Online Double Exposure Blackjack

Blackjack Variations: Double Exposure Blackjack

Double Exposure Blackjack is an online blackjack game in which both of the dealer's cards are dealt face up at the start of each game. This is a big advantage for the player in deciding how to play his hand. At the same time, there are other Double Exposure Blackjack rules that favour the dealer.

How to Play Double Exposure Blackjack

Double Exposure Blackjack was invented in 1979 by Bob Stupak, the owner of Vegas World casino and one of the more interesting characters in blackjack history. Double Exposure Blackjack is also known as Dealer Disclosure or Face-Up 21. These are all the same game, different name. The main idea of Double Exposure Blackjack is that there is no hole card. Both dealer cards are dealt face up. This creates a huge strategy advantage for the player, as it provides the player with more information with which to make an informed and intelligent decision regarding whether to stand, hit, double down, or split.

One difference between Double Exposure Blackjack and normal blackjack games is what happens in the event of a tie. Normally in a tie situation, the player gets his bet back but doesn't win anything. This is called a "push." But in Double Exposure Blackjack, the dealer wins all ties (except for tied blackjack). Another major difference is that instead of getting paid 3:2 on a blackjack hand, the player only gets even money.

Double Exposure Blackjack is played with eight regular decks of cards, and the cards are shuffled after each hand. As in all traditional blackjack games, aces can count as either 1 or 11, whichever is more advantageous to the player. The dealer must hit on a soft 17. The dealer wins all ties except for a tied blackjack, which is won by the player. Player blackjack pays even money. The player can double down on 9, 10, or 11, and may double down after a split. Three splits are allowed (to form four hands).

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Aces can be re-split, but a split ace and a 10 is considered a 21 and not a blackjack. Cards with the value of 10 — even cards that are not identical — can be split.

Double Exposure Blackjack Strategy

Because the player can see both of the dealer's first two cards, and also because the player loses all ties except blackjacks, blackjack strategy for Double Exposure is different from the standard blackjack basic strategy. For example:

Your cards total 14, and you see that the dealer has a pair of 8s. The regular blackjack strategy would be to hit when you have 14 and you see a dealer's 8, but in Double Exposure Blackjack, seeing that the dealer has a total of 16, and therefore a high probability of busting, the strategy would be to stand.

You have a hand of 18, and the dealer's cards also total 18. Normal blackjack strategy is to always stand with a hand of 18. In Double Exposure, you know that if you stand you lose, so the best strategy is to hit and hope for the ace, 2, or 3 that will put you ahead.

Fortunately, you will find that special Double Exposure Blackjack strategy charts are available online. Seek them out — they will help you win money over the long term when you play Double Exposure Blackjack.

The Pros and Cons of Playing Double Exposure Blackjack

Every online casino game has its pros and cons, and Double Exposure Blackjack is no exception. The con side is clear: blackjack pays only even money instead of the 3-to-2 of other online blackjack games, and you lose all ties other than tied blackjack. But the pro side — your ability to see both of the dealer's cards, and the invaluable clarity and insight this gives you in playing your blackjack hand — more than compensate for the cons and make Double Exposure an online blackjack variation that is definitely worth playing.

Double Exposure Blackjack at Wild Jack Casino

Wild Jack Casino offers regular Double Exposure Blackjack, Double Exposure Blackjack Gold, and Multi-Hand Double Exposure Blackjack. In addition, you can play Double Exposure Blackjack in our no-download Flash Casino. No matter what your choice, you can play Double Exposure Blackjack for real money, or you can play for practice in order to become familiar with the rules and strategies of this unusual online blackjack variation.