Blackjack variants change more than the name on the felt. Free doubles, card switching or a second chance at a draw can be paired with lower payouts, additional costs or a dealer-22 push rule. Understand the complete exchange before using familiar blackjack strategy.
This is a guide to documented game formats, not a live casino-floor directory. It does not confirm that a named casino currently offers a particular table. Availability, limits and individual rules should be checked with the venue or the game’s current help screen.
Compare the main rule changes
| Variant | Special feature | Important counterweight or condition |
|---|---|---|
| Free Bet Blackjack | Qualifying doubles and splits use free-bet tokens | Dealer 22 can push surviving ordinary hands; tokens are not cash stakes |
| Blackjack Switch | Exchange the second cards between two hands | Two equal opening wagers; natural blackjacks pay even money in the documented rules |
| Power Blackjack | Replace a qualifying double card or split certain non-pair totals | Dealer-22 push rule; eligible totals and other rules vary |
| Triple Attack Blackjack | Add wagers after seeing selected cards | Spanish decks, even-money naturals and a dealer-22 push rule |
| Change It 21 | Pay to replace an eligible card | Non-refundable fee; the documented version pays naturals 6:5 |
| Super Fun 21 | Extra action options and special multi-card wins | Most naturals pay even money; bonuses have conditions |
These are identifying features, not full strategy charts. A hand that looks identical to ordinary blackjack can require a different action when the settlement rules change.
Free Bet: what “free” means
In the documented standard format, a hard two-card 9, 10 or 11 can receive a free double. Qualifying pairs other than ten-value pairs can receive a free split. The casino supplies a marker for the added stake; it does not give you that marker’s value as withdrawable cash.
| Result | Cash returned | Net cash result |
|---|---|---|
| Win at the doubled 1:1 rate | $30 | +$20 |
| Push | $10 | $0 |
| Loss | $0 | −$10 |
The original $10 is still at risk. The dealer-22 push rule is an important part of the game’s balance: surviving ordinary hands that would win against a bust in conventional blackjack can instead push. Check how naturals and special outcomes are settled. Free-bet and cash-funded hands can need different strategy.
Blackjack Switch: two hands and one exchange
The documented game starts with two equal wagers. You may exchange the second card of one hand with the second card of the other. You do not freely rearrange all four cards.
| Hand | Before switching | After exchanging second cards |
|---|---|---|
| First hand | 10 then 5: total 15 | 10 then 10: total 20 |
| Second hand | 6 then 10: total 16 | 6 then 5: total 11 |
This shows the legal movement, not a complete strategy recommendation: the dealer’s upcard and both hands matter. A switched ace-and-ten is normally treated as 21 rather than a natural. The documented rules also pay original naturals even money and push ordinary surviving hands on dealer 22, with a natural-blackjack exception.
Two $10 opening bets mean $20 staked before any later doubles or splits. Do not compare that round with a single $10 hand as if the exposure were identical.
Power Blackjack and Triple Attack
Power Blackjack lets a player replace the drawn card on a qualifying power double. Once exchanged, the unwanted card is discarded; there is no guarantee the replacement is better. The documented format also allows power splits of hard 15 or 16 without requiring a pair. Eligible power-double totals and dealer rules differ by version, so a single generic chart is insufficient.
Triple Attack uses Spanish decks, with rank-10 cards removed but J, Q and K retained. After the first mandatory wager, an optional second wager follows the player’s first card, and an optional third follows the dealer’s upcard. Each added attack wager equals the first wager. It is a sequence of betting decisions, not a free preview of a normal single-wager game.
A $10 first attack plus both optional $10 attacks puts $30 on the table before any double or split. Those actions can require still more money. Check the complete rules and use a variant-specific strategy.
Change It 21: include the fee in your result
The documented Change It feature charges half the original wager to replace an eligible card with the next unseen card. The fee is non-refundable. Here is the accounting for a $10 main wager and a $5 change fee, with no later double or split.
| Main-hand outcome | Returned from main hand | Net after the $15 outlay |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary 1:1 win | $20 | +$5 |
| Push | $10 | −$5 |
| Loss | $0 | −$15 |
A push can therefore still be a net loss for the round. The analysed version also has a 6:5 natural payout and restrictions on doubling after splits. The replacement option does not by itself make the whole game better value.
Super Fun 21: read bonus conditions closely
Documented Super Fun 21 rules include actions such as doubling after drawing cards and expanded surrender options. They also specify certain multi-card wins and a diamond-suited natural bonus, while other naturals pay even money. Restrictions, including exclusions after doubling, matter to the bonus outcomes.
Use our Super 21 guide for the distinction between a documented Super Fun 21-style format and an unverified online game using a similar name. Do not assume matching names guarantee matching rules.
Five questions before choosing a variant
- How many mandatory wagers or fees are required?
- What does a natural blackjack pay, and do changed or split cards qualify?
- Does dealer 22 lose, push or have exceptions?
- Which special actions are eligible, and what additional cash can they require?
- Is the strategy reference for this exact rule set?
Optional side bets are another separate cost. Count them inside your spending limit. More choices and larger prizes do not guarantee lower house edge or a winning session.
Frequently asked questions
Does Free Bet Blackjack mean I can play without risking money?
No. The qualifying added wager may use a token, but your original cash bet remains at risk. Free play with no real stakes is a different concept.
Can I switch any cards in Blackjack Switch?
The documented format allows exchanging the second card of each of the two starting hands. It does not permit arbitrary rearrangement.
Is dealer 22 always a win for the player?
Not in variants with a dealer-22 push rule. Check the exceptions, including how naturals are handled, and remember an already busted player hand is not rescued.
Can a push still cost money?
Yes. A non-refundable change fee or a losing side bet can make the combined round a net loss even if the main hand pushes.
Are these variants currently available at the casinos mentioned in older guides?
This page does not verify current floor availability. Ask the venue for the game, table rules and limits rather than relying on an old location claim.
Sources and further reading
Free Bet rules · Blackjack Switch rules · Power Blackjack · Triple Attack · Change It 21 · Super Fun 21. Check the rules and paytable of the particular game before using an example.