Caribbean Blackjack
- Royal Caribbean Blackjack Payout
- Royal Caribbean Blackjack Rules
- Caribbean Blackjack Rules
- Caribbean Blackjack Rules
- Caribbean Blackjack
- Royal Caribbean Blackjack
Caribbean 21 is one of the more original blackjack variants on the market. It is also better value for money than your run-of-the-mill Australian blackjack game, but only if you know the correct strategy. Why, then, is this most interesting blackjack game so far hard to find at trusted Internet casinos?
Caribbean Stud Poker appeals to many players and is a very unique variation of standard five-card draw, so if you’re a fan of five-card or other table games such as blackjack or craps, you will likely take to Caribbean Stud Poker.
Royal Caribbean Blackjack Payout
Aruba is where Caribbean Stud Poker was invented. Most of the casinos in Aruba are located. Whether you rely on skill or Lady Luck, there’s plenty of opportunity in Nassau. Caranx lugubris, the black jack, black trevally, black kingfish, coal fish or black ulua, is a species of large ocean fish in the jack family Carangidae.The species has a circumtropical distribution, found in oceanic, offshore waters of the tropical zones of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The species is particularly prevalent around offshore islands such as the Caribbean islands in. Destinations: Bahamas, Caribbean Multiple blackjack tables with variations such as Face Up and Fun 21. Low game minimums for casual players with some higher limits up to $300 per hand.
How to play Caribbean 21
A hand of Caribbean 21 is dealt just like a standard European blackjack game. Each player receives two cards, face up, and the dealer takes a single up card. Unlike American-style 21, the house does not take a hole card.
Cards are scored in the same way as a regular blackjack game. All spot cards (Deuce through 10) rank at face value, while Jack, Queen and King are each worth 10 points. There is, however, one big exception to the norm: Aces always count as one point, never as 11.
Once the initial hand is dealt, players can opt to stand, hit, split, double, or surrender. Compared to normal blackjack games, these actions come with some unusual perks:
- Split any two cards, regardless of rank
- Double down at any time, on any number of cards
- Redouble at any time, even after splitting
- Surrender at any time
The aim, as usual, is to beat the dealer without exceeding 21 points. The strongest hand is called Caribbean 21, which consists of an Ace and two 10-point cards. It pays 3 to 2, although not after splitting, while all other player wins pay even money. The house wins all ties, including on Caribbean 21.
When the dealer’s up card is an Ace, players have the option to take the insurance bet at any time during their hand. It is possible to add to the insurance stake throughout a hand, as long it does not exceed half the player’s total bet. The side bet pays 9 to 1 if the dealer’s second and third cards are both 10-pointers.
Other Caribbean blackjack rules include:
- Four or more decks*
- No peek for blackjack
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- Split and resplit Aces
- Draw to split Aces
* Online versions can use an infinite number of 52-card digital decks.
Caribbean blackjack strategy and house edge
Caribbean 21 strategy is quite different to that of a standard European or American blackjack game. Because you can split any two initial cards, the rank of each card must be taken into account on starting hands – not just the total. The extra freedom granted by liberal doubling rules also affects the ideal mode of play.
Royal Caribbean Blackjack Rules
Below is a composition-based Caribbean 21 strategy devised by Michael Shackleford – the self-proclaimed ‘Wizard of Odds’. The house edge with this system comes to about 0.19 per cent, which makes C21 one of the most player-friendly forms of blackjack for those who can stick to the strategy.
H = Hit
S = Stand
P = Split
D = Double down
R = Surrender
Initial two cards:
Dealer card | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player hand | A | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
A+A | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | H |
A+2 – A+6 | H | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | H | H |
A+7 | H | P | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
A+8 | H | P | P | P | P | P | D | H | H | H |
A+9 | H | D | D | D | P | P | D | D | D | H |
A+10 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
2+2 – 2+5 | H | H | H | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
2+6 | H | H | H | D | D | P | H | H | H | H |
2+7 | H | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H | H |
2+8 | H | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H |
2+9 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
2+10 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | H |
3+3, 3+4 | H | H | H | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
3+5 | H | H | H | D | D | P | H | H | H | H |
3+6 | H | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H | H |
3+7 | H | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H |
3+8 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
3+9 | H | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | H | H |
3+10 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | H |
4+4 | H | H | H | D | D | P | H | H | H | H |
4+5 | H | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H | H |
4+6 | H | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H |
4+7 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
4+8 | H | P | P | P | P | P | P | H | H | H |
4+9 | S | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | H |
4+10 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | R |
5+5 | H | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H |
5+6 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
5+7 | H | P | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
5+8 | S | P | P | P | P | P | P | H | H | H |
5+9 | S | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | H | R |
5+10 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | R |
6+6 | H | P | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
6+7 | S | S | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
6+8 | S | P | P | P | P | P | P | H | H | R |
6+9 | S | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | R |
6+10 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | R |
7+7 | S | S | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | R |
7+8 | S | P | P | P | P | P | P | H | R | R |
7+9 | S | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | R | R |
7+10 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | R |
8+8 | S | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | R | R |
8+9 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | R | R |
8+10, 9+9 | S | P | P | P | P | P | S | P | S | S |
9+10 | S | S | S | S | S | P | S | S | S | S |
10+10 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Three or more cards:
Dealer card | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player total | A | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
2 | H | H | H | D | D | D | H | H | H | H |
3 – 6 | H | H | H | H | D | D | H | H | H | H |
7 | H | H | H | H | H | D | H | H | H | H |
8 | H | H | H | D | D | D | H | H | H | H |
9 | H | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H | H |
9 | H | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H |
11 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
12 | H | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H |
13 | S | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H |
14 | S | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | R |
15 | S | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | R | R |
16, 17 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | R | R |
18+ | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
As you can see, Caribbean 21 strategy is rather more extensive than your basic blackjack chart. Here are a couple of key points to focus on:
- Always double down on 11
- With three cards or more, always stand on 18 or higher
- Never split against a dealer 10
- Always surrender 14-17 against a dealer 10
Where to play real money Caribbean 21 online
With a low house edge tempered by unique rules and a complex strategy, Caribbean blackjack seems like a must-have for online casino operators. That’s not the case, however, and Australian gamblers will struggle to find this title at reputable casino sites.
