21 Duel Blackjack is an unusual and innovative blackjack variant offered by Playtech at some of its online casinos like Paddy Power. It is unusual because it makes use of community cards as is done in some online casino poker variants. Another unusual feature is that there is no special value or payout attached to a natural blackjack, which is on par with any other hand of value 21. There are no moves like split and double down.

The ante wager is first placed. Then the player is dealt two cards, one face up and one face down. The dealer is dealt two cards, both face down. Two community cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table, which can be used by both the player and the dealer. The player is presented with three options on the screen. The first option is fold. This will end the game with the loss of the ante wager. This option should be exercised when the player’s hand value with either community card is in the range of 13 to 15. It is not good enough to stand and the risk of busting is high with the third card. The second option is to select the left community card and the third option is to select the right community card. If the player selects a community card an additional wager equal to the ante wager will be automatically placed. Now the player has two options. If he stands, the face down card is discarded and the two-card hand is the final hand. If he hits, his face down card is exposed to make a three-card hand. If he busts then he loses the game and both bets, otherwise the three-card hand is his final hand.

The dealer’s hand is automatically played at rapid pace according to set rules. The player need not understand the exact mechanism involved. The dealer’s final two-card or three-card hand is displayed and the payouts are given effect. If the dealer busts the player is paid even money on both bets. The dealer needs 13 or more points to qualify. This concept in Playtech 21 Duel Blackjack is also taken from casino poker variants. If the dealer does not qualify the player wins even money on the ante wager and pushes on the additional wager. If the dealer qualifies then the hand values are compared. If the dealer’s point total is higher than the player’s, then the player will lose both the ante wager and the additional wager. If the dealer’s point total is lower than the player’s, the player will win even money on both bets. If the dealer’s point total is equal to the player’s point total then the hands push.

Playtech 21 Duel Blackjack also allows for an optional 2 Up wager that has to be placed before the cards are dealt. It is decided by the first three face up cards dealt, which are the player’s face up card and the two community cards. If these cards contain a pair the player is paid at 3 to 1 on the 2 Up wager. If the three cards make up three of a kind the player is paid 20 to 1. These are paid even if the player folds or he loses.