What is Online Blackjack?
Online blackjack is an online casino card game that pits gamers against the dealer. It is played with one or more decks of cards with a standard deck having 52 cards. The casino game requires a lot of luck and little skill that has something to do with learning a basic strategy.
One thing that makes playing online blackjack casino games very attractive to players is that there is an opportunity to use basic strategies to win. In fact, a player who mathematically plays a perfect game and is good at counting cards at Blackjack and he has greater odds of winning. Even a casual player who plays a reasonably good game has a good chance of winning as the casino play odds are always less.
Free Blackjack Demo
Have you always wanted to learn the rules of classic blackjack, try your hand to count cards, or maybe even test out the effectiveness of the basic strategy? Well, no time like the present! We've prepared a free demo of a free online blackjack game for you to enjoy - no sign-up required, no strings attached! Give it a try and see how much you'll win by yourself, and if you're struggling, the "i" icon in the top left corner will give you a hint based on the basic strategy.
The Rules of Blackjack
The object of a blackjack game is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21. This can be accomplished by getting Blackjack, getting a hand as close to 21 as possible, staying on a hand that feels lower than ideal, or by the dealer busting by exceeding their card count of 21.
Cards are counted as:
Number cards
The face value of the card (ex. 4 or 6)
Face cards
The King, Queen and Jack count as 10
Ace
An ace can be counted as 11 or 1
Blackjack
One Ace and a card worth 10 points
Therefore, the basic strategy for winning at Blackjack is to beat the dealer by getting a card count as close to 21 as possible without going above 21.
Additional Rules
Splitting Pairs
Splitting pairs happens when a gamer’s initial two-card hand includes two cards of the same value. The player can split the card into two separate hands when it is their turn and then receive an extra card for each hand from the dealer.
Double Down
Doubling down when playing blackjack online happens when a player doubles their starting bet in the middle of a hand after which they receive an extra card. There are three situations in which doubling down is profitable; your cards total 11 and the dealer’s face-up is lower, you have a soft 16, 17, or 18, and when you have a hard nine, the dealer’s face-up card is two-six.
Insurance
Insurance acts as a side bet separate from the original stake when playing blackjack online. It is offered when the dealer’s up-card is an ace and is insured against the dealer’s hand ‘blackjack’. An insurance bet pays out at 2/1 with the maximum bet being half a player’s original wager.
Settlement
In settling a bet, the dealer determines the result of the bet whether it is a winner or a loser. When a winning bet is settled, a gamer is able to claim his/her winnings. Winning wagers happen when the dealer does not have a Blackjack, has a count value of more than 21 or less than the player’s hand, or has a Blackjack in an insurance wager.
The Odds of Online Blackjack Explained
Blackjack is one of the lowest house edge casino games. Assuming standard rules and a gamer who knows how to make the right move in every situation using basic strategy, and knows how to deal with any face-down card, a game can expect a payback of around 99.5% to 99.6% when you play blackjack online. Unlike brick-and-mortar casinos, online casinos have much lower odds of winning thanks to measures to prevent card counting.
With online blackjack games, 6-8 decks are played at once and are shuffled after each hand or after half of the cards have been dealt, which isn’t the case for physical casinos. Additionally, the odds of getting the cards you need are higher since dealers do not shuffle the cards after each deal.
You can find more information about specific online casinos on our website, where we publish reviews of the best active online casinos.
Blackjack Basic Strategy - How to Win
Winning in blackjack requires a player to play each hand in an optimum way and this takes into account the dealer's upcard. When the dealer has a good upcard - a 7, 8, 9, 10-card or ace - the gamer should not stop drawing until a total of 17 or more is attained. When the upcard is a poor one - 4, 5, or 6 - the player should stop drawing after getting a total of 12 or higher. The aim is to never take a card if there is a chance of busting. Another blackjack strategy worth mentioning is that when the dealer’s upcard is a fair one - 2 or 3 - the gamer should stop with a total of 13 or more.
The basic strategy for a soft hand is to keep hitting until a value of at least 18 is reached. For doubling down, the blackjack strategy is to do so with a total of 11. If the value is 10, the player should double down unless the dealer shows an ace or a 10-card. For a value of 9, the gamer should double down if the dealer has fair or poor cards.
With the right strategy, you can score huge winnings in blackjack. In fact, several of the richest gamblers in the world have made their fortune from blackjack.
5 Mistakes New Blackjack Players Do
Here are five of the biggest mistakes new blackjack players make that hurt their chances of winning:
Online Blackjack vs Live Blackjack
Live dealer blackjack is favoured among players around the world as compared to online blackjack lobby. Typically found in online blackjack sites that offer a live casino option. That is usually when one would be able to find live blackjack tables and play live blackjack for a few rounds. One of the reasons for its popularity is the experience it provides since players are dealing with a virtual table, chips, and cards. Additionally, it has a social element that isn’t normally available with online blackjack. Unlike playing blackjack online where software deals the game, live blackjack games have live dealers and players with whom you can chat with.
Pros vs Cons of Live Blackjack
- Great for privacy and anonymity
- Wide range of live blackjack table
- You can pick the dealer
- Play at any time and anywhere
- Need to deal with other players
- Internet connection affects speed and technical issues may occur
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Live Blackjack Variants
There are dozens of live blackjack variants where the rules and the gameplay change a bet. Here are a few of the most popular variations:
Free Bet Blackjack
In this blackjack game, the player can double down or split wagers for free after making their initial wager. The gamer, therefore, gets two very rewarding side bets in addition to the regular side bets placed.
