About the game
At any casino table, no one wants to wait long to receive the playing cards and win money and this certainly holds for blackjack. Evolution is a developer that knows how to both create and satisfy needs and Speed Blackjack may just be one of the best examples to illustrate our point. Speed Blackjack is one of the 20 live casino games that Evolution Gaming released in 2020 and the goal of Speed Blackjack is to make blackjack faster. The rest of Speed Blackjack is the same as in regular blackjack, but the speedy twist makes Speed Blackjack a unique launch for live dealer games. Speed Blackjack has speeded up the blackjack game significantly and most other providers would’ve asked themselves the same question: “Why didn’t we think of this?”. In our Speed Blackjack review we’ll tell you how and where to play the game. Do make sure to pay attention: Speed Blackjack is very speedy!
Where to play it
Our site recommends some of the best online casinos that you will find online and all of these platforms offer Speed Blackjack. Each casino is carefully selected by our experts and checked by our blackjack and live casino pros to make sure we present you with nothing but the very best. All of the casinos below are trustworthy, licenced, and offer Speed Blackjack:
C$1000
+ 50 Free spins
Welcome Bonus: 100% up to C$500 +Free Spins!
C$1000
+ 200 cash Free Spins
The rules
Speed Blackjack is yet another revolutionary live game by the already widely acclaimed Evolution. This new blackjack game is a variant of the existing live blackjack version, but other than the speed, the rules are the same as those of blackjack.
Almost the same as standard blackjack
Well, almost the same. The idea is still to get as close to 21 points without exceeding 21. The speedy part of the game means you will need to speed up your decision making. This is quite a good idea if you ask us, because we all want more in less time and waiting for slow players to make a bet can be quite frustrating if you’re an experienced player yourself. Speed Blackjack makes sure there’s a maximum time limit which means players will either need to speed up their game or practice and come back when they’re fast enough.
First in line
There is yet another difference with standard blackjack we need to point out: the order in which the cards are handed out by the dealer. In Speed Blackjack the first two cards are dealt as in the other blackjack variants, which means the order is based on the player’s position at the gaming table. After that, as a player you are given the choice to hit, double down or split. Have you already made up your mind about your next move? Then you’ll also be the first to receive a new card after which the other players in line will follow.
How to win
We enjoy both live dealer casinos and blackjack and things get even better when it concerns live dealer blackjack. This is why we have let our live blackjack professionals take care of this review and share their thoughts with you about how to win Speed Blackjack. Here’s how:
1. Stick to the plan
According to a lot of experienced blackjack players you should always assume the next playing card is going to be a 10. This doesn’t mean it will happen all the time, but out of all the playing cards this what statistically happens to be the most dealt card. All of your next steps should therefore be based on this assumption. You should have a plan at all times, meaning that you should think of a strategy that fits you best. This strategy depends on your personal beliefs, preferences, and experience, but there are lots of blackjack strategies to be found online. Look up a few, try to find one that suits your needs, and once you feel fully comfortable about it, make sure you stick to it.
2. Never split a 10 or two fives
Never split two cards that are worth ten points. This is certainly true for two fives as well and the idea is that you should always expect the next card to be a 10. The chances of getting 15 points are also very high which is why you should play two fives as if they were 10 points. Doing this will increase your chances of getting to 20 points, considered a very high score.
3. Double down with 11 points
Make sure to double your bet at 11 points on your first two cards. With the options of the ace to be both a one or an 11 this will give you a good chance to improve your hand with one more card. We therefore recommend you to always double down with 11 points.
4. Split with a pair with 8’s or aces
Are your first two cards either two eights or two aces? Then we would advise you to split. We can’t stress enough that you should always assume the next playing card is going to be a ten.
5. Know when to raise your bet
Increase your bet when you’re on a winning streak which means you have won 3 times in a row. Try to raise your bet as long as the winning streak continues and lower your bet as soon as the winning streak is over.
