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An Overview of Speed Blackjack

Evolution Gaming‘s Speed Blackjack is a live dealer table game that is based on the classic casino game of blackjack. Speed Blackjack takes the beloved classic “21” game and infuses it with an adrenaline-pumping twist. The concept is simple yet revolutionary: all the classic blackjack rules apply, but the player who decides their move the fastest after the initial cards are dealt gets their next card first.

What Makes It Unique

Unlike traditional blackjack, where turns are taken in a predetermined order, Speed Blackjack is a free-for-all race to make your decision. It’s the survival of the quickest here, an innovation that transforms the usual calm game into an exciting, speedy contest. Get your strategies in order, and sharpen those reflexes – every millisecond matters!

Top-Notch Quality from Evolution

Speed Blackjack is streamed from Evolution Gaming’s state-of-the-art live studio, bringing the vibrant casino atmosphere right to your screen. It’s as close as you can get to a real-life casino experience without leaving the comfort of your home.

Perfect for Most Blackjack Players

What’s more, this game is perfect for both seasoned blackjack veterans looking to shake up their routine and newcomers who prefer a quicker pace. The mix of strategy and speed is a potent combination that keeps you on your toes, making every round a nail-biting, heart-racing affair.

Game Rules

Just like standard blackjack, the objective is to have a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. If you exceed 21, you’re ‘bust’, and the round is lost. Here are the main rules:

• The game is played with 8 decks of cards.
• Dealer stands on all 17s – this includes soft 17 (a hand containing an Ace that can be counted as either 7 or 17).
• Players can double down on any two-card hand – this means doubling the original bet in exchange for committing to stand after receiving one more card.
• Splitting is allowed if you receive two cards of the same value. This creates two separate hands, each with its own bet equal to the original wager.
• Insurance is offered when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. This side bet pays 2:1 if the dealer’s facedown card is a 10, giving them a blackjack.
• Blackjack pays 3:2, and any other win pays 1:1.

Game Layout

Speed Blackjack maintains Evolution Gaming’s standard of high-quality live gaming. You’ll be greeted by a live dealer in a professionally designed studio mimicking a real-life casino. The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, with chips for betting at the bottom of the screen and easy-to-navigate game options.

The physical table is semi-circular, with spaces for up to 7 players. However, as with other Evolution games, an unlimited number of online players can join thanks to the ‘Bet Behind’ feature. This allows you to bet on another player’s hand while you wait for a seat or just want to join in the action without making game decisions.

Speed Feature and How it Affects the Gameplay

In the exhilarating world of Speed Blackjack, it’s all about the quick decisions that change the traditional face of the game. This innovative feature thrusts all players into a simultaneous decision-making frenzy once the initial two cards have been dealt.

Call to Immediate Action!

Instead of the customary turn-based procedure, where players decide their moves according to their positions at the table, Speed Blackjack demands immediate action from all players. Whether you want to hit, stand, double down, or split, you’d better make your move fast. Why? Because the player who decides their move the quickest gets the next card first.

This departure from convention transforms the game, offering a different kind of adrenaline rush. No longer can players bide their time, meticulously planning their next move as they would in traditional blackjack. In Speed Blackjack, hesitation may mean missing out on the next card dealt.

A True Game Changer

This speed feature breathes a new life into the game, injecting an unparalleled dynamism that sets it apart from the standard format. Every decision becomes a thrilling race against time, heightening the suspense in each round. It’s the same game of blackjack you know and love – but played at a pulse-pounding pace.

How to Play Speed Blackjack

Just like a high-speed chase, playing a game of Speed Blackjack demands quick wit, sharper reflexes, and a love for adrenaline. Here’s how you buckle up for this thrilling ride.

• Step 1: Place Your Bet. Just like traditional blackjack, your journey starts with placing a bet. The chips are typically located at the bottom of the screen. Simply select your desired amount and place your bet on the virtual blackjack table. Remember, speed is the name of the game, but don’t let it rush your decision on how much you’re willing to wager.
• Step 2: The Initial Deal. After all bets are placed, the dealer deals two cards to each player and themselves, with one of the dealer’s cards facedown. Now, you’re off to the races!
• Step 3: Fastest Finger First. Here’s where Speed Blackjack takes a hard turn from the traditional game. Instead of waiting for your turn, all players are simultaneously asked if they want to hit, stand, double down, or split. The player who makes their decision first gets the next card dealt first. Swift decision-making is crucial here, so keep your strategies and reflexes sharp.
• Step 4: The Race Continues. The game continues in this vein, with the fastest decision-maker always receiving the next card. The pace is relentless, but don’t let it pressure you into hasty decisions. Balance speed with smart choices to succeed.
• Step 5: The Dealer’s Turn. Once all players have made their decisions, the dealer reveals their facedown card and plays their hand, hitting on any total of 16 or less, and standing on any total of 17 or more, as per standard blackjack rules.
• Step 6: Declare the Winners. Once the dealer’s hand is complete, it’s time to declare the winners. If your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, without going over, congratulations – you’ve won at Speed Blackjack!

Bet Types

In Speed Blackjack by Evolution Gaming, the betting types are in line with those found in traditional blackjack games. Let’s break them down:

• Main Bet: This is your primary bet placed at the beginning of the round, wagering that your hand will be closer to 21 than the dealer’s without going over.
• Double Down: After you’ve been dealt your initial two cards, you have the option to double your original bet. However, by choosing to do so, you commit to standing after receiving exactly one more card.
• Split: If your initial two cards are of the same value, you can opt to split them into two separate hands, each with a bet equal to your original wager. After splitting, you then play each hand individually.
• Insurance: When the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you’re offered an insurance bet. This is essentially a side bet wagering that the dealer’s facedown card is a 10, thus giving them a blackjack. Insurance pays 2:1 if you win, but it’s considered a risky bet as the odds are not in the player’s favor.

