Settings – Rule Variations
Insurance Options
Ø Insurance - This nearly universal option allows an insurance bet against a dealer face up Ace. Note: This option cannot be turned on if you are playing Double Exposure (described later).
Ø Insure Blackjack only - Some casinos in Europe allow insurance bets only when the player has a Blackjack. Note: This option cannot be turned on if you are playing Double Exposure (described later).
Ø Allow partial Insurance - In tournament endplay, it is sometimes advantageous to Insure with less than the half the bet. When this option is set, you can perform this bet by using the keypad. Click on the "+" key, type in the double down value, and press ENTER.
Surrender Options
Ø Late Surrender - The common form of surrender is allowed by setting this option. The player can Surrender a hand (throw it in) for half of the bet after the dealer has checked for Blackjack. If the dealer is not allowed to peek and does not know if there is a dealer Blackjack (see peek options) then a Surrender chip is placed on your bet and the Surrender occurs only after the dealer checks for Blackjack and finds that it does not exist.
Ø Early Surrender - This less and less available option allows Surrender of a hand before the dealer checks for Blackjack. If you can find a casino that allows it, this is one of the most valuable options in the game.
Ø Early Surrender vs. 10 - This option is the same as Late Surrender, except that you can also Surrender against a dealer up card of ten even if the dealer has a Blackjack.
Ø Macao Surrender - This, currently obsolete, rule allows Surrender of an unbusted hand with five cards.
Ø Surrender any number of cards - With this option, the player can surrender a hand after any number of draws.
Ø Surrender after Double - A new rule that allows a Surrender even after you have doubled down.
Double Down Options
Ø Double down on three cards - This rare option allows doubling down on two or three cards.
Ø Double on any number of cards - This rare option allows doubling down in almost any circumstance
Ø Allow partial double down bet - In tournament endplay, it is sometimes advantageous to double down with less than the full bet. When this option is set, you can perform this bet by using the keypad. Click on the "+" key, type in the double down value, and press ENTER. This can also be a good cover play. In some situations doubling down for less against Basic Strategy looks like a poor decision but costs little. You can create a strategy that calls for a DD for less decision. Simply right-click on a cell in the decision table and select Double Down for Less. If there is an index number, DD for Less is called for below that index.
Ø Redouble - This option exists in many Spanish 21 games. After you double down, you get another chance to double your bet again, twice. So if you have a $10 bet and an eight. You can double to $20. If you draw an Ace, you can double to $40. Draw another Ace and you can double to $80.
Ø Triple Down - A Russian rule allowing a larger DD bet.
Ø Hit after Double Down - This rule does not actually exist. However, in some casinos Surrender after Double Down does. Inexperienced dealers will sometimes allow you to Hit after a Double in these casinos. This is very valuable.
Split Options
Ø Resplit to three hands - Some casinos only allow a resplit to three hands. This option does NOT allow resplitting of Aces.
Ø Resplit to four hands - This very common option allows splitting pairs in one hand up to three times. As a result, up to four hands can be created from one. This option does NOT allow resplitting of Aces.
Ø Resplit Aces - Adding this option allows resplitting of a pair of Aces to the above option. This option is fairly rare.
Ø Multiple draw after split Aces - Most casinos will only allow one card drawn to each split hand after splitting Aces. This option allows additional draws. This rule is quite common in Internet casinos. (Using Microgaming software.)
Ø Split tens must be same value - In most casinos, tens, Jacks, Queens and Kings all count as ten and can be considered the same for splitting rules. In other words, you can split a Jack and a King. A few casinos demand that the cards be exact pairs.
Ø No Ace Splits - When this option is set, you cannot split Aces. This option is fairly rare and should be avoided.
Ø No 4, 5, or Ten Splits - This rule is common in the UK.
