How To Play Blackjack Strategy

Real Money Online Casino Blackjack

400-plus years have passed since the first Blackjack hands were dealt and it continues to be one of the most widely played casino banking games in the world. Whether you know it as Twenty-One or Vingt-et-Un, the game that’s thrilled players since before the 17th century is now reaching an unparalleled popularity thanks to the convenience and comfort of real money Blackjack online.

Do I need a strategy to play Blackjack? Yes, it can help to apply a Blackjack strategy, regardless of whether you’re playing in-casino or online. In order to increase your chances of winning, you should know whether it’s better to hit or stand. Here are three simple strategies: Hit on 12 or less – if the dealer's upturned hand shows a 2 or 3. If the dealer does not have blackjack, players that have one are immediately paid. At online casinos, players receive 3:2. This means that a player wins $3 for every $2 bet. At Las Vegas casinos, players receive a 6:5 payout on blackjack. This means $6 for every $5 wagered. Once blackjacks are resolved, players decide how to play their hands. Blackjack Charts for Basic Strategy and Perfect Play If not using a Blackjack chart when playing on online casinos (in brick & mortar ones too, for that matter), the casino has an 8% edge over you. That's a serious disadvantage. The perfect blackjack strategy charts are based on the slightly different versions of the game. Blackjack can be played with a single deck or 4-8 decks. Most casinos I’ve been to have single deck or use six decks. Also, some casinos require the dealer to stand with a.

Real money Blackjack has exploded with popularity because it’s never been easier to play and win at your favorite casino game. Before online casino Blackjack, players would have plan a trip to the nearest brick-and-mortar casino to play. Just getting to your seat at the table used to take a big chunk out of your betting budget. But now, you are a few clicks away from getting dealt your winning hand and you never have to worry about spending money on plane tickets, gas or however else you might have planned to get there.

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How to Play Casino Blackjack Online

The first step to playing real money Blackjack is to create your account and collect your welcome bonus. Once you’re signed up and have claimed your welcome bonus, you are ready to play! But before you do, it never hurts to review the game’s fundamentals to make sure you’re putting yourself in the best possible position to win big.

No matter where you play Blackjack, the objective of the game can be boiled down to three words: beat the dealer.

There are few ways you can accomplish this.

• Draw a hand value that is higher than the dealer’s.
• The dealer draws a hand value that exceeds 21.
• Draw a hand value of 21 on your first two cards, when the dealer does not.

If you’re brand new to online casino blackjack, it’s worth noting that suits do not affect your hand’s value. It’s also considered poor strategy to concern yourself with other players’ hands. A common mistake novices make is that they assume it’s a team sport, everyone is competing against the dealer. This is not true. It’s just you and the dealer.

It’s also worth noting to new players that cards 2 through 9 count at face value. This means that a 2 counts as a two towards your total score. So, for example, if you have a 7 and a 10, you have a hand value of 17.

Face cards, also known as the jack, the queen and the king, all count as 10. Aces can count as a 1 or an 11 depending on whichever value helps your hand the most. So, for example, if you’re dealt a jack and a king, you have a hand value of 20. If you’re dealt a 9 and an ace, you either have a hand value of 10 or 20.

Now that we’re all clear on the objective and how to achieve it, let’s review the basic overview of a round of blackjack.

• Player buys chips.
• Player places wager.
• Dealer deals cards to players.
• Player decides how to play hand.
• Dealer plays hand.
• Payouts.

This is typically how a round of Blackjack plays out, however it could be subject to change depending on the variation you’re playing.

Once the dealer deals your hand, you’ll have a hand total of anywhere from 4 to 21. In the event you’re dealt a ten, a jack, a queen or a king alongside an ace, congratulations you’ve got a Blackjack and you’re entitled to an immediate payout, typically 1.5 times the wager you placed. The only thing that would prevent you from collecting the bonus is if the dealer also has a Blackjack.

If the dealer does have a Blackjack, you wouldn’t win anything but you also wouldn’t lose your original wager. This is known as a “push.” This doesn’t happen often but it does happen. Most of the time, you will have to wait to decide how you want to play your hand. When it’s your turn, there are five things you can do.

