How to Get a Better Hand Online with Zappit Blackjack
In 2009, Geoff Hall, the inventor of Zappit Blackjack, came up with a solution for the dreaded 15, 16, and 17-point hands in Blackjack: Zap ‘em. This new online casino game was added to his long list of popular Blackjack games that include Blackjack Switch, Zombie Blackjack and Free Bet Blackjack—which are all popular with online casino players looking to learn a new version of Blackjack.
Zappit Blackjack is arguably the best of the bunch. When you play Zappit Blackjack for real money at Bodog Casino, you have the option to discard those unwanted hands that make for difficult calls, and start fresh with two new cards and a better chance to beat the Dealer. Sounds like a Blackjack dream come true, doesn’t it?
There’s a consensus among all Blackjack casino players that there’s no worse score to be dealt than 15, 16 or 17 at the Blackjack table. These scores aren’t strong enough to compete with the Dealer, but should you choose to hit, there’s a high chance you’ll bust and loose. Being able to play with the assurance that you’ll never have to deal with these unfavourable hands again becomes a huge benefit to online casino players and a draw to Zappit Blackjack. As you’ll soon see, this tool is far superior to the ‘surrender’ option that certain versions of Blackjack include.
If you’re looking to learn about Zappit Blackjack at Bodog Casino, you’re at the right place. In this online Blackjack guide, we’ll explain how to play Zappit Blackjack games like a seasoned pro. You’ll learn the rules behind this popular game, how it differs from standard Blackjack, and a bit about the strategy behind it. By the end, you should have a good idea of how to maximize your returns on the felt by zapping away those unwanted scores. First, we’ll start with a basic explanation of what Zappit Blackjack is and some of the rules so you can start playing and winning games.
What is Zappit Blackjack?
At Bodog Casino, there are different types of online Blackjack games—some follow the same gameplay as “classic” Blackjack, while others offer a refreshing twist. Zappit Blackjack is one of those versions that has a twist with a key rule: when you’re dealt a 15, 16 or 17 right off the bat, you get the option of “zapping” (eliminating) those cards so you can play a new hand. This option is offered in addition to the standard Blackjack moves of hit, stand, double down, split, and surrender.
Zappit Blackjack Rules
The rules of Zappit Blackjack are mostly the same as our standard six-deck Blackjack game, and we’re operating on the assumption that you already know how to play Blackjack online. The following rules are the same as our standard Blackjack games:
- When you land Blackjack, which is a perfect score of 21 on the initial deal, you’re paid 3:2.
- On the other hand, when the Dealer has the potential to have Blackjack (as indicated by an Ace up-card), you can get Insurance, which pays 2:1 when the Dealer’s hole card is a 10.
- The Dealer hits on soft 17—a score of 17 that includes an 11-point Ace.
- There are no restrictions for doubling; you can double down on any two cards.
- When you’re dealt a pair in your initial two-card hand, you can split into two individual hands, and splitting comes with a limit of three hands per round. Split Aces receive just one more card and aren’t considered Blackjack if they’re dealt a 10.
The ability to eliminate scores of 15, 16 and 17 is a huge advantage in online Zappit Backjack games. As a result, the game offsets the increased Player edge with Geoff Hall’s Dealer 22 push rule: When the Dealer busts with 22, instead of the Dealer losing, the round’s deemed a push. When this happens, you retrieve your bet instead of winning a payout. This will happen about 7% of the time, which evens out the playing field, creating a house edge of approximately 1.15% at Bodog online casino.
There are a couple more nuances to the game as well. One is that you can’t zap after splitting. Another is that getting Blackjack after zapping pays 1:1 instead of 3:2. And finally, the Dealer checks for Blackjack before you can zap. This version of Blackjack is played with six card decks, which are shuffled after each round at Bodog Casino.
How is Zappit Blackjack Different from Other Online Blackjack Games?
Zappit Blackjack is the only version of Blackjack offering players the opportunity to get rid of (zap) unwanted 15, 16 or 17 card scores by zapping them. The closest comparison to this tool would be the Surrender option included in certain versions of Blackjack. However, when you surrender a hand, you must muck your cards and forfeit the round—along with half of your wager. The option to surrender is included in Zappit Blackjack in addition to the Zappit tool, so you can decide which action is best for any given scenario when you play the game.
The beauty of the “zappit” function over the surrender is that you continue on with the round after zapping, receiving a clean slate of fresh cards to replace the two you just zapped away. While there’s no forfeiting half of your wager, you do forfeit some payout potential through the Dealer Push 22 rule as well as when you land Blackjack after zapping. But it’s a small price to pay for the satisfaction of zapping a bad card hand and giving yourself a new lease on the game.
Zappit Blackjack Strategy - Play Online Games and Win!
Basic Zappit Blackjack online strategy for Bodog advises zapping all hard 15s, 16s, and 17s, with the exception of one hand: 8,8. This hand is more complex and requires extra attention from the player.
- When you have two Eights (16), you should split against a dealer Six or Seven up-card instead of zapping.
Splitting Eights is a good move because you have the potential of upgrading to a score of 18 should you land a 10-value card (approximately one third of the deck falls into this category). While a score of 18 may not be able to combat a strong Dealer up-card, it is a good score against a Dealer Six or Seven up-card. This will give you a decent shot of winning games.
With everything else, you’re better off to zap with card values of 15, 16 or 17. Keep in mind, this strategy is specific to playing at Bodog; in brick and mortar casinos, you can also zap 18-point hands, which are pretty good hands to begin with, so zapping them isn’t always the best move.
After the zapping stage, you can consult Blackjack player strategy charts found online. They’ll direct you on when to hit, stand, double down, and split. The most important takeaway is using the “Zap It” option – you’ll need this to battle the Dealer 22 push rule, and you’ll find yourself using it approximately 20% of the time. The option of zapping is a huge benefit and will quickly become your new best friend at the Blackjack table. Play Zappit games today for free on Practice Play mode to see if you enjoy zapping cards as much as we do.