Live Common Draw Blackjack is an entertaining blackjack variant but how to play it? Common Drawa Blackjack is as easy as a regular game of BJ. Each player gets the same cards (hence “common” draw). When it is your turn each player chooses individually whether to “Stand” or “Hit”. One does not need to follow the first player.
The only difference between “common” and “regular” Blackjack is that not each players gets his own cards drawn by the live dealer. The rest is all the same. This Blackjack version is available at any online casino with live dealers. So you can play it 24/7, you bet, you decide, you win…. or loose!
The essential difference with regular blackjack
Blackjack is played between individual players and the live casino dealer. The dealer represents the casino, and each player receives two cards to play with. The live blackjack dealer also receives two cards, one open and one closed.
Each player can now play his round of blackjack with his own cards. By asking one or more additional cards he tries to approach 21 points as closely as possible without busting (you bust if you run over 21 points). After each player has either passed or busted, it’s the dealer’s turn. He also can ask for one or more cards or stand. As soon as the dealer stands or busts, the game is over and per player it is indicated who has won, the player or the dealer.
For Live Common Draw Blackjack the same rules apply, with a few key differences:
- Players don’t receive unique cards. The player hand is shared among all players, which is why it is called a ‘common draw’.
- This doesn’t mean that as you cannot make your own blackjack strategy choices. Each player can make his own playing decisions. So, if one or more players decide to stand with their first two cards, that’s fine and the final comparison between them and the dealer will be based on those two cards. A third card is presented for players who hit (so, ask for a third card). Only the hitting players will benefit (or suffer) from this third card. The others will see it, but won’t use it.
- Then again there may be different choices. Some players stand at the third card while some others may hit again, asking for a fourth card etc. etc.
So, essentially Live Common Draw Blackjack means that you play your own game but use a common set of cards, shared by all players.
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Benefits of Live Common Draw Blackjack
If we compare Live Common Draw Blackjack with standard single deck live blackjack, there are some advantages:
- In regular blackjack, each player gets an individual treatment by the dealer. He receives his specific cards and can play a round in which he can split, double, stand or hit. After the player stands (or unfortunately busts), the dealer turns to the next player for his round. And so on. With common draw blackjack, the dealer only plays one round. During that round, each player can make his own decisions (hit, stand, etc.), but for the dealer, it is a single round and, therefore, much faster to handle. For the players, this means more blackjack rounds per hour are needed.
- It also means an opportunity for lower-stakes live blackjack tables since one dealer can serve more players. The ‘business case’ for live common draw blackjack with a live dealer is that the casino earns enough money to pay the dealer. Since blackjack has a relatively low home advantage for the casino, the minimum bet can be lower if a dealer can handle many more players simultaneously.
- You can learn from other players. During the gameplay, you can see what other players decide to do for a certain hand. If you still learning the blackjack, it may be useful to see in real-time how many players stand, hit, split or double down.
Blackjack rules are the same for common draw
Important to realise is that the only difference between regular live blackjack and Live Common Draw Blackjack is indeed the way players share their cards. All other rules stay unchanged:
- The well-known NetEnt version of Live Common Draw Blackjack is played with six decks of cards. The dealer deals two player cards, which are presented open on the table, and one open card for the dealer.
- The values of the cards are as follows: The Ace is either 1 or 11, whatever the player prefers and best fits his interest. Kings, Queens and Jacks all count for 10 points. All other cards have their face values.
- If the first two cards make 21 points together, that’s called a natural blackjack. Normally you win and get a 3:2 pay-out. If the dealer, however, has 21 as well, it is a push or tie, and you only keep your bet without a win.
- If the two cards have an identical value you can decide to split and continue the game with two hands. You must place your original bet also for the second hand. In general, it is advised to split Ace-Ace and 8-8. And certainly not to split 10-10, 5-5 and 4-4.
- You can also decide to double your bet based on your hand. In such a Double Down, you receive one more card and then automatically stand.
- Each round, a player can decide to hit or stand. If you hit, you receive another card from the dealer. If you stand, your round is finished.
- When all players have finished their rounds, it’s the dealer’s turn. He can either hit or stand, following predefined rules. The typical dealer rule is that the dealer must stand on 17 and draw additional cards to 16.
Special rules and bets
Besides the aforementioned rules, there are a few additional options:
- Insurance is a side bet, where you bet on the chance that the dealer has blackjack. You can get insurance if the dealer’s card is an Ace since there is a substantial chance that the whole card will be worth 10 points (King, Queen, Jack or 10). If you take insurance and the dealer has blackjack, you lose your main bet but compensate for your loss with your winning insurance bet.
- Another special option is the even money rule. This is a kind of ‘deal’ presented to you if you have a natural blackjack while the dealer has an Ace (so, a substantial blackjack possibility). If you accept even money, you immediately get a 1:1 payment for your blackjack, and the round is finished. If you don’t use even money, you will win 3:2 with your blackjack if the dealer doesn’t have blackjack. But if he does, you win nothing at all.
Bot options are in general not advised by experts since mathematically they are less beneficial compared to the standard rules.
Try Live Common Draw Blackjack from NetEnt
The most offered for Live Common Draw Blackjack game is the NetEnt version. This High Definition game gives you an experience which is comparable to a real casino setting. Making your bets and select the right actions during the game is very intuitive. Very useful is the information you receive during the game. You see the actions (as percentages) made by other players during the current game. You also see how the group of players performed in the last games (how many wins, blackjack, bust, ties etc.), and also the last 10 dealer hands. So, have some fun with the entertaining multiplayer live common draw blackjack game.