1. Stand
If you like your first two cards, you can stand and the dealer will move on to the next player. If you have a hand value of 17 or more, most of the time you want to stand as the probability of exceeding 21 is very high.

2. Hit
If you need more cards to improve your hand total, you can hit and the dealer will deal you more cards until you either go over 21 or choose to stand. If you start the round with a hand value of four, you should hit to boost your hand value because the odds of beating the dealer with a four are extremely low.

3. Double Down
Not to be confused with a sandwich that swapped bread for fried chicken, this is when a player doubles their original bid in exchange for only one more card. Let’s say you have a total of 9, you might only need one more card to beat the dealer. Doubling down in this scenario could be your best bet to win even bigger.

4. Split
If you’re dealt a pair, players have the option to place another wager and the dealer will split the two cards so each card becomes the first card on two new hands. Say you’re dealt a pair of aces. Your hand value is at 2, because 22 is an automatic loss. You could hit and hope to raise that 2 to a number that’s more likely to win, or you can split those cards and try for two Blackjacks.

5. Surrender
If you don’t like your initial hand, you do have the option of throwing it away in exchange for half of your original bet.

Part of the reason why some variation of Blackjack has been played since before the 17th century is because of how easy the game is to get the hang of. There are only 5 possible courses of action in each round and the more you play, knowing the right thing to do no matter what cards you’re dealt becomes almost like second nature.

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Why Play Online Casino Blackjack?

The simplest answer to this frequently asked question is, “Because you have the best odds of winning.” Of all the games offered in our online casino, Blackjack consistently offers players, both new and experienced, the best odds of coming out on top. Any player, regardless of experience and skill level, is anywhere from 44 to 48 percent likely to win in any given hand. No other table game can offer a chance to win like Blackjack.

It’s this high probability of winning that’s helped Blackjack survive as a casino staple for all these years. Some variation of Blackjack has been played since before 1600 where it would have been better known as Veintiuna or Vingt-et-Un, Spanish and French for Twenty-One. When the game came to the United States, American casinos found to started offering bonuses if the player’s hand consisted of the ace of spades, the jack of clubs or the jack of spades. This type of hand was dubbed a “Blackjack” and players would receive a ten-to-one bonus. The name stuck and the game spread all over the world, creating new variations on rules and bonuses.

Before online casino Blackjack, the only way you’d find European Blackjack is by flying to Europe. Same goes for Atlantic City rules, you would have to find a way to travel to New Jersey. However, now all Blackjack variations can be found right here. Whether you like Perfect Pairs, Pontoon, Progressive Jackpots or good old fashioned classic Blackjack, you can find them all here.

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History – How To Play – Rules – Odds – Strategy – Pro’s Perspective

Whether online or land-based Blackjack is one of the most popular card games at casinos, whether online or land-based. The game is sometimes referred to as 21, as players will try to get a hand total that is equal to 21. The game is not a competitive game in that players do not compete against each other. It is only played between the player and the dealer at the blackjack table. When the showdown occurs, players will not compare their blackjack hands together, but will instead compare their hands with the hand of the dealer.

There are many versions of the game, but they all have the same concept and target, which is reaching a hand total of twenty-one. The game begins with each player being dealt 2 cards. Players will then go through a series of decisions that depend on the hand total and the cards forming the hand. These decisions include “Hitting”, “Standing”, “Splitting” and “Doubling Down.”

When players get an ace and a jack or any other ten-value card, they will instantly win, and it is called Blackjack. Players will be rewarded more than the usual winning hand ( for Blackjack which is usually 3 to 2) while regular winning hands would pay even money (one to one). There is also a selection of side bets that players can place, depending on the blackjack version. The typical side bet in most blackjack games is an Insurance bet.

Blackjack History

The origin of Blackjack, like many other casino games, is still debatable. Nonetheless, most people agree the game of Blackjack originated in France in its land-based casinos in the 1700s. The game was called Vingt-et-Un. Vingt-et-Un is a French word that translates to twenty-one (21) in English, which is how players still use to refer to blackjack to this day. Some researchers believe that the game was derived from other card games that were popular in France at the time. These French games were French Ferme & Chemin de Fer, which had many similar rules and procedures.

