RTG may not have the richest selection of blackjack titles but it certainly has some high-quality ones. Face Up 21 is one of the more exotic variations from this software provider, presented from other software providers as Double Exposure. The RTG game is played with six decks of 52 cards and the dealer is required to stand on a soft 17. In terms of odds, Face Up 21 is also quite favorable, with RTG values of over 99%.
Basic Rules and Payouts
Face Up 21 has mostly easy to understand rules and anyone can pick up this game after only a few minutes with it. The whole premise of this variation is that both dealer cards are laid out in the open for all to see. This allows you to see what the dealer has in store and you can make decisions based on that information. That is not usually the case, where the dealer has only one or a hidden card. Being able to see both cards is undoubtedly an advantage, however, it does come at a cost. For instance, the payout for blackjack is the same as winning any other hand – even money. Additionally, the dealer will win all ties, except when you have a natural blackjack.
Having access to both dealer cards gives you a different perspective on the game. For one, you know exactly what value you need to beat in order to win a hand. This allows you to make plays that you would otherwise avoid as that would require risking failure. However, when you know for sure that a loss is imminent, you can do whatever is necessary to secure the win. If not, at least, you tried.
Insurance
Insurance is usually offered in normal blackjack variations when the first card of the dealer is an Ace so as to protect yourself from a potential dealer’s blackjack. However, this is not an option in Face Up 21, as both the dealer’s cards are available from the get-go. As a result, there is no point in putting down an Insurance bet. Some players might no miss it, though this bet is useful every now and then.
Double Down
Doubling Down is an option that you should make use of whenever the situation calls for it. If you believe that you stand to get a better hand than the dealer, you should seriously consider doubling your bet. Doing so, your potential winnings increase twofold. Face Up 21 allows you to Double Down on hand totals of hard 9, 10, and 11. Additionally, you can also do that after splitting a hand. Doubling Down will cause your bet to increase and the game will give you one more card, after which you will automatically stand.
Splitting
Whenever you are dealt a hand of same-values cards, you have the opportunity to split that hand into two separate ones. Of course, you will need to place an extra bet for each additional hand. Once this happens, you will be dealt one more card to each hand and the two become completely independent from each other. The game allows you to split twice for a maximum of three hands at a time. Moreover, you can Double Down on each hand if you feel like doing so. However, if you split a hand of Aces, you cannot resplit them any further.
Face Up 21 Blackjack House Edge and RTP
The casino advantage of any given game is a major factor in determining its fairness and whether or not you should be playing it. Face Up 21 has an advantage over other casino genres in that it has one of the highest return-to-player percentages out there. More specifically, 99.25% RTP. This translates to a low house edge of 0.75%, which is practically nonexistent. As a result, Face Up 21 is among the most favorable games that you can play in terms of odds.