6. Never slow down, but remain focussed
As the first player who manages to make a decision will receive the next card, you might want to be the first one to make sure you’re that person. This means that everybody will aim to outperform the other player’s the table. With a game like Speed Blackjack you’ll need to speed up your game, but at the same time always remain focussed on your decision making.
7. Know when to quit
The same holds for knowing when to stop. If you have reached your target goals, it’s time to stop. We would therefore recommend you to determine a predefined budget and stick to it. This means you need to quit as soon as you reach it.
How to play
Learning how to play Speed Blackjack isn’t very complicated if you understand the basic rules of the standard blackjack game. It just requires some extra attention as the speed of the game is a lot faster than regular blackjack. Speed Blackjack is played at a standard blackjack table and the Speed Blackjack studio is coloured in red and gold making sure you’ll feel the live casino vibe as soon as you head to the table. It is possible to play with several hands at the same time, or with just one hand. The other rules are as any other blackjack game, meaning:
- The dealer stops at 17 or higher.
- You can double down on the first two cards.
- You can’t double down after a split.
- You can only split once per hand.
- Blackjack insurance is available.
- Cards 2 to 10 are worth the value of the number on the face of the card.
- Face cards (those with pictures on them) are worth 10, except for the Ace.
- The Ace is worth either 1 or 11.
- Players who make a choice first will be the first to get a card.
Speed Blackjack can be up to 40% faster than other live blackjack game which is thanks to the game’s focus on speed, meaning the dealer automatically makes a choice for players who are too slow:
- Stand: is chosen if a player has a value of 12 and fails to react quickly.
- Hit: is chosen if a player has a value of 11 and fails to react quickly.
We play Speed Blackjack ourselves on a very regular basis and we believe the time you have before the dealer makes a choice should be sufficient to make a well thought out decision. The betting options and payouts of Speed Blackjack are identical to those of blackjack. In addition to the standard blackjack bets, you can also place three different side bets at Evolution’s Speed Blackjack:
Speed Blackjack Perfect Pairs
You win the Speed Blackjack Perfect Pairs bet when the first two cards are identical giving you:
- A mixed coloured pair will give you a multiplier of 6.
- A coloured pair gives you a multiplier of 12.
- A perfect pair will give you a multiplier of 25.
Speed Blackjack 21+3
It helps if you’re a big poker fan if you want to bet on the Speed Blackjack 21+3. This bet comes in well if you think that your own first two cards plus the open card of the dealer makes a poker combination. The corresponding payouts look like this:
- A Suited Trips gives you a multiplier of 100.
- A Straight Flush gives you a multiplier of 30.
- A Trips gives you a multiplier of 10.
- A Straight gives you a multiplier of 10.
- A Flush gives you a multiplier of 5.
Speed Blackjack Bet Behind
At Speed Blackjack Bet Behind you bet on another player which means you play along with the player you choose to follow. This bet is a good idea if you see a player who has a great winning streak or is highly skilled in blackjack.
The features
Evolution has responded well to the fact that nobody likes to wait, not even in the casino. It can be that simple to launch a completely new variant of a table game and it seems to be paying off if you take into account the popularity of this game. All in all, this approach has ensured that Speed Blackjack is 30% to 40% faster than the normal version and makes players feel more in control. The quality of the game remains unchanged for the rest: you can still count on the HD quality and the different camera angles as you are used to from other live games from Evolution. To start, take a seat at the gaming table and then the fun can begin. The rest of the rules are as you are used to from the well-known blackjack game.
RTP
Blackjack works with the same Return To Player (RTP) as all other blackjack games: 99.28%. The Speed Blackjack side bets do have a different RTP.
- The RTP of the Speed Blackjack Perfect Pairs is 95.90%.
- That of Speed Blackjack 21+3 is 96.30%.
Speed Blackjack is accessible to every type of player. The minimum bet is usually $1 per hand and the maximum $10,000. These minimum and maximum bets can depend on the casino you’ve chosen to play Speed Blackjack. The fun of this game should be the same though.