Caribbean Blackjack Rules
Why? For starters, it was never especially popular among punters. When there are so many good-value blackjack games online, many of which feature standard Vegas rules and require simpler strategies, learning a more difficult game for the sake of 15 to 20 cents in every $100 could be considered a waste of time by some.
But the real cause of Caribbean 21’s demise as an online casino game stems from a now-legendary scandal which rocked the iGaming world back in 2004. (link if you want it – https://www.nbcnews.com/id/4449401/#.VwNLbBN96i4)
Having won more than $1.3 million on RealTime Gaming’s digital version of C21 at Hampton Casino, a player by the handle ‘Pirateofc21’ was denied his winnings on the grounds he had voided the terms and conditions of play by using robot software. Thorough auditing found the game to be in perfect working order. ‘Pirate’ pleaded innocence and took his fight to the Internet chat forums, where it snowballed into one of the biggest controversies in the history of online gambling.
It turned out the folks at Hampton Casino simply didn’t want to pay what they owed. Their feeble excuses and accusations were torn apart as the story hit mainstream media, RealTime’s reputation was permanently tarnished and Caribbean 21 was removed from circulation. Check out our list of trusted blackjack sites and you will see we do not endorse any RTG casinos.
Caribbean 21 is a game formerly hosted by some Realtime Gaming online casinos. Though it is based on blackjack it is different from blackjack in many respects. The ace is constrained to have a value of 1 at all times. Therefore the usual two-card blackjack hand consisting of an ace and a 10 value card has no relevance because it totals only 11. This is replaced by a three-card hand called Caribbean 21, which consists of an ace and two 10 value cards. The regular blackjack rules have also been tweaked considerably and therefore players should read and understand these rules before wagering.
Caribbean 21 Rules
Apart from the ace all other cards are valued as in blackjack. The game starts with the player making the initial wager. Two cards are dealt face up to the player and one card is dealt face up to the dealer. The dealer does not take a hole card and therefore there is no question of the dealer checking for Caribbean 21. However, the player can take insurance against the dealer having a Caribbean 21 if the dealer’s face up card is an ace. Unlike in regular blackjack, insurance may be taken at any time and for any amount up to half the total bet at the time insurance is taken. The insurance bet pays out at 9 to 1 if the dealer gets two 10 value cards as the second and third cards so as to form a Caribbean 21. The player can also add to the insurance bet at any time, as long as the total insurance bet is not more than half the total wager. The insurance bet is settled at the end of the hand.
Caribbean Blackjack Rules
The hit and stand moves are the same as in regular blackjack. The doubling down move and split moves are somewhat different. The player can double down at any time and even with more than two cards. This includes re-double down and double-down after a split. Players can split on any two cards. There are no special rules for splitting aces. The player can also surrender at any time. When the player surrenders he forfeits half his total bet at that time.
Caribbean 21 Payouts
The winning positions and payouts are as follows. The objective as in regular blackjack is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21. Caribbean 21 is ranked higher than all other 21 point hands. The dealer wins all ties. If the player is dealt a Caribbean 21 he receives a payout of 3 to 2. If the player busts he loses his wager. If he stands and the dealer busts he is paid even money. If both stand and the player’s hand is closer to 21 then the player is paid even money. If both stand and the dealer’s hand is closer to 21 then the player loses his wager.
The house edge on the basic bet with optimal strategy is about 0.2%, which puts Caribbean 21 with the most player friendly blackjack variants. The house edge on the insurance bet is over 5% and hence it should be avoided.
Caribbean Blackjack
More Caribbean 21 Information
Royal Caribbean Blackjack
Caribbean 21 was dropped by the RTG platform after a huge controversy in 2004 when a gambler using the name “Pirateofc21” won 1.3 million US dollars playing the game. The casino where he won the money, Hamptoncasino.com, refused to pay the money to the Pirate of the Caribbean claiming he won it using an outlawed software program that helped him to cheat at the casino game.