Though Blackjack is thought to originate in France, the game was first referenced in a novel written in the 1600s by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes. In the book, he describes two characters playing a card game that was named Veintiuno (Vingt-et-Un), and the rules of the game were pretty similar if not the exact rules of Blackjack.

Players dealt with cards, and the purpose was to get a hand total that is as close to twenty-one as possible without busting. In this game, the Aces counted as either 1 point or 11, just the like modern-day version of Blackjack. The book was written in the early 17th century, which adds credibility to the theory that the game actually originated in Spain.

Later on, the game of Blackjack traveled throughout Europe, however, leaving the most prominent tracks in Spain and France. Eventually, the game was introduced to the US.

Among the different versions of Blackjack, Vingt-et-Un (21) was the one that spread the most. It started to appear gradually in North America among the French colonists. However, the rules of Vingt-et-Un at that time differed slightly from modern-day Blackjack. For example, the dealer was the only person permitted to double down, and there were wagering rounds between each dealt card.

The game became very popular in Nevada as it was the first state to legalize gambling in 1931.

At that time, the game was still named 21. For the casinos to attract players and encourage them to play the game, they offered the chance to place a special bet. This bet would pay players 10: 1 if they got a blackjack with a Jack of Clubs or Spades, along with an Ace of Spades. This is where the name Blackjack originated.

How to Play Blackjack

Like any casino card game, players will start by placing a bet. This is the final bet and players will not be able to reduce it or add to it (unless the game allows for doubling down) during gameplay. Once players place their respective bets, they will get two cards facing up while the dealer will give himself two cards though one is facing down, and the other is facing up. In some versions, the two cards of the dealer will also be facing up, for example in Blackjack Double Xposure.

Some games allow players to place bets on more than one blackjack hand; they are called multi-hand blackjack games. In these games, players will place a separate bet for each hand, and each hand is played separately. Although it is very rewarding, and it enables players to recover from the loss of one of the hands by winning the rest, it can also be devastating if the dealer gets a good hand or a blackjack.

Players will calculate their hand total, and make a decision to: either “Hit” or “Stand.” If they “Hit”, it means that they are not satisfied with their hand total and that they want more cards. They can keep hitting until they “Stand” which means that they are happy with the hand total or until they “Bust.” Busting means going over 21; if players bust, the hand is an immediate loss.

Once players stand, the dealer will show his hole card, which is the card that was facing down. He will then start “Hitting” which means to draw more cards until he reaches or passes 17. Some games obligate the dealer to stand on all 17s, and some require the dealer to stop at only Hard 17s. After the dealer stands, a comparison between the hand of the dealer and the hand of the player will take place. The hand that is closest to 21 is the winning hand. If the two hands have the same value, it’s a tie, which really depends on the rules of each version. When there is a tie, it is called a “Push”; some versions would consider it a tie and give players back their bets while other games consider a Push to be in the favor of the dealer.

There are other decisions that players will need to make during the gameplay. For example, players can “Split” If they get identical cards to form two hands. The two hands will have the same value of the original bet. Some versions would enable players to split more than once to form 4 different Blackjack hands. Also, some versions would allow players to split, unlike ten-value cards like a Ten and a Jack, or a Jack and a Queen. Players can split aces in some versions, but they will only be able to hit once and if they get a ten-value card, they will be paid even money as it is considered an average win and not a Blackjack.

Blackjack Rules

The rules of blackjack depend on which version is being played. Players are advised to check the rules of the specific blackjack version they are playing before engaging in the game. Although there are common rules like 21, busting, the dealing procedure and the card value, there are other rules that differ.

Card Values:

The card values are equal to the face value of each card, while Jacks, Queen, and Kings have a value of ten. Aces can be counted as either 11 or 1, depending on the blackjack hand. If it forms a total while being counted as 11, it is called soft, and if it creates a total while being counted as 1, it is called hard. For example, a hand that consists of an Ace and a five is a soft sixteen and a hard six.

