In short, if 10% contribution you must wager £3,000.
Matched deposit bonuses
This is a common sign up bonus. The casino matches your deposit up to a certain value. For example: 100% up to £300. So, a deposit of £50 is matched by the casino, giving you £100 to play with. You can use this money to play Classic Blackjack but the same drawbacks apply as highlighted above.
Cash back
A bonus that is more specific to blackjack and other card and table games is the cash back offer, sometimes labeled a rebate bonus. The deal here is you get a certain percentage back on aggregated losses during a set period of play - we have seen some sites also payout extra on aggregated winnings. Often these only apply to live dealer blackjack games, so you need to find out if a Classic Blackjack table is available. Usually you get 10% back on losses, which helps soften the blow of a bad session in our opinion.
Play Classic Blackjack Online
With this being one of the top variants, you can pick and choose where you want to play Classic Blackjack online. However, simply because the vast majority of casinos provide this title, it doesn’t mean every site deserves your attention and hard-earned cash. Use our list of the top Classic Blackjack casinos to help guide you in finding the most suitable place to play online.
If you have a preference for playing via your mobile device, then you want to seek out a quality site offering this game for players on the move. Perhaps, you want to play it with live dealers or you are after high stakes games. We understand every player is unique in their desires, which is why you should take advantage of our list to compare blackjack casinos. That way, you can find your perfect destination first time.
More Information
-
Game Type:Blackjack, Live Dealer
-
Software:NetEnt, Apricot (Microgaming), Evolution Gaming, Playtech
-
Platform:Android, iOS, PC, PC
-
RTP:Variable
