Bonus Blackjack Rules by Creator 1x2Gaming

Exhaustive guide to achieving the lowest blackjack house edge of 0.18% on 1x2Gaming’s Bonus Blackjack.

I’m not a big fan of the 1x2Gaming online casino platform, but I do have to commend them for their production of Bonus Blackjack. It mimics a typical American-rules blackjack game in almost every way, but with one unique and extremely player-friendly exception.

A player who is dealt a natural blackjack containing an actual, black jack, is paid 2 to 1. Unlike most games creators, they didn’t reduce to the standard 3 to 2 payout for other natural blackjacks, either. By these rules, players are getting the…

Lowest Blackjack House Edge of 0.18%

Blackjack is known for being the most strategically functional game in the casino. A basic strategy chart can be adapted for every variation of the game. However, the rules will define the value of that strategy. The best RTP you can expect to find at a walk-on casino, as well as most online casinos, ranges from about 99.65% to 99.52% (house edge 0.35% to 0.48%).

If it weren’t for the “black jack” bonus payout, all of the rules in 1x2Gaming’s Bonus Blackjack game combined would deliver an RTP of 99.54%, fitting neatly into that average range. The bonus, however, skims 0.28% of the house edge off the top, thereby delivering a nice, neatly gift-wrapped RTP of 99.82%.

How to Play Bonus Blackjack

Now that I’ve got your attention, let’s take a closer look at the precise rules of 1x2Gaming’s Bonus 21 game. It’s worth noting that Bonus Blackjack is the twin sibling of Red Queen Blackjack – exact same rules, but paying a 2 to 1 bonus for a natural blackjack with (you guessed it) any red queen.

• Decks: 6
• Soft 17: Dealer Stands
• Doubling: Yes, on any two cards
• Splitting: Yes, 1x
• Double after Split: Yes
• Resplit Aces: No
• Draw to Split Aces: No
• Surrender: No
• Dealer Checks for Blackjack: Yes
• Tie for Blackjack: Push
• Natural Blackjack Pays: 3 to 2
• Natural with “Black Jack” Pays: 2 to 1

Bonus Blackjack Hand Strategy

In order to get that beautiful 99.82% RTP, you’ll need to play your cards just right, every time. I’ve drawn up three strategy charts detailing how to respond in all hard total, soft total, and paired value situations. Follow these charts without err and over the long-term, you’ll achieve that supremely low house edge.

How to Decide Hard Hand Values

A hard total is any number of cards with a total value that does not involve an 11-point Ace. Hard totals of 12 or more can bust with a single hit, therefore the strategy is more cautious.

How to Decide Soft Hands Values

A soft total is any number of cards with a total value that does involve an 11-point Ace. Soft totals cannot bust with a single hit, giving players more opportunities to hit or double down when probabilities call for it.

Conditions for Splitting Pairs

Splitting pairs will cost you an additional bet, making a second hand. Not all are pairs are good for splitting. Use this chart to sustain the lowest blackjack house edge when faced with a possible split-hand decision.