Blackjack UK by Playtech – Read Review & Test the Demo Game

Blackjack UK is a game by Playtech that is very close to the classic variation of blackjack but with some additional rules. The game allows you to play with up to 5 hands at the same time which is why many players prefer it over other blackjack variants. British players can find Blackjack UK at every single Playtech-powered casino, but the best place where they can play it is undoubtedly Ladbrokes where they can also get a generous welcome bonus.

In this review, we will take a closer look at the rules of the game and how they influence the house edge. Also, we’ll provide you with some valuable tips that will better your odds at winning.

Play for Free Before You Play for Real Money

Blackjack UK is a really nice game to try and win real cash at, but it’s always best to try a game for free before you bet your own money. Familiarise yourself with the game rules using the demo version you see below for best results:

Instant play

Rules of Blackjack UK

In this variation, just as in any other blackjack game, the goal is to reach 21, or at least have a higher score than the dealer, but not over 21. Most of the cards have their face value, the ‘pictures’ are counted as 10s, and the ace can be counted either as 11 or as 1. This is pretty much clear. The so-called ‘natural blackjack’, i.e. a blackjack where a player gets an ace and a 10-valued card right away, has a 3:2 payout, which means that you will receive £25 in total if your bet was £10, i.e. 1.5 times your bet. If you beat the dealer, then you get an amount equal to your bet, i.e. £20 for £10. If you have the same result, then it’s a push and you get your bet back. If you have a blackjack and the dealer gets 21, then you win.

Blackjack UK by Playtech is played with 6 decks. If you get two cards which have the same value, you are allowed to split them, unless they are a pair of 10-valued cards, 5s or 4s. You are allowed to split 3 times, which is up to 4 hands. If you split aces you can get only one additional card for each new hand. You are allowed to double your bet after the hands are dealt, but only if the value of your hand is either 9, 10 or 11. You can double after a split, again, if the new hand’s value is 9, 10 or 11.

The House Edge

The house edge in Blackjack UK is 0.39% and the standard deviation is 1.12. This house edge is calculated by taking the individual effect of every rule which is typical for the particular game. The rule that you can’t split 4s, 5s and 10s increases the house edge by 0.003%. But if it weren’t for the ‘double after split’ rule, then the house edge would’ve been 0.482%. The rule that the cards have to be shuffled after each hand decreases the house edge by 0.02%. If the dealer was allowed to hit a soft 17, then the house edge would’ve been 0.569%.

Double, Insurance and Other Bets

If the dealer’s first card is an ace and you have a blackjack, you have a right to purchase an insurance. The insurance, as in other blackjack variants, is meant to protect your bet in case the dealer has a blackjack. An insurance will cost you half of your original bet for that hand and it is placed separately from the bet. If the dealer has a blackjack, the insurance pays 2:1 which means you get your original bet back. And if the dealer doesn’t get a blackjack, you lose your insurance, even if you eventually lose the hand. If you double and the dealer gets a blackjack, you only lose your original bet.

How to Win at This Game

The basic strategy for any variant of blackjack is quite similar. To make it easier on you to visualise the hands as I explain, you can open a table at William Hill Casino and try these tips, as we go. The variations are caused by the fact that different variants have certain different rules, which allow/disallow players to make certain decisions. Blackjack UK is no different, so here’s what guidelines you should follow when playing it. First of all, you should always hit when your cards are valued 4-9, no matter what the dealer’s card is. If your hand has a value of 9, you should double when the dealer has 3-7 and hit in all the other cases. If you have 10, you should double unless the dealer has 10 or an ace, and if you have 11 you should double always but when the dealer has an ace.

If the dealer has 4-7, then you should stand on 12. If you have 13-17, you should always stand when the dealer has 2-7 and hit when s/he has 7-ace. You should always stand on a hard 17+, and hit on a soft 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, but stand on a soft 18, unless the dealer has 9, 10 or an ace. You should always split aces, and almost always (except if you have two 9’) split if the dealer has 7 or less (bear in mind that you can’t split 4s, 5s and 10s).

You should always hit if you have two 4s, double if you have two 5s, unless the dealer has 10 or ace, then you should hit. If you have two 9s, you should split, unless the dealer has 7, 10 or an ace. As you can see the strategy is pretty straightforward and easy to remember. Of course, it goes without saying that you should always consider the state of your bankroll and manage it wisely. You can check out some of the games at Winner Casino and see hot our strategies have helped you win,

Game Overview

Blackjack UK is an interesting yet simple variant of blackjack, that you can find at Super Casino online and play it with a great welcome bonus. You should definitely try it if you haven’t played it so far, it doesn’t matter whether you’re from the UK or not. One of the main advantages of the game is the fact that it has a fairly low house edge, which increases your chances of winning. Also, some casinos which try to promote the game offer promotions and bonuses and possibly side-bets. The restrictive doubling rule, i.e. that you can double only if you have a 9, 10 or 11 hand is often considered to be the biggest disadvantage of this otherwise fun and interesting variant.