Power Blackjack
This variant of blackjack allows a player to power double - to split any two cards (they don’t have to be the same). A player can also power split meaning they can exchange the double-down card for the next card in the shoe.
Speed Blackjack
As the name suggests, speed blackjack is a fast-paced version of the blackjack game. In this seven-seat game, the dealer does not go from left to right but rather cards are dealt to the fastest players first. After the first two cards are dealt, the gamer who makes the quickest decision to split/hit/double down gets the next card.
Blackjack Party
Blackjack Party is similar to the standard Live Blackjack only that it has a party-infused theme making it quite special. The presentation of this blackjack game is unique as the dealers make it their goal to entertain players.
Infinite Blackjack
This variant is great for gamers looking to play blackjack with low bets. Infinite blackjack is a low-wager version of blackjack that can be played with an infinite number of players. Gamers are dealt the same hand at the beginning of each round after which they can make their decision.
The Best Blackjack Games Developers
The concept of live dealer online blackjack is identical among all platforms. However, there are a few differences depending on the developers of the game. These differences can be seen in the selection of tables, betting limits, interface, and the number of tables. Let’s take a look at the best online blackjack games developers in the industry.
The majority of players play blackjack games developed by this developer for several reasons. A distinguishing characteristic of their software is the low-limit blackjack games that can be played for as little as £1. Popular Blackjack variations from Netent include Double Exposure Blackjack, Blackjack Classic, Pontoon, and Blackjack Pro.
Read more about NetEntBlackjack games from this developer feature supreme playability and a great user interface. They also come with a variety of optional and side bets, superb video quality, experienced dealers, flexible decks, and enormous profits. If you’re looking to play Blackjack, the live games from Evolution are worth your time.
Read more about EvolutionPlaytech is renowned for developing popular casino games with the most realistic graphics. Other features of the blackjack games produced by this developer include single- and multi-player modes, and the ability to play in multiple languages.
Read more about PlaytechMicrogaming has a great number of Blackjack variants, with the most popular one being the Gold Series Version. The developer has single- and multi-hand versions with low house edges.
Read more about MicrogamingHistory of Blackjack
While the history of Twenty-One dates from World War I, its roots can be traced to the late 1760s in France. Other records of the game occurred in Britain during the 1770s and 1780s under the name Vingt-Un. Still known then as Vingt-Un, blackjack was first introduced to the United States in the early 1800s during the First World War. English Vingt-Un then developed into an American version in its own right which received the name blackjack around 1899.
A popular myth has it that when Vingt-Un was introduced into the United States, gaming spots offered bonus payouts to provide a remarkable gaming experience. One bonus was a 10:1 payout if a gamer had included the ace of spades and a blackjack. This hand was popularly known as a “blackjack” and the name remained even after the Blackjack bonuses was withdrawn.
Today, Blackjack is one of the most beloved casino games. Players can enjoy online Blackjack and Crypto Blackjack as well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Blackjack
How do you play blackjack?
To play blackjack, select the variant you want to play and find a table. Place your bet and look at the cards dealt to you and the dealer. Use basic strategy or gut instinct to make your next move. When you're happy with your hand, stand to close out your hand then watch the outcome as the dealer plays out their hand. Take your winnings and relax or play blackjack in another round.
Can I play blackjack for free?
Yes. Many real-money blackjack sites have free blackjack games that players can play without making a real wager. This allows players to play blackjack while learning blackjack rules at their pace with no monetary loss.
What’s the trick to winning at blackjack?
If you’re looking to play blackjack and win real money blackjack games, learning the basic blackjack strategy is essential. Memorizing the right way to stand, hit, double down, and split your hand is a must when playing blackjack. To cut the house edge, stand when your hand is 12-16 and the dealer is 2-6, Double 11 versus the dealer's 2-10, hit when your hand is 12-16 and when the dealer has 7-Ace, Hit or double Aces-6 and always split Aces and 8s.
Is blackjack rigged?
No. Online blackjack is as fair as blackjack in land-based casinos. However, the odds of winning blackjack online are less as cards are shuffled after each hand eliminating the possibility of card counting.
What does it mean to split?
Splitting occurs when a player is dealt with two cards of the same value. The player splits the cards into two separate hands and is dealt another card on each. If a player decides to split, s/he must place a second bet to match their initial wager.
Is insurance a good idea?
Blackjack might be the only place where insurance is a bad idea. Insurance costs half the original bet and pays 2:1 when the dealer has a natural blackjack. While the odds for dealer blackjack vary slightly depending on the number of decks in the shoe, the dealer is likely to have blackjack less than one-third of the time. A player might win a bet every once in a while but such wagers lose a lot of money in the long run.
Are there any working blackjack strategies?
There are a few blackjack strategies you can employ to boost your bankroll at Blackjack. These include going for a table that offers the double-down option, doubling down with an ace against the dealer’s six, and split Aces and eights. Another blackjack strategy worth mentioning is to stand when there’s a hand that could bust against a dealer’s card. Read more online casino reviews and be the best player on blackjack.