Play 21 Duel Blackjack: Best 21 Duel Blackjack Casinos 2025

21 Duel Blackjack by Playtech is a fun variation of blackjack. The game is streamlined with one simple side bet option that makes it easy for blackjack and non-blackjack fans to enjoy.

Keep reading to learn how to play 21 Duel Blackjack and where you can play this game in Canada.

The main key feature that you will notice playing 21 Duel Blackjack at online casinos in Canada is the pair of community cards.

Instead of only counting the cards in your hand, you will add up one or both of your cards with one of the two community cards at the center of the table. We’ll explain more about how this works in the next section.

We’ll also get into the 2 Up Sidebet, which you will see on the table right next to where you place your ante.

Before getting into the gameplay though, let’s talk about how 21 Duel Blackjack’s features compares to other online blackjack games.

Key Features

Compared to other variations, 21 Duel Blackjack doesn't have that many features.

The number of side bets are limited –there is just one side bet available in 21 Duel Blackjack– and there are no in-game actions like doubling down or splitting.

Additionally, unlike other popular variations of blackjack, there are no variations on 21 Duel Blackjack available. For instance, you cannot play 21 Duel Blackjack at live dealer casinos. There also are no multihand or speed 21 Duel Blackjack games available.

As we covered in the last section, 21 Duel Blackjack is distinct from classic blackjack due to the community cards and 2 Up Sidebet features. At its heart though, the game is similar to pretty much every blackjack variation on the market.

The goal of 21 Duel Blackjack is to get a combined value of your cards as close to 21 as possible. You want to be closer to 21 than the dealer without going over.

Now that you know the goal of the game, let’s go over what a typical game of 21 Duel Blackjack will look like.

First, you will pay your ante, then the dealer will deal out two cards to each player and to themselves. The player will receive one card face up and one face down. The dealers’ cards are both face down.

Then, the dealer will put another two cards in the centre circle. These are called community cards.

Once the community cards are dealt, you will have two choices to make. You can either:

1. Fold and concede your ante; or
2. Select either the right or left community card and double your wager.

If you decide to keep going and pick a community card to play, you then will have to decide whether to hit or stay. If you hit, your face down card will be revealed and its value will be added to the value of your face up card and the community card that you selected to play.

For example, let’s say the community cards are a 7 (left) and a King (right) and you are dealt a 3 along with a face down card. If you select the Left community card (the 7), your score will be 10. This would be a good time to hit.

If you stand, your face down stays hidden and it is not added to your score.

After you make your call, the dealer will go through the same process. If you are closer to 21 than the dealer, you win. A win in 21 Duel Blackjack pays out 1:1.

Another way to win playing 21 Duel Blackjack is with the 2 Up Sidebet. When you place this side bet, you will receive a 3:1 payout if your face up card matches one of the community cards. If get a three of a kind (your face up card matches both community cards), you will get a massive 20:1 win.

Tips and strategies

All forms of blackjack ultimately come down to luck. This is especially true for 21 Duel Blackjack where you have less options than American Blackjack and other variations. Because luck is such a big part of the game, our best 21 Duel blackjack strategy is the same strategy we have for every game: gamble responsibly and take your time.

Never gamble more than you are willing to lose and don’t be afraid to start with small bets. Many real money casinos even have free play modes that we suggest you use if you are a complete beginner to 21 Duel Blackjack.

Like with other blackjack games, we also recommend reviewing probability grids. You don’t need to memorize them, but they can help you get a better idea of when it’s smart to hit or stand.

We personally think 21 Duel Blackjack is one of the most underrated blackjack variations available in Canada. With that being said, we understand why it’s not for everyone. The game definitely has its strengths, but there are some major weaknesses.

What We Like:

• Simple: If regular blackjack is too overwhelming, 21 Duel Blackjack is a great alternative because there are fewer choices to make.
• Fast: Because 21 Duel Blackjack is so simple, the game can move really quickly once you become familiar with the 21 Duel blackjack rules.
• Low-stakes: Compared to some blackjack variations and live blackjack tables, 21 Duel Blackjack is generally a low-stakes game with small minimum bets available.

What Could Be Better:

• Lack of variety: While we like how simple 21 Duel Blackjack is, some say the lack of options makes it boring compared to American blackjack where you can hit multiple times, double down, and make more side bets.
• Not widely available: If 21 Duel Blackjack is your favourite game, you unfortunately won’t find any casino apps or betting sites that offer it. It is one of the least offered blackjack variants.
• Learning curve: 21 Duel Blackjack is simple once you get the hang of it. However, many players have told us that it is less intuitive and harder to learn than other casino games.

21 Duel Blackjack is very similar to classic online blackjack. In both games, the goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. If you are closer to the 21 than the dealer, you win.

While the core of both games is the same, there are some major differences:

• Number of hits: You only get the opportunity to hit once in 21 Duel Blackjack. In classic blackjack, you can hit as many times as you want as long as you are still under 21.
• Side bets: There is only one possible side bet in 21 Duel Blackjack: the 2 Up Sidebet. There are multiple, including insurance bets in classic blackjack.
• Not every card counts: In regular online blackjack, every card you are dealt counts towards your total. In 21 Duel Blackjack, only your card plus the community card you select counts towards your total.
• No double down or splits: You cannot double down or split your hand in 21 Duel Blackjack like you can in classic American and European blackjack variations.

Hopefully you now understand why 21 Duel Blackjack is one of our favourite games. It is simple, fast, and very fun once you get the hang of it. If you are ready to try 21 Duel Blackjack for yourself, check out any of our top online casinos in Canada. You will find 21 Duel Blackjack as well as tons of other great blackjack games.