This version of Blackjack combines elements of the classic and Spanish games together. The Spanish Blackjack influence is most clearly seen in the fact that a 48-card deck is used. As in Spanish versions of the game, it’s the standard Poker deck without the 10 cards.

This deck really favours the casino, so to keep things interesting there a quite a few things you candy to tip the odds back in your direction. This makes Double Attack Blackjack an interesting variation to play. If you’d like to check it out for yourself, you can start by reading the basics here.

Playing Double Attack Blackjack

The objective in this game is the same as in traditional Blackjack games at this latest website: to get a hand total as close to 21 as possible, without going to 22 or higher. Winning Blackjack pays even money, and if you tie with the dealer you push and are given your wager back. Double Attack starts in the classic way too, with all players making their wagers before any cards are dealt.

At this point, in a traditional game each player is dealt 2 face-up cards and the dealer gets 1 face-up and 1 facedown card. In the Double Attack version players get only 1 face-up card at this time, as does the dealer. You can choose to double your bet after seeing these cards, which is where the name of the game comes from. Once everyone has made their decision, the second cards are dealt.

In land-based games the action then starts with the player to the left of the dealer while you can choose to play with other people or at your own table when playing online. In either case, you can Hit to get more cards or Stand to finish your turn. You are usually also allowed to split 2 or 3 times, and sometimes even 4, but are not allowed to re-split Aces. Even when you split Aces the first time, you’ll receive 1 card instead of 2 when you Hit.

You are also allowed to double your bet or surrender at any time. If you double or split you need to match the total of your original plus your Double Attack bet, and if you surrender you’ll get half of this combined bet.

You can Hit and Stand as you wish to, but the dealer must reach a total of at least 17 and must stand on a Soft 17. A Soft Hand contains an Ace, while a Hard Hand does not. Since the Ace can be worth 11 or 1, the Soft 17 can never go bust by taking a Hit. Forcing the dealer to stand on this hand and removing the flexibility of this puts the odds a little more in your favour.

Bust It Side Bet

There is also an intriguing side bet you can make when playing Double Attack Blackjack. You’ll place this before the first dealer card is seen, and will be betting on whether the dealer card will bust on the third card that is dealt. The third cards that can bust the dealer, and their payouts, are listed below.

10 – Pays 3:1

9 – Pays 6:1

8 – Pays 8:1

7 – Pays 10:1

6 – Pays 15:1

There can be other specific rules for dealer busts, and the side bet has a house edge of 8%. Bringing the Bust It bet into your Double Attack Blackjack gameplay should make things more exciting and rewarding.