Created by RealTime Gaming, Super 21 is a fun, exciting version of American-style blackjack that offers bonus payouts and allows players to surrender at any time. The game can be played in various online casinos via RTG’s Flash Casino or on its downloadable casino software.
RTG’s Super 21 uses six standard 52-card decks, although the studio also offers an 8-deck version that can be found in some online casinos. It features a classic design, simplistic layout, and it is easy to play. The game comes with quite liberal rules but also with a few rules that are more favorable to the casino such as the one saying that the dealer must hit on soft 17. In addition, blackjack here does not pay 3:2 as usual but only 1:1.
There are, however, several special payouts that make the game more interesting. Another thing to bear in mind is that this version of blackjack follows the American-style rules, which means that it uses the dealer’s hole card. The RTP (Return to Player) rate is calculated at 98.94% for the 6-deck version, which makes Super 21 the RTG blackjack game with the highest house edge, 1.06%. In comparison, most blackjack games offer a house edge of around 0.46%.
Standing and Hitting Decisions in Super 21
The game starts when players place their bets and click on the Deal button. The dealer then deals them two cards and draws two for himself (the first card is face-up, while the second one is revealed only after the player’s turn is over). This is when players must make their first decision that will influence how the game will proceed and end.
Players can decide to draw more cards and in this case, they opt for the Hit button. If they believe they have a good enough hand, they can Stand, which will automatically end their turn. In order to make the right decision, however, players need to not only know the rules of the game but also develop the right strategy based on it. In this particular game, for example, players are paid more for a 5-card 21 than for blackjack, so Standing on a blackjack hand is not a successful strategy.
Splitting in Super 21
When the first two cards you are dealt are a pair, you are also given the option to Split them. Not only cards of the same face value would be pairs – all cards that count as 10 can be split. Players are allowed to Split two times each round, meaning they can Split once and Re-Split once for a total of three hands.
Whenever they do this, they place another bet of the same value as their original stake for each new hand. One thing to remember, however, is that Aces cannot be re-split.
Doubling in Super 21
Just like Standing and Hitting, this option is also available at the beginning of each round and after a split but it should be used very carefully. When you Double Down, you not only double your bet but you also request one more card to your hand. This is why Doubling should not be made on high hands.
The Double option is offered on any number of cards in RTG’s Super 21 – you can Double your bet throughout the game but only once per round.
Buying Insurance in Super 21
Insurance works as a side bet that can be taken in order to insure against a dealer blackjack. It is available if the dealer’s up card is an Ace and the player believes that the dealer has good chances of getting a blackjack. Insurance is half of the original stake and it pays 2:1.
This bet wins if the dealer has blackjack – it loses in all other instances. However, Insurance is independent of the main game bet and you can win of them and lose the other one at the same time.
Surrender Rule in Super 21
RTG’s Super 21 is one of the very few games that offer Surrender at any time – you can give up half of your bet in the beginning, throughout the game, and even after doubling or splitting. This rule may not be as advantageous to the player as we want to but at least it allows those who are certain they would lose to return half of their stake.
Bonus Payouts in Super 21
This game may pay evenly for blackjack but it has some additional payouts that make playing it quite interesting. Players, who manage to draw 4 cards for a total of 6 cards in their hand without busting, will instantly win, for example. In fact, these special payouts will change the strategy for this game completely:
- Blackjack in Diamonds – 2:1
- 5-Card 21 – 2:1
- 6-Card 21 – 2:1
- 6-Card Hand – 1:1
None of these applies after doubling, however.