Caribbean 21 Blackjack - How to Play Caribbean 21 Rules

Free Blackjack Menu

How to Play Caribbean 21

Caribbean 21 is a blackjack variant that was originally introduced by Realtime Gaming. It's similar to but more complex than Pontoon. The object of Caribbean 21 is to get as close to 21 without going over while still having a higher hand than the dealer. Caribbean 21 offers the player the option to split any two cards and to hit and redouble after doubling. The basics of the game are the same as regular blackjack but with some major modifications. Once you understand those modifications, then you'll have a good idea of how to play Caribbean 21.

Caribbean 21 Rules

Caribbean 21 uses eight 52-card decks. All card values are the same as in regular blackjack with face cards as 10 and number cards as their regular number value. In this game, though, an ace is hard and always valued as 1.

Play starts with the player making an initial wager before being dealt two cards face up. The dealer then takes one card face up. There is no hole card in Caribbean 21.

The player may hit or stand as in a regular game of blackjack. They may double at any time with two or more cards as well as doubling and redoubling after a split. Splitting is legal on any two cards and after the split, the separate hands immediately get an additional card. Since aces have only one value, they are treated the same as any other card when it comes to splitting. The player may surrender at any time during the round, even after doubling and splitting. If a player surrenders, they lose half of their total bet. If the player goes over 21, they bust and lose. If the dealer goes over 21, they bust and the player wins. Unlike normal blackjack, the dealer wins all ties.

In this variation of blackjack, an ace and two 10-point cards is referred to as a “Caribbean 21” and is ranked higher than any other 21 –point hand. If a player gets a Caribbean 21, the payout is 3:2 and is available even after a split. All other winning bets have an even payout.

Aces in Caribbean 21

A player needs to remember that in Caribbean 21, the ace does not have its soft value of 11.

The ace is only valued at 1.

This might be confusing to first-time players until they are more familiar with the game. In Caribbean 21, if an ace appears in combination with a second card, it’s not a good idea to stand because the number is going to be low.

Insurance in Caribbean 21

If the dealer’s up card is an ace, the player has the option of taking insurance against the dealer having a Caribbean 21. Insurance can be taken at any time during the round and for any amount up to half of the total bet. If the dealer does draw two 10-point cards, the insurance pays out 9:1. The player can add to the insurance bet at any time as long as the total insurance bet does not exceed half the total wager. Late insurance allows the player to delay the placement of an insurance bet until the end of the turn. Once a player surrenders, the player will receive half of his current bet and half will go to the house.

Splitting in Caribbean 21

Caribbean 21 has some fairly liberal splitting rules that a player would do well to take advantage of to give them a better edge over the house. In this game, the player may split their first two initial cards into two separate hands. Even in instances where it would be better to stand in a regular game of blackjack, such as with a 10/6 hand, the player can now split that hand and have another solid base of 10. This rule almost makes up for the ‘dealer wins all ties’ rule.

Caribbean 21’s unconventional rules takes a little time to get use to, especially for players who are use to playing only the regular form of blackjack. The hard value of the ace and the ability to split the initial first two cards can set up a learning curve. But players who are flexible enough in their game style and mental strategy will have no problem with these new rules. As long as they approach the game with a plan in mind, the house edge can be as low as 0.19%, which gives the player fair odds.

See also: