Classic Blackjack is an authentic shoe-dealt online variation of the classic card game that plays with multiple decks and allows players to bet on up to three hands simultaneously. This relatively new blackjack release ensures a thrilling gaming experience across all desktop and mobile devices. Smartphone and tablet users can enjoy the game in landscape or portrait mode, depending on their preferences.
The betting range is flexible enough to accommodate both small-scale players and high rollers, with a table limit that reaches a whopping $5,000 per hand. More importantly, the game incorporates optional side wagers from the 21+3 and Perfect Pairs categories that can enrich you with extra large payouts of up to 100 to 1.
 Game Provider: NetEnt |
Release Date: 2021 |
| Bet Range: 1 - 5000 |
Chip Values: 1, 5, 10, 25, 100, 500 |
| Multi-Hand Play: Up to 3 hands |
Deck Number:
6 decks |
| Blackjack Pays: 3 to 2 |
Dealer Drawing Rules: Stands on all 17s and above |
| Dealer Peek Rule: Peeks on 10, J, Q, K, and A |
Doubling on: Any two cards |
| Resplitting: No |
Surrender: No |
| Insurance Deactivation: No |
Side Bets: Yes |
| Progressive Jackpot: No |
House Edge: 0.41% |
Interface and Design
The variation takes its cue from the high-limit blackjack tables at landbased casinos, with a soft jazzy melody playing in the background. The interface is rather simplistic without any unnecessary frills to distract you from your gaming session. The table has a standard green felt, with three betting spots available for concurrent play during any given round.
The six-deck shoe sits in the upper right corner and the backs of the cards carry the distinctive NetEnt logo, which is a nice touch. The main payouts and the drawing rules for the dealer are printed in a legible font in the center of the layout.
By clicking on the light bulb icon right next to the shoe, players can quickly refer to the main rules of the game. The burger menu in the upper left corner leads to the settings, the paytable, and the complete ruleset.
Rules of Play and Payouts
Classic Blackjack generally offers player-friendly rules, with very few exceptions. The game is dealt out of a six-deck shoe and the software reshuffles the cards before each round. The dealer must stand on all totals of 17 or higher and check for blackjacks on both aces and ten-value cards. Players can take insurance or accept even money for their blackjacks when the dealer shows an ace.
Doubling down is an option on any starting total. You can split any pair but the game disallows resplitting. On the bright side, you can double down after you split. Split aces can receive no more than one additional card. Players can anticipate standard payouts in the main game as insurance and blackjacks pay 2 to 1 and 3 to 2, respectively. All other winning hands in the main game return even money.
Players who crave extra excitement can place the Perfect Pairs and 21+3 side bets before any cards are dealt on the layout. The Perfect Pairs side wagers pay whenever your starting hand consists of a colored, suited, or mixed pair. The 21+3 category includes several optional bets that win whenever your first two cards and the dealer’s exposed card combine to form a qualifying three-card poker hand (suited or mixed trips, a straight flush, a flush, or a straight).
| Winning Hands in the Main Game | |
|---|---|
| Blackjack | 3 to 2 |
| Insurance | 2 to 1 |
| Other Winning Hands | 1 to 1 |
| Perfect Pairs Side Bets | |
| Mixed Pairs | 6 to 1 |
| Colored Pair | 12 to 1 |
| Perfect Pairs | 25 to 1 |
| 21+3 Side Bets | |
| Flush | 5 to 1 |
| Straight | 10 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 10 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 40 to 1 |
| Suited Trips | 100 to 1 |
In-Game Features
Not much is going on in terms of in-game features but this hardly takes away from the appeal of the game. Basic strategy players cannot completely deactivate the insurance bet from the settings but can decline it on all hands they have in action with a single click.
Players can enjoy Classic Blackjack in full-screen mode, adjust the volume of the jazzy music and the ambient sounds, or turn them off completely. The game also makes it possible to adjust the speed of play. Just open the settings and use the slider to increase or decrease the speed. Clicking the clock icon gives you access to your complete game history but this feature is only available when you play for real money.
Classic Blackjack Return to Player
As we hinted already, Classic Blackjack has player-friendly rules for the most part, which translates into a decent theoretical return of 99.59% and a house edge of less than half a percent in the base game. This percentage drops to 95.38% for the side bets from the 21+3 group and is even lower at 93.89% for the Perfect Pairs wagers. We recommend you approach these extra betting options with caution. They can quickly deplete your session bankroll if you are not careful.
Classic Blackjack FAQs
Should I accept the even-money payout for my blackjacks when the dealer shows an ace?
Both taking insurance and accepting even money for your blackjacks are negative expectation moves, according to basic strategy. We suggest you refrain from making them as this would ultimately save you money in the long run.
Why can’t I access my hand history?
If you have no access to your betting history, this is most likely due to the fact that you are playing Classic Blackjack in free mode with demo credits. The hand history feature is available only to players who bet real money on the game.
Is there a way to further reduce the house edge in Classic Blackjack?
The above-specified return percentages are accurate only if you play the game optimally with adequate basic strategy. Keep in mind you will combat a higher house edge if you are making haphazard moves. Card counting is the only way to improve your theoretical return in blackjack but the technique is inapplicable in randomly generated games like Classic Blackjack where cards are reshuffled before each round.