Playtech VZN Blackjack Review – Hybrid Blackjack

What is VZN Blackjack?

VZN Blackjack is an RNG game of Blackjack, meaning the cards are virtual, and a computer chooses the cards dealt to each player.

The game has been built to look like a live dealer game, but no part of it is live. It’s computer-generated imagery with an RNG controlling the outcomes.

However, it plays like a regular game of Blackjack.

The game also includes four optional side bets and one difficult-to-find rule change: Double on a Split hand.

VZN Blackjack is a multiplayer game, so you play alongside other people and can talk to them through the chat feature.

The dealing shoe behaves like on a real table, changing to a new shoe once 50% of the cards have been played.

Video Review of VZN Blackjack

It’s not majorly exciting, but here is my video review of VZN Blackjack. Sometimes, seeing is better than reading a thousand words!

Playing Rules of VZN Blackjack

These are the rules used in VZN Blackjack.

• It’s played with eight decks or fifty-two virtual cards.
• The dealing shoe is changed halfway through.
• The game uses Vegas rules, where the dealer takes two cards during the initial deal.
• The dealer peeks for Blackjack when he shows an Ace.
• Insurance pays 2:1, Blackjack 3:2.
• The dealer stands on all seventeen, hard and soft.
• Player can split pairs.
• Split Aces get one card each.
• Double on any hand, and Double on Split hands.
• If the dealer has a ten when you double a split and he gets Blackjack, your Double gets returned.
• Four optional Side Bets – 21+3, Top3, Pairs and Dealer Pair.
• RTP is 99.55%.

How to Play Playtech AllBets Live Blackjack

Although VZN Blackjack is an RNG game, unless the table is empty you may have to wait until you can place your first bet. Just like Live Dealer Blackjack, and perhaps why they refer to this as Hybrid Blackjack, you still need to be seated to play.

There are fifteen seconds of betting time, so you must be reasonably quick to place your bet.

You can bet on the Main hand and one or more of the optional side bets.

The Deal

The dealer deals two cards face up to each player position and two cards to himself with the second one face down.

Each Player Makes their Playing Decision

Players have the following options:

• Stand – Keep the cards you’ve got and stick.
• Hit – The player asks for another card, and can keep doing so until they go bust or Stand.
• Split – If the player has a pair, he can split the hand into two hands. He’ll double his bet by doing so. If the Pair are Aces, then he gets one extra card to each hand. If it’s a regular pair, the player can hit, double, or stand after each hand has a second card. He keeps going until he stands or goes bust, then moves onto the second hand to repeat the sequence.
• Double – If the player can take extra cards, he can choose to take one card and double his bet. He’ll only get one card, and the hand Stands after that. A double is only possible if the hand contains two cards, and that’s true for when you Split the hand, too.

The ShowDown

Once all players have completed their hands, the Dealer plays his hand out. He has a particular set of rules to abide by. If he has a hand of 16 or less, he has to take another card. If he has a hand value of 17 or more he must Stand.

If his first card is an Ace, he must offer everyone Insurance, before peeking for Blackjack. If he has Blackjack, everyone loses, unless they also have one, and the game round ends there.

If the Dealer shows a Ten and then an Ace, any Player who has Doubled their bet gets their Double bet amount returned.

• Players with a Hand Value better than the Dealer win and receive a payout
• Players with a hand value equal to the dealer get their stake back.
• Players Bust or have a hand lower than the dealer lose their bet.

A Player can receive ten cards in their hand, known as a Ten Card Charlie. The player will always win, unless the Dealer has a Blackjack.

The Side Bets

How VZN Blackjack Compares with Blackjack X and First Person Blackjack

The three games are all RNG, but they are at different stages of the evolution of these games.

First Person Blackjack was the first to be released. It is an old-style RNG game with a makeover. This game refreshes the dealing shoe after each game. You play on your own, there is no chat, and 10 Card Charlie is not available, but you can Double on anything.

Blackjack X was the first to offer multi-seat play and uses the same playing interface as Live Blackjack. There is no double on Splits and no 10 Card Charlie, but there are more side bets.

VZN has seemingly improved on both and has the best rules of all the games. Being able to Double on a Split is huge, as is getting your double back if the Dealer gets a Blackjack after showing a ten.

The RTPs of all three are similar, so VZN is the best option for all three.

Strategy

Blackjack has a well-documented strategy called the basic Blackjack Strategy, which is a set of charts that details the playing decisions players should make based on the Dealer’s up card and the Players’ cards.

Following the strategy will deliver the optimal RTP over thousands of hands and help you make the correct playing decision, regardless of what your “gut feeling” may be telling you.

Follow Blackjack Basic Strategy. Don’t deviate from it even if you keep losing hands.

There’s no guarantee you’ll win, but you will keep your bank balance for longer.

Summary

RNG table games are not my bag, but I’ve been impressed with the quality and thought that’s gone into VZN Blackjack. Not only are the playing rules the best for this type of game, but the little things you notice make the difference. I love how the deck in the shoe moves down a bit each time a card gets removed.

Multi-play for those games is a great option, and being able to chat with others while there is no dealer makes this game more social than playing on your own.

I wouldn’t usually play RNG, but if I were to, I’d play this version.