What to Know about Bets in Speed Blackjack

While splitting can sometimes double your winnings, it can also double your losses. Doubling down can pay off if you’re confident that one more card will bring you close to 21, but it’s a risk if the dealer’s upcard is strong. The insurance bet is typically seen as a poor value bet in the long run, as it pays out in less than one-third of cases. So while it may seem like a safety net, it can drain your funds if used regularly.

Speed Blackjack Odds

Understanding the odds in Speed Blackjack, as with any blackjack variant, requires knowledge of basic blackjack strategy because the odds can shift significantly based on the player’s actions. As in standard blackjack, the fundamental odds are:

• Dealer Bust: If the dealer has a 5 showing, they have the highest probability of busting at around 42%. The probability decreases as the value of the dealer’s upcard increases.
• Player Blackjack: The odds of being dealt a blackjack (an Ace and a 10-value card) are approximately 4.8%.
• Insurance: If the dealer shows an Ace and you take insurance, the odds that the dealer has a 10-value card to complete a blackjack are 9:4 against you, or roughly 31%.

Now, let’s look at the specific elements of Speed Blackjack:

• Speed Factor: This doesn’t directly affect the mathematical odds of the game, but it can impact players’ decision-making under time pressure, potentially leading to suboptimal decisions.
• Early Decision Advantage: The player who decides fastest gets the next card. This doesn’t change the inherent odds, but it might slightly alter the game’s flow.

Remember that the house always has a slight edge in blackjack, but with optimal strategy, this edge is minimized. In standard blackjack, this edge is typically around 0.5% with perfect strategy, but it can be higher if players make suboptimal decisions. Since Speed Blackjack follows the same rules, the house edge will be similar.

Speed Blackjack Strategy Guide

While the fundamental rules of blackjack remain the same in Speed Blackjack, the ‘speed’ element of the game does introduce a different dynamic that can influence how strategies are applied. As a rule of thumb, the most effective strategies for Speed Blackjack are similar to those used in traditional blackjack, such as:

• Understanding Basic Strategy: This involves knowing when to hit, stand, double down, or split based on your hand and the dealer’s upcard. Basic strategy is a mathematically optimal way to play that minimizes the house edge.
• Bankroll Management: As the game moves faster, bets are placed more frequently, so effective bankroll management is crucial. Decide on a fixed amount you are willing to play with and stick to it.
• Avoiding Insurance: Like in regular blackjack, the insurance bet typically isn’t a good value due to its high house edge.

However, the ‘speed’ feature in Speed Blackjack can affect the application of these strategies, meaning you will have to be extra careful:

• Quick Decision Making: With all players deciding to hit, stand, double down, or split simultaneously, you need to be able to make decisions quickly. This requires a solid understanding of basic strategy and the ability to apply it rapidly.
• Managing Pressure: The pressure of making quick decisions can lead to mistakes or deviation from basic strategy. Players must keep a cool head and stick to their game plan.
• Monitoring Others’ Play: In Speed Blackjack, seeing other players’ decisions before yours is less likely due to the speed of play. This can reduce the amount of information available to you when making your decision.

Other Blackjack Games from Evolution

If you like Speed Blackjack, you might want to know that Evolution Gaming has created several other Blackjack live games. Here are the most notable ones.

• Infinite Blackjack
• Free Bet Blackjack
• Power Blackjack
• VIP Blackjack
• Salon Privé Blackjack
• Lightning Blackjack

Pros and Cons of Speed Blackjack

Like every casino game, Speed Blackjack by Evolution Gaming comes with its own set of pros and cons that can influence a player’s decision to play. Here are a few of them:

Pros:

• Fast-Paced Gameplay: The game is designed for players who thrive on quick decision-making and enjoy a faster pace of play. The simultaneous decision-making process makes it more dynamic and exciting.
• High Quality Stream: In line with Evolution Gaming’s standards, Speed Blackjack offers a top-notch live gaming experience with professional dealers and high-definition streaming.
• Unlimited Players: There’s no cap on the number of players that can participate in a game, thanks to the ‘Bet Behind’ feature.
• Game Accessibility: It’s available on multiple platforms, including desktop, tablet, and mobile devices, offering a high level of accessibility.

Cons:

• Not Ideal for Beginners: The speed at which decisions need to be made can be daunting for novice players who are still learning blackjack strategies.
• Less Time to Think: The quick decision-making could lead to hasty choices, and players might not have enough time to calculate the best strategic move.

Conclusions

In the high-stakes world of blackjack, Speed Blackjack by Evolution Gaming is the sports car that leaves others in the dust. Sure, it might not be the ride of choice for beginners, as the fast pace can be a bit daunting if you’re new to the blackjack circuit. But for those with a taste for high-octane action and quick decisions, Speed Blackjack is an absolute adrenaline rush. Try it now at these top blackjack sites. Good luck, and may the fastest hand win!

FAQ’s

Written by: Petricia Everly petricia@newcasinouk.com newcasinouk.com

Petricia Everly is an online writer who writes about the world of online gambling exclusively for NewCasinoUK.com. She is particularly interested in online slots, exploring the themes of identity, justice, and the power of luck in her work. Her writing style is unique, combining elements of realism, fantasy, and humour.