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Blackjack was a straightforward game played with single and multiple decks before the internet era. The side bets and extra variants later entered the market to add a level of modernization to it. With the advent of the internet, rolling out new variations with tweaked rules became easier.
Pirate 21 Blackjack is among the latest variants of the Blackjack game that was introduced to the market in the mid-2000s. The provider company is no longer operating, but there are no shortages of online casinos willing to offer Pirate 21 Blackjack. BetSoft is among the leading provider of the game with an appealing user interface, compelling one to play non-stop.
Pirate 21 Blackjack is mostly played in online casinos and has interesting gameplay. It has a very low house edge of 0.75%, making it an ideal game for all types of gamblers.
What is Pirate 21 Blackjack?
Pirate 21 Blackjack is a Blackjack variation mostly played online that follows the basic Blackjack rules but with some changes to the overall gameplay. The main factor distinguishing Pirate 21 Blackjack from a typical table Blackjack is the use of a Pirate deck or Spanish deck. A pirate deck is similar to a French deck, with all the tens removed, making it a 48-card deck. Removing all the tens decreases the possibility of pulling a Blackjack hand, thus increasing the house edge.
On the other hand, there are rules in favor of the gamblers to compensate for the removed tens and the higher house edge. After all, it is always the supply-demand concept dictating the success of any product, and Pirate 21 Blackjack is no exception. The favorable rules and extra payouts balance the ugly side of having the tens removed from the deck.
The Rules of Pirate 21 Blackjack:
The basic rules of Pirate 21 Blackjack are the same as a typical table Blackjack with hitting, standing, doubling down, and splitting. The game’s objective is to compose a hand that is as close to 21 as possible without going over (called busting in Blackjack). By doing so, the gambler beats the dealer’s hand, having higher total points. If you have played Blackjack once or twice, you could easily grasp the rules of Pirate 21 Blackjack since they are almost the same.
Pirate 21 Blackjack is played with 6 Spanish/Pirate decks shuffled into a shoe. Gamblers get dealt two cards and can opt to stand or draw additional cards until busting. If the gambler’s first two cards total 21, it is called a natural blackjack and is paid 3 to 2. If the gambler and the dealer have natural blackjacks, the gambler’s Blackjack beats the dealer’s. If it were a table blackjack, it would result in a push, and bets would be returned. In addition, a gambler’s hand of 21 (consisting of more than 2 cards) always wins, regardless of whether the dealer’s hand is a 21.
The above rules are atypical of a table blackjack game but are offered in Pirate 21 Blackjack to compensate for the unfair removal of tens. But that is not all Pirate 21 Blackjack has to offer. Additionally, there are extra rules changed to the gamblers’ favor. The following changed rules are the reason behind a 0.75% house edge in Pirate 21 Blackjack.
Doubling down on any hand is possible in Pirate 21 Blackjack, unlike the restrictive rules of a typical Blackjack game that only permits doubling down on the hands total of 9,10, and 11. Being able to Double down at any time gives gamblers an edge to play strategically and win big payouts.
An interesting rule called “Double Down Rescue” allows players to surrender once they have doubled down. The gamblers can take back the additional wager put for the double-down cause, and the initial bet is lost to the casino.
When it comes to splitting the hands, there are captivating rules that favor gamblers. For example, splitting up to four hands is offered in Pirate 21 Blackjack. Conversely, splitting more than once is uncommon in a typical table blackjack. The splitting option activates once a gambler has a pair. Further splitting the hand may bring out another card of the same rank, which, if split, is considered a second split.
Splitting a pair of Aces is advantageous to the gambler, but certain rules have limited what further actions can be taken after the split. A typical table Blackjack does not allow hitting more than once and doubling down after the Ace split. In addition, re-splitting the Aces if another Ace comes about is not allowed either. On the other hand, Pirate 21 Blackjack allows re-splitting the Aces and further actions like hitting more than once and doubling down. Furthermore, doubling down is allowed after any split in Pirate 21 Blackjack.
Pirate 21 Blackjack is a multi-hand game, which means gamblers can play up to three hands simultaneously. Since it is mostly played online, the gambler is in no rush and can take their time to decide.
Pirate 21 Blackjack payouts:
As mentioned, Pirate 21 Blackjack basic is no different from a typical table Blackjack, and neither are the payouts. The basic payouts are the same, but there are additional payouts that do not exist in a typical table Blackjack. No extra bets are required to qualify for these additional payouts. There are pre-defined payouts for some specific hands that a gambler can compose.
A typical winning hand pays 1:1, and a natural Blackjack pays 3:2 in Pirate 21 Blackjack. The basic payouts are the same as in a table Blackjack. Here are some of the additional payouts from lowest to highest.
| Specific Hand | Payout |
| 3-4 Card 21 | 1: 1 |
| 5 Card 21 | 3: 2 |
| 6-7-8 Off-suit | 3: 2 |
| 7-7-7 Off-suit | 3: 2 |
| 6 Card 21 | 2: 1 |
| 6-7-8 Suited | 2: 1 |
| 7-7-7 Suited | 2: 1 |
| 7+ Card 21 | 3: 1 |
| 6-7-8 All Spades | 3: 1 |
| 7-7-7 All Spades | 3: 1 |
If the gambler has 7-7-7 Suited, and the dealer has a 7 as an up-card, 1000$ is paid to the gambler if their initial bet is between 5$ and 24$. The payout increases to 5000$ if the gambler’s initial bet is between 25$ and 100$.
The additional payouts, without the need for placing extra bets, make Pirate 21 Blackjack an enticing game to play. It is like playing Blackjack with extra payouts now and then if your hand happens to meet a certain combination.
Match the dealer side bet:
Match the dealer side bet and Pirate 21 Blackjack act as two inseparable lovers that always accompany each other. If either of the gambler’s two cards matches that of the dealer’s up-card, the bet is successful. A non-suited match pays 4 to 1, while a suited match pays 9 to 1. If both the gambler’s cards match the dealer’s up-card, the highest payout is paid.
For example:
If the gambler has 3♥ 9♣ and the dealer’s up-card shows 9♠, the Match the dealer side bet pays 4 to 1.
If the gambler has 7♠ J♦ and the dealer’s up-card shows J♦, the side bet pays 9 to 1.
If the gambler has 5♦ 5♥ and the dealer’s up-card shows 5♦, the side bet pays 9 to 1 (the highest payout is 9:1).
In a nutshell:
Pirate 21 Blackjack is a recent Blackjack variation with a 0.75% house edge. It is mostly played online and has loose rules compared to a typical table Blackjack. Furthermore, there are additional payouts tailored to specific hands without having to place any bet for them. The ruleset compensates for the absence of all the tens in the deck and has done a good job of it.
Consider finding casinos that provide free Pirate 21 Blackjack games until you get a good handle on it. Afterward, shift to real-money casinos to take home cash and retire at a young age.
Read More:
How to play Blackjack for beginners
Top Blackjack Players of All Time
