Set in a dark, beautiful background, Transylvania Blackjack is a live dealer version of blackjack and it was created by Playtech, one of the world’s leading providers of online casino software. The game is based on the standard rules of European blackjack and it can be played in real time at various web-based casinos.
Playtech’s Transylvania Blackjack was launched recently as part of the company’s new Bucharest, Romania live dealer studio. The table has 7 seats but the Play Behind feature allows even more players to bet “behind” the seated casino patrons, effectively betting on their actions. Although the game uses a standard 8-deck shoe, it is played in the European dealing style – initially, the dealer draws only one card and does not get a second card until players have ended their turns.
Another rule to keep in mind is that the dealer must stand on all 17’s. In addition, players can take advantage of the 10 Card Charlie rule in the rare occasions when they have drawn 10 cards without busting. Under that rule, they always win unless the dealer has blackjack. Based on the specific rules and payouts, the game has an average return of 99.46%, also called RTP (Return to Player).
Standing and Hitting in Transylvania Blackjack
The two main decisions players make when playing blackjack is to Hit or to Stand, meaning to request more cards or to decide to continue with the cards they already have. The rules regarding these in Transylvania Blackjack are standard. There is only one exception – players are not allowed to Hit on split Aces, which will be explained in the following section.
Splitting in Transylvania Blackjack
The game has the Split feature, which allows players to “split” the first two cards they receive if these cards form a pair. To constitute a pair, the two cards must be of the same rank – their color and suit are irrelevant. Only one Split is allowed and when chosen, the cards from the pair are separated into two hands and another bet of the same amount as the original one is made. Players can draw as many cards as they want on each split hand but if they split two Aces, they can receive only one additional card to each Ace.
Doubling in Transylvania Blackjack
This option is preferred by many players who have a higher tolerance for risk. When they have good cards and are confident they would win the round, they can Double their bet and, in case they win, they get a double payout. In Transylvania Blackjack, players can Double on any two cards in their initial hand or after a split.
Buying Insurance in Transylvania Blackjack
Insurance is an option at some blackjack games, including Playtech’s live dealer Transylvania Blackjack. Players are allowed to take it if the dealer’s first hand is an Ace and this bet insures against this. When you opt for Insurance, half of your initial stake is placed on the table as a side bet and it wins only if the dealer really achieves blackjack. Otherwise, the Insurance bet loses. Of course, this option is available before the dealer draws a second card.
Payouts for Transylvania Blackjack Side Bets
Playtech added two types of side bets to almost all their live dealer games for those players who are willing to risk more to get more rewards. Transylvania Blackjack offers players to win up to 100 times their original stake with one of them, namely the 21+3 side bet. It is optional and with it, players bet that their first two cards in combination with the dealer’s first hand would form one of several possible poker hands.
The payout of 100:1 is given for a Suited Three of a Kind, which means that the first three cards that are being dealt on the table must be of the same rank and suit – three Fives of Spades, for instance. If all the cards on the table form a Straight Flush (5 consecutive cards of the same suit), the payout is 40:1, while a Three of a Kind pays 30:1. If all five cards on the table constitute a Straight (5 consecutive cards of any color or suit), players receive a 10:1 payout and if they make a Flush (any 5 cards of the same suit), the payout is 5:1. Of course, these five-card poker hands can be formed after the first deal of cards.
The other side bet in the game is Perfect Pairs, which wins if the player or the dealer receives two cards of the same rank, i.e. a pair. As there are three kinds of pairs, there are also three different payouts – mixed pairs pay 6:1, color pairs pay 12:1, and perfect pairs pay 25:1. The RTP is lower when players decide to make these side bets. It is 96.296% for the 21+3 bet and 95.90% purchasing the Perfect Pairs side bet.