Real money blackjack is available at thousands of online casinos, while others player free blackjack on social gaming sites. Meanwhile, movies and books sing the praises of famous players like the MIT blackjack team, conjuring to mind an image of 21 being played on smoky casino floors by men in exquisitely tailored suits.
For fans of table games in the United States, Blackjack needs no introduction. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer without going over 21. So if you are ready to race to 21, our experts at CasinoUSA are happy to share some of the basics, strategies, tips, tricks and more. If you are looking to play Online Blackjack for Real Money jump straight to our expert guide from here to find out which are the best US real money casinos.
For the most part, Blackjack is an exciting game with the potential to win big money. However, that’s only if you play with a cool head and stick to the rules and basic strategies. If you want to learn how to play blackjack the first important thing is to understand the basics of the game.
Blackjack is easy and simple to understand. You need to learn when to place bets, strategies like card counting, when to increase bets, and much more. While a land based casino may seem a great place to take a shot at blackjack it is always prudent to begin your tryst with the game online or you can experience the same thing by playing at the live dealer online blackjack casinos.
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Contents
Blackjack objective: to create a hand with a higher total than the dealer but not going beyond 21.
Players compare their hands with their dealer. In the beginning, each bet is placed in the betting box. Each player is dealt two cards face-up while the dealer receives one card face up. Once the players have drawn their cards the dealer’s hand is completed.
Howcast
Blackjack card values:
Ace – 1 or 11
2-9 – Same value
Jack, Queen & King – 10
If you have a hand (Ace, 3), the value can be 4 or 14. If the next card drawn is a 5, you will have a hand of (Ace, 3, 5). In this case, the Ace takes on the value of 11 to make a total of 19. If you drew 8 instead of 5, the Ace will take the value of 1 or else the total would be 22 and you will lose the bet.
Blackjack rules are fairly similar throughout the globe, except for a few variations. The dealer’s hand value is most important while the value of other player’s hands does not matter. Showing your cards to the dealer or other players does not pose a problem especially in a shoe game where the cards are dealt face up.
Another rule for the dealer is that he will have to Hit (draw cards) until the total value of his hand exceeds 17. The rule states that the ‘dealer stands on all 17s’. In the case of the dealer an Ace is counted as 11 unless the hand value exceeds 21.
Blackjack rules may vary where some may be good for a player and some not to his advantage. Some of the common variations include double downs after splitting pairs. It reduces the house advantage by around .13 percent.
Some casinos offer players the surrender option. An ‘early surrender’ is when a player takes the option before the dealer looks under a ten while a ‘late surrender’ is accomplished after the dealer peaks for blackjack. If you have a bad hand like a hard 15 or 16 against the dealer’s up-card of Ace or 10, the surrender can be helpful.
Another important aspect in blackjack is to understand the dealer’s role. When the dealer’s total exceeds 21, every player with a total of 21 or less win or else the dealer’s total points is compared with each player’s total.
Understanding payouts is also essential. Other than blackjack that pays 3 to 2, winning bets are paid even money. In the event of a tie (push), you keep your original bet.
As a player, you have the option to Surrender, Hit/Stand, Double Down, Split, and get Insurance.
Then again, there’s much more to playing Blackjack. From side bets to house edge, Blackjack etiquette, Blackjack strategies, and everything in between, we promise to keep you posted so stick around at CasinoUSA.com and you will soon beat the dealer at his own game more frequently than you reckoned for.
Whether you already have some experience with Blackjack in traditional casinos or are making your first steps with online Blackjack, having a clear idea of the basics of the online version is important for a good gambling experience. With that in mind, here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Blackjack in online casinos.
Although there are some games that have a 0% house edge (in certain scenarios) theoretically Blackjack has one of the best odds in online casinos. However, this is not something set in stone, because your odds in Blackjack depend on your choices and the rules of the game. Some variations have better rules that can increase your advantage, while others don’t. However, all games will be more rewarding if you have mastered basic strategy.
In general, yes. Both online and Blackjack variations played at brick and mortar casinos follow the same rules and style of play, as well as offer similar odds. However, there are some online versions of Blackjack that offer extra bets, or have slightly different rules that what you can find in traditional casinos. That’s why it’s always good to check the table rules before you join in a game.
Blackjack is not a game of random guesses and haphazard decisions. The whole point of you playing Blackjack is to win money, which can never be done by relying on hunches. The basic Blackjack strategy is a strategy created with the help of mathematical calculations that have produced moves which have the best returns in the long run. When you drift away from basic rules and strategy, you only increase the casino’s advantage over you.
No, you can’t. The cards you get at an online blackjack game are determined by a Random Number Generator whose sole purpose is to produce an entirely random outcome on every bet. The decks are also shuffled after every played hand, which makes card counting literally impossible. This is mainly due to the advantage online players can get with all the available software resources for Blackjack.
One of the first things that many beginner players become interested in is finding out whether there’s a reliable system for winning money in Blackjack. If such a thing was possible, everybody would have already made a successful career out of playing Blackjack. The Martingale system is one popular choice, but this is just a misconception, as this system doesn’t really work with Blackjack.
Most online casinos will offer the same games as demo versions on their website. You can play these games to test drive them and learn the rules before you spend any money, often even without having to create an account. You can also use free chips offers or no-deposit bonuses, although you should read the terms to see whether they apply to blackjack games.
If a casino holds a license, this means that the regulatory body that granted its license had inspected the casino’s Random Number Generator, but also their listed game RTPs. Once given a license, the casino can risk losing it if they modify their outcomes in any way.
There are also third-party audit agencies like eCOGRA and TST that conduct their own inspections and award certificates. That’s why it’s always a good idea to check for watermarks from auditors and regulatory bodies.
Just like in land-based casinos, online blackjack can be played with a various number of decks. The standard games come with six decks and up, while there are also a number of single-deck games to choose from. If you’re a novice player, always make sure you use a strategy that’s adapted to the number of decks you’re playing with.
There are both single-hand and multi-hand versions of online Blackjack. The multi-hand ones can go up to five hands per round but they will also be more expensive, since you’ll be making a bet per each hand. However, this also means that you’ll have better winnings.
Just like progressive slots, some Blackjack versions come with a progressive jackpot which can be won by placing a side bet. The jackpot is accumulated by funds from all players and can be won in part or in total by receiving a specific card combination.