Double Exposure Blackjack

Among the many blackjack variants players can enjoy in land-based and online casinos, Blackjack Switch and Double Exposure Blackjack seem to be the most popular.

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Double Exposure Blackjack adds an interesting twist to the blackjack game. As the name suggests, it requires the dealer to deal both his cards face up, which gives the player an almost unfair advantage over the casino.

Don’t think you can beat the casino, though, in order to neutralize the drastically reduced house edge, the casino has implemented a set of rules that will bring back the odds in their favor.

Double Exposure Blackjack
Blackjack in a land-based casino

For example, instead of paying 3:2 for a natural blackjack, this blackjack variant pays even money. Ties result in a losing bet and there’s no insurance or surrendering available. This is the way the casino ‘fights’ the player’s advantage which stems from the dealer’s face-up cards. Depending on where you play it, this blackjack variant might also be called Dealer Disclosure or Face-up Blackjack in some casinos.

Rules

Aside from the fact that this is the only blackjack variant where both of the dealer’s cards are exposed, Double Exposure Blackjack has a few more rules which differ from the traditional game. Players can split only once (subject to terms and conditions), blackjacks pay even money, and all the ties are won by the dealer except in case of a natural. The other rules are quite similar to traditional blackjack and vary from casino to casino.

As we already mentioned, in this blackjack variant, the dealer doesn’t offer the insurance bet. The push rule remains the same, just like the rules for busting. And, while it may seem like Double Exposure Blackjack may be a sure-fire win for the player, you actually need a good strategy to beat the dealer. Of course, it also depends on the rules which differ a bit in different casinos.

Double Exposure Blackjack is actually a very challenging game. For example, if you have 18 and the dealer has 20, you will obviously either hit or stand. This presents you with 2 chances – either you land blackjack which is not very likely or you go bust and lose your bet. Even a tie in this blackjack variant results in a lost bet, so as you can see, Double Exposure Blackjack may look easy to beginners, but it’s actually far more complex.

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Basic Double Exposure Blackjack Strategies

There are many charts for double exposure blackjack which you can find online. They vary depending on the rules of the online casino where you’re playing. Of course, the basic Double Exposure Blackjack rules stay the same, but you need to know the specifics before using a strategy to beat the dealer.

There are a few unwritten rules when it comes to this blackjack variant all players should follow. For example, if your hand is lower or tied with a dealer’s soft 17 (hands 17-20), strategically you’re better off with a hit. Of course, you might bust your hand, but choosing to stand is essentially giving up without a fight, considering the fact that ties result in a win for the dealer.

Double Exposure Blackjack online
You can play Double Exposure Blackjack online

The same goes for situations where your hand has a higher value than a dealer’s17 – hitting an ace is pretty unlikely, but why not try it? You have nothing to lose in both situations, so strategically speaking, you should go for a hit.

What are the Advantages?

The main (and obvious) advantage of this blackjack variant is that players get to see the hand the dealer has before they play their cards. Also, due to the slight difference of the rules from casino to casino, the variant may actually be even more favorable for the player – this is the main reason why we strongly recommend reading the rules before playing at any blackjack table, real or virtual.

This popular casino variant can be found in most blackjack casinos. Different game developers offer their own variations of the game, although the main rule stays the same. Playing this blackjack variant or any other for that matter in a casino site is much better than playing in a land-based casino as you get the opportunity to try it for free and practice.

Well-known game designers in the industry such as Microgaming and Realtime Gaming have developed their own iterations of the blackjack variant. Microgaming’s version is played with 8 decks and allow re-splitting up to 4 hands while doubling down is also allowed on hard 9s to 11s. Only one extra card is allowed to be drawn after splitting aces and the house edge for this version is 0.61%, which isn’t bad at all.

On the other hand, Realtime Gaming’s Double Exposure Blackjack variant is called Face Up 21, which clearly separates it from the competition. When it comes to the rules, this version is more traditional, so you shouldn’t expect many surprises. The house edge is the same as Microgaming’s version (0.61%).

There are other versions of Double Exposure Blackjack developed by online gaming giants such as Net Entertainment which have an even lower house edge (0.57%), while others, like Play’N Go’s version, have a higher house edge (0.96%).

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Why Choose Double Exposure Blackjack?

Double Exposure Blackjack is a fun take on blackjack that can be profitable as well if you follow a good enough strategy. Furthermore, make sure to read the rules at the table because some Double Exposure Blackjack variants might differ a bit. Checking the house edge of the version you’re playing is a good idea as well as it will give you a clearer view of your chances.

Before playing for real money though, practice for a bit. Online casinos give you the chance to do it for free, just like they do with a lot of other casino games, so until you become a real master of the game, we wouldn’t suggest splashing your cash in an expensive Vegas casino.

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