Introduction
Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to Playing Blackjack Online! Blackjack is a classic casino game that has been enjoyed for centuries. With its origins dating back to 1700 in France, it has become a favorite among players worldwide.
This comprehensive article will provide you with all the information you need to know about playing blackjack online. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, our guide will help you enhance your gaming experience and maximize your enjoyment.
What is Blackjack?
Blackjack is a popular casino table game that can be found in both traditional brick-and-mortar casinos and online platforms. The objective of the game is to get a total closer to 21 than the dealer or hold any score of 21 or below should the dealer go bust.
Online casinos offer various blackjack games, ranging from computerized dealer tables to live dealer blackjack. Live dealer blackjack provides the closest experience to playing in a real casino, as you can interact with a live dealer and other players.
How to Play Blackjack?
To play blackjack, you and the dealer are each dealt two cards. One of the dealer's cards is face-up, while both of your cards are face-up. You need to calculate the value of your hand and decide whether to stand or hit for another card.
Once you've made your decision, the dealer reveals their second card and proceeds to play their hand. If your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer's, or the dealer goes bust, you win. However, if you go bust, you lose your bet.
Basic Rules of Blackjack Game
Before the cards are dealt, you must place your bet. Number cards from two to ten hold their face value, while kings, queens, and jacks are worth ten. An ace can be counted as either one or eleven.
During your turn, you can either stand or hit to take another card. Additionally, there are two other betting options:
- Double Down: If your initial two cards are favorable and the dealer appears weak, you can double down on your original bet. You'll receive one more card and then stand. If you win, you receive double the payout, but if you lose, you lose twice as much.
- Split: If you are dealt a pair, you can split the cards into two separate hands. You must match your original bet on the new hand. Each hand is then played as usual. Remember, it's best not to split two tens, as it's likely that you already have a winning hand. However, always split a pair of aces.
The strongest hand in blackjack is a natural blackjack, where you are dealt a 10 and an ace, totaling to 21. On all other winning hands, you receive a 1:1 payout, and for a natural blackjack, the payout is 3:2.
The Objectives of Blackjack
Unlike other card games where you compete against other players, in blackjack, your goal is to beat the dealer. However, since you can only see one of the dealer's cards, making decisions becomes a game of incomplete information.
The main aim of a single hand is to get a score closer to 21 than the dealer without going bust. Over the course of a gaming session, your objective is to come out with a profit. Read on for some top tips on how to achieve this.
How to Beat the Dealer?
While no one can guarantee that you will beat the dealer in blackjack, some strategies can greatly reduce the house edge. By understanding these strategies, you can improve your chances of winning and lower the house's advantage from around 2% to as little as 0.5%.
With such a low house edge, you can see how blackjack offers a great opportunity to win. To learn more about these strategies, consult our online casino house edge guide.
A rule of thumb is to remember that the next card to come out of the deck is most likely to be a ten-value card. This simple strategy will help you make better decisions when deciding whether to take another card. Additionally, it will assist you in estimating the value of the dealer's starting cards.
How to Bet on Blackjack Online?
Betting on blackjack online is straightforward. The betting mechanics remain the same whether you're playing a 2D table game or a live dealer game. You'll see casino chips of different values, and you can select the desired value and place it in the betting box.
To save time on subsequent hands, you can use the “repeat bet” button. Alternatively, you can change your betting strategy for each hand.
Hard or Soft Hand?
In blackjack, a hard hand does not include an ace, while a soft hand contains an ace. For example, a ten and an eight make a hard hand of 18. On the other hand, an ace and a seven make a soft 18, where the ace can be counted as either one or eleven.
The type of hand matters when making decisions based on the dealer's up-card. If the dealer has a weak card, like a four, five, or six, a soft 18 may not be strong enough to win. In this case, you can choose to play it as a hard 8 and take another card to improve your total.
Types of Blackjack Games
Online casinos continuously add new games to their offerings, ensuring there is always a variety of blackjack variants to choose from. In addition to different variations, you can enjoy blackjack games through computerized tables or live dealer tables.
Some popular blackjack games available in online casinos include:
- Blackjack Classic: The classic and most popular table game.
- Blackjack Live with Evolution: Live-streamed from Evolution Gaming's studios, this offers top-quality live blackjack action.
- Lightning Blackjack: An exciting variant featuring win multipliers that can range from 2x to 25x if your hand totals the randomly chosen number.
Blackjack Strategies, Tips, and Tricks
As mentioned earlier, the key strategy to remember is that the next card is most likely a ten-value card. This knowledge can help you make better decisions and predict the value of the dealer's starting cards.
For example, if the dealer's up-card is weak, such as a four, five, or six, and you have a strong starting total like eight, nine, ten, or 11, you can double down. Doubling down increases your bet and gives you more chips to win if the dealer goes over 21.
Conversely, if the dealer's up-card is strong, like a nine or ten, you must take more risks and draw additional cards to improve your hand.
If all of this seems overwhelming, don't worry. You can find plenty of free blackjack hand charts online that advise on the best course of action for any starting hand. Additionally, our online casino guide, table game guide, and casino card game guide offer valuable tips and information. Good luck at the tables!
