Online Blackjack Guide

Table of Contents

Online Blackjack Guide

Author: americangambler | Last Updated: June 12, 2023

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games both at brick-and-mortar casinos and more recently, at online casinos. This table game is so well-known that even people who have never been to a casino of any kind recognize it.

Blackjack might have begun as a simple game in the late 16th/early 17th century, but nowadays, anyone who loves to play Blackjack has many variations to choose from. From classic Blackjack to live dealer Blackjack, this table game draws in players like very few others do.

Keep reading to learn everything you should know about online Blackjack.

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Blackjack 101

No one really knows who invented Blackjack or when, but it is generally believed that it was invented in France somewhere around the year 1700. This is due to the game being mentioned in Cervantes’ novel Don Quixote. Blackjack was then called “Vingt-et-un” which literally means 21 in French since getting as close to 21 is the objective.

According to the rules of Blackjack, a player beats the dealer if he gets closer to 21 without going over. Both the dealer and player get two initial cards and can keep getting more (hit) or stop (stand) to make it to the goal. The dealer must hit with less than 17 and stand on 17. These are the general rules, but they can be more complicated with complex versions of Blackjack.

These days, you do not have to make a long trip to a physical casino to play Blackjack. You can join an online casino to play Blackjack based on video software or a live dealer version.  

Value of the Cards

Every card in Blackjack has a numeric value. Every card that has a number is counted according to the number on it. The Jacks, Kings, and Queens are face cards and are counted as 10. The Ace is special because it can either be a 1 or 11, depending on what is best for the hand.

For example, if you are dealt a 4 and a face card, your score is 14. If you choose to hit and get an Ace, you now have 15 because if the Ace were counted as 11 you would bust, meaning that you went over 21. Getting an Ace and a Ten with your two initial cards means you got Blackjack and automatically win unless the dealer also has a blackjack.

Game Play

When you play Blackjack, the first step is to make your bet. Once you have done that, you get two cards facing up, and the dealer gets one facing up and one down. You can choose to stand, meaning that you get no more cards, or you can choose to hit, meaning that you get another card. Once you stand, the dealer shows his face-down card.

If the dealer’s hand is greater than yours at this point, you lose. If the dealer’s score is less than yours, the dealer must hit until getting to 17 or going over 21. Whoever gets closer to 21 without busting wins. Getting a natural blackjack (with the first two cards) is the best thing that can happen, but sometimes it is best to stand on certain low scores and hope that the dealer busts.

Video Blackjack

Video Blackjack is based on software. It is kind of like playing a video game with excellent graphics and audio. This makes it very popular with Blackjack lovers who play it on Desktops or via a mobile App.

Downloading an online casino App on your mobile device will give you access to various real-money Blackjack versions that you can play anywhere you happen to be.

Live Dealer Blackjack

Playing video Blackjack on a mobile app is a great way to have fun and maybe make some money if luck is on your side. But if you miss having contact with a real dealer, then you have to try Live Dealer Blackjack.

The biggest advantage of Live Dealer Blackjack over video blackjack is that you get to interact with a real person who deals the cards. The rules are the same, but the experience is more dynamic.

Blackjack Strategies

When playing Blackjack for real money, people want to have fun, but they also want to win. To this end, people have used different strategies. Some of the most common blackjack strategies include the following:

The Martingale System

With the Martingale System, players double their bets every time they lose until they win. Theoretically, this should mean that, eventually, a player has to win. This system is easy to use even for beginners, but it does not work since it assumes that players have an infinite bankroll and casinos use table limits to defeat it.

The Labouchere System

This system entails writing down a sequence of numbers. Players then add the first and last numbers in the sequence to determine a bet size. If you lose, you must add up the first and last numbers in the sequence to add the new bet amount. After a win, you get rid of the first and last numbers in the sequence to recalculate the next bet. A lot of players feel that this system works, but it is very complex to understand and use properly.

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Blackjack Terms

  • Split

When you get two initial hands of the same value, you can SPLIT them to create two hands.

  • Double down

When you DOUBLE DOWN, you double your bet after you are dealt your first two hands.

  • Soft hand/hard hand

Basically, a player is said to have a soft hand if an Ace is present in the first two cards. The absence of an Ace makes the hand hard.

  • Surrender

Surrender in Blackjack refers to the option that allows the players to give up right after getting their first two cards, forfeiting half of their original bet.

  • Insurance

Insurance in Blackjack is a side bet. When the dealer is showing an Ace, insurance allows the player to bet that the dealer will get a Blackjack.

Special Scenarios

Some special scenarios in Blackjack include:

·        Even Money

When a player gets a natural Blackjack, and the dealer is showing an Ace, a player can choose an EVEN MONEY bet. This is betting that the dealer also has a natural Blackjack. If this is the case, no money is lost.

·        Dead Hands

DEAD HANDS refers to a side bet that pays if the player is dealt an eight or an Ace with the first two cards.

·        Side Bets

Blackjack side bets allow players to place additional bets during a game. This is done to predict what cards the player or dealer will get.

Blackjack Variants

Once you get used to playing classic Blackjack at some of the online casinos, you might want to try variants of this popular game. Here are some of the most popular:

·        Vegas Strip Blackjack

Vegas Strip Blackjack uses four decks of cards and players have more options than in the classic version. For example, players can split up to four hands.

·        Progressive Blackjack

Progressive Blackjack features a jackpot much like progressive slots. A portion of all bets goes into the jackpot. These jackpots can be as high as $50,000.

·        Multi-hand Blackjack

Just as the name suggests, you can play multiple hands in this Blackjack variant. This increases your chances of winning, but you might need a bigger bankroll than in classic Blackjack.

Start Playing Online Blackjack

Signing up at an online casino to play Blackjack is as easy as this:

  • Go to the online casino
  • Tap on the sign-up or register button on the home page
  • Enter your information and accept the terms and conditions
  • Be sure to accept a sign-up bonus
  • Make your first deposit
  • Go to the table games section or live dealer section
  • Have fun playing different Blackjack versions