Real Time Gaming (RTG) software offers probably the fastest blackjack play out of all the major and minor software providers. It also offers this speed without the player having to manipulate any of the settings in whatever variation of blackjack they choose to play. RTG offers the second-most number of variations, with five, often giving their own names to standard variations that players will recognize from brick and mortar casinos. Click for other software versions - boss media, cryptologic, microgaming and playtech.
One thing that blackjack players should be aware of is that RTG allows their operators to modify certain rules of blackjack, one in particular being the number of decks in a shoe that a player would be playing from. The higher number of decks in a shoe, the higher the house advantage will be.
The following are the house rules for each blackjack variation that RTG offers and the specific house advantage (HA) percentage. I’ve bolded in red the information (if applicable) and how it affects the HA:
Blackjack – 4 to 8 deck shoe, dealer peeks on 10s and Aces, dealer hits on soft 17, double on any two cards, double after split, split up to 3 hands, Aces split only once. HA = .56 – 65 % depending on number of decks.
Caribbean 21 – unlimited deck shoe, no hole card for the dealer means the peek rule is not applicable, dealer stands on soft or hard 17, double and/or redouble at any time (even after split), Aces only count as one point and can be split, dealer wins all ties, surrender allowed at any time (even after split). HA = .19%
Pontoon – 8 deck shoe, dealer hits soft 17, player must hit on 14 or less, double after split, double on any 2 to 4 cards one time only, player loses ties, dealer peeks on 2 down cards for pontoon, split up to 2 hands, 10 and Ace after splitting Aces considered pontoon, 5 card trick (5 cards without busting) beats any hand except dealer Pontoon. HA = .17%.
Face Up 21 (otherwise known as “Double Exposure”) – 8 deck shoe, split to 3 hands, since dealer’s cards are exposed peek rule is not applicable, dealer hits on soft 17, dealer wins all ties except for player winning blackjack tie, even money on blackjack, double on 9, 10 or 11 only, double after split, Aces split only once and only receive one card. HA = .85%
Match Play 21 (otherwise known as “Spanish 21”) – unknown number of decks in a shoe, all decks have no 10 cards, dealer hits on soft 17, double on any two cards but only once, double after split, hit and/or double after splitting Aces, player 21 always wins, surrender anytime. HA = .76% with the no redoubling option and given a 6 deck shoe.
Optional bonus given on following hands, but only before doubling or splitting:
Match Play 21 pays 40 to 1
7+ card 21 pays 3 to 1
7-7-7 spades pays 3 to 1
6-7-8 spades pays 3 to 1
7-7-7 suited pays 2 to 1
6-7-8 suited pays 2 to 1
6 card 21 pays 2 to 1
Any 7-7-7 pays 3 to 2
Any 6-7-8 pays 3 to 2
5 card 21 pays 3 to 2
Super 21 (otherwise known as “Super Fun 21”) – 8 deck shoe, dealer hits soft 17, double on any two cards, double after split, split up to 4 hands, hit and/or double on split Aces, blackjack pays 1 to 1, late surrender anytime, player blackjack always wins. HA = ~ 1.2%.
Optional bonus given on following hands, but only before doubling:
Diamond blackjack pays 2 to 1
5 card 21 pays 2 to 1
6 card 21 pays 2 to 1
6 card Charlie – this variation registers a player win if they reach a total of 6 cards without busting.
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