Blackjack is one of the most popular table games in any casino. A huge part of its appeal is its low house edge which gives even beginners a good chance of enjoying a winning hand or two. Unfortunately, the traditional game of Blackjack doesn't offer much potential for landing big wins from small stakes. And that's why Evolution sought to change all that by giving us a Live Casino version of the game with random multipliers worth up to 25x. It's called Lightning Blackjack, and it has a published RTP of 99.56%.
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Lightning Blackjack
Presentation and Format
Lightning Blackjack is played in a studio styled in red, black and gold. The action focuses on the Blackjack table itself, which looks much the same as any other apart from it having a red baize cover instead of green. The background of the studio has a black and gold Art Deco appearance, which is a nice touch and will be instantly recognizable to those of you who have played other games in the Lightning series from Evolution.
Bets are placed as in a regular Live Blackjack game, with chips being positioned on the area of the table representing your hand. Standard Blackjack rules apply, with the Dealer standing on soft 17 and no fees being paytable when you Split or Double Down. This game uses eight standard decks of 52 playing cards, with a new shoe being introduced when the existing shoe has been penetrated by 50%.
How to Play Lightning Blackjack
When all is said and done, Lightning Blackjack plays much like any other Live Blackjack game, with the addition of a special Lightning side bet. Every time you play a hand you'll pay a Lightning Fee that is equal to the size of your initial bet.
After the betting window has closed, a set of Lightning multiplier values is randomly selected before any cards are dealt. These values will enhance the payout of a winning hand, and different hand totals will receive different multiplier values. The lowest multiplier that a winning hand can get is x2, and the highest is 25x.
When the Lightning multipliers have been selected, you will receive your first two cards, face-up, and the game proceeds as normal. Your aim, as always in Blackjack, is to make a hand total as close to 21 as possible without going over.
Active Lightning Multipliers
You will note from the above that when you win a hand, the Lightning multiplier isn't applied to the winnings for that hand. Instead, the multiplier is active on the next hand that you play. This doesn't have to be in the same session if you don't want it to be. You can save your multiplier for as many as 180 days, and it will only be used the next time you play a hand.
When you play the next hand, any payout it wins will be enhanced by the active multiplier values. For example, if the active multiplier for a Blackjack is 25x and you manage to win with a Blackjack, you would be paid 25x the usual payout of 3:2.
Playing Lightning Blackjack Strategically
The best way to play the game of Lightning Blackjack is by adhering to Basic Strategy. While it is true that the addition of Lightning multipliers makes it possible to win more than you can in a normal game of Blackjack, the rules of the game are largely the same, and so should be your overall approach.
Obtain a good Basic Strategy chart for reference if you are at all unsure about when to Hit Stand, Split, Double, and so on, and keep it handy as you play. Adhering to Basic Strategy won't guarantee your success by any means, but it will help you to maximize your chances.
Lightning Blackjack: Our Verdict
Lightning Blackjack does a great job of putting a new spin on a much-loved classic, and is a welcome addition to the Lightning series from Evolution. Play at your favourite Live Casino today and good luck.
