Introducing Double Exposure Blackjack

Double Exposure Blackjack is a variation where the dealer plays with two face-up cards upon the first deal, or as the name would suggest, they are exposed, which is great news for the player. However, as compensation some rules make up for this exposure of the dealer’s cards, for example, certain casinos impose restrictions in splitting and doubling down. Sometimes you will find this game as a Face-Up 21, referring to the exposed cards. You can try the game at our top-rated online casino:

This variation was invented by Richard A. Epstein, a notable game theorist and casino consultant, author of the book The Theory of Gambling and Statistical Logic.

How to Play Face Up Blackjack

This variation features the usual rules as for standard blackjack but with certain differences and restrictions in order to compensate for the two face-up cards of the dealer. So, the first rule is that the game starts with both of the dealer’s cards exposed. Due to that, all ties are won by the dealer, except when both the dealer and the player have a natural blackjack. Another consequence of the exposed cards of the dealer is that if the player has a blackjack, it pays even money. Also, splitting is allowed only once.

All the other rules are subject to a change and may vary from casino to casino. So, for example, somewhere the dealer will stand, and somewhere he will hit on soft 17s, but mostly the rule will be to hit. Although we mentioned that all ties are won by the dealer except blackjack, somewhere the player is allowed to win a hand of blackjack if both he and the dealer have a blackjack, as opposed to being a push.

Another rule that may vary is splitting after doubling down. In most cases, a player may be allowed to split after doubling down, and he may double on any first two cards. Also, splitting may be allowed more than once, and there may not be re-splitting. If the cards are 10 value cards that are not of the same rank, for example, a 10 and a jack, the player may not be allowed to split them.

What About the House Edge?

Although the house edge in Double Exposure Blackjack is higher than in the standard variation, it still is considered as one of the more favourable variations across casinos, and that’s if you know how to play it. With the rules such as exposed cards, the dealer wins on all ties except on a blackjack tie, blackjack pays even money and the player may split only once, the house edge is more than 1%. However, since this variation is subjected to rule variations, where some rules favour more the player and some favour the dealer, on average the house edge will be 0.69%.

No Insurance or Side Bets

Most of the blackjack variations found have either side bets or the insurance option. Here there are neither side bets, nor the insurance option. There is no insurance simply because the dealer’s cards are both visible, so you would know immediately if he has a blackjack.

Strategy – The Best Way to Play

The following tips are based on the rule that the dealer hits on soft 17s. Since all ties in Double Exposure Blackjack are won by the dealer, the obvious move would be to draw another card every time when your hand total and the dealer’s total are identical. Even when both you and the dealer have a hand total of 20 in hope that you will get an Ace.

There are several options for hitting. For example, always hit if your total is 5-7, except when the dealer’s total is 14-16, then you should double down. The same goes when your total is 8, except when the dealer has 12-16, when you should double down again. Another situation to hit would be when you have an Ace and 2-6, no matter what the dealer has or when you have an Ace and 9, but only if the dealer has 20.

Two ways to double down is when you have a total of 10, while the dealer has a total of 4-8, 12-16 or Ace and 3-4. Otherwise, hit. And when you have a total of 11 and the dealer has a total of 4 through 9, 12 through 16 or Ace and 2-4.

Standing is advised when you have a total of 12 and the dealer has 4-6, 12-16 or Ace and 3-5. Or if your hand total is 13 while the dealer has a total of 4-6, 12-16, two Aces, or Ace and 2-5. Otherwise, you should hit in both situations.

There are ways for splitting too. Always split a pair of 2s and 3s when the dealer’s total is 4-6 or 12-17. Or a pair of 4s when the dealer has a total of 6 or 12-16. In all three situations, you should hit otherwise. Also, a pair of Aces should always be split, except when the dealer has a total of 11 or 17-20.

Double Exposure Overview

One obvious, and probably the biggest advantage because of which Double Exposure Blackjack is recommended before other blackjack variants is the fact that you can see the dealer’s hand at any time. You always know what he has and what the danger might be. A disadvantage is a fact that all ties are won by the dealer. In order for a tie to be a push in this variant, both you and the dealer need to have a blackjack. Also, another disadvantage is that blackjack is paid only even money, but nevertheless, you can always see what the dealer has.