Splitting Rules:

Splitting is allowed in every blackjack game, but some games will not allow splitting Aces and some games will only allow players to split 1 time. Players who split aces will only be allowed to hit once and get one more card. Players can split unlike ten-value cards depending on the rules of each game; some allow it while some require players to get identical ten-value cards so they can split. Splitting means that players will place a new wager which on the new hand, which is equal to the original wager was placed on the Blackjack hand; with four hands players can quadruple their original wager.

Double Down Rules:

Players will be permitted to double down after they get their first two cards. Some games enable players to double down at any value and others only allow them to double down if they get a hand total that is equal to 9, 10 or 11. Players will only be able to get one more card after they double, they will have to take that card, because it is not optional.

Surrender Rules:

Some games will give players the chance to surrender their blackjack hands; it is the equivalent of folding in poker. Players can make that decision after they are dealt the initial two cards. If they surrender, they will forfeit the hand, and they will lose half of their bet. Sometimes it is better to lose half than to lose the entire bet.

Insurance Rules:

Insurance is a side bet that players can place if the dealer’s card that is facing up is an Ace or a ten-value card. Players will win that bet if the hand has a blackjack. The dealer will peek and see his card once players place that wager and pay it out if it is a blackjack.

If players do not place insurance, and the dealer gets a blackjack, all the wagers, except insurance will bust. If the player has a blackjack as well, it is considered a push. Some variations will give players their bets back, while others consider a push to be in the favor of the house.

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Blackjack Odds

For you to fully understand the game, it is essential to comprehend and master the odds of the game and learn about the advantage of the house. It is critical to know how the house gets its edge.

The house has a distinct advantage over the players because players have to draw in blackjack first. If the player busts, the dealer will automatically win regardless of their hand. This is the main advantage the house has, and if everything else is equal, the house edge in a standard game of blackjack would be equal to 8 percent. The player and the dealer have a 28 percent probability of going over 21. Twenty-eight multiplied by twenty-eight means that 8 percent of the time the two hands will go over 21, and since the player will draw first, the dealer will win if and when they both bust.

Odds of Busting Based on Dealer’s First Card Drawn

Of course, the odds are not equal among all variations. Some offer players great advantages and, to balance these benefits; the casino increases its advantage or edge. Because of this, it is essential for players to know everything about the game before playing.

For example, the number of decks in play has a tremendous effect. Some games draw cards from a single deck, which can affect the odds significantly while other games draw the cards from six different decks of cards. If a game uses one deck of cards, the house will change other rules to increase its odds and reduce the odds for players. This is because when a player gets an Ace, it means there are 3 Aces left which decreases the chances for the dealer in getting one of these aces. On the other hand, if the game uses 6 decks, it means that there are 23 Aces remaining in the deck.

The odds on a player’s hand will change every step of the way. For example, if players get two cards, and they hit, the hand total will increase, and the chance of busting will increase, and so forth.

Odds of Busting based on Player’s First Card Drawn

Since Blackjack is one of the games with a reputation of counting cards, a lot of researchers and gamblers have studied the game and the odds so they can increase their chances of winning. You might have seen that in the movie “21” where MIT students developed a way to beat the house. For them to do that, they had to make up a counting system that would increase their advantage. This is why there are published studies that show the percentage of busting and getting a blackjack depending on the first 2 cards, the hand total of the player, and the facing up card of the dealer. You can find more about these strategies and percentages in the Strategy section.

Blackjack Strategy

Before discussing strategy, let us firstly go through some numbers that can be quite helpful. For starters, we will discuss the bust probabilities for each hand total. This will enable players to optimize their game to the fullest by knowing the percentage of busting if they ask for one more card.

– If players get a hand total of 11 or below, the percentage is equal to zero.
– If players get a hand total of 12 or below, the percentage is equal to 31.
– If players get a hand total of 13 or below, the percentage is equal to 39.
– If players get a hand total of 14 or below, the percentage is equal to 56.
– If players get a hand total of 15 or below, the percentage is equal to 58.
– If players get a hand total of 16 or below, the percentage is equal to 62.
– If players get a hand total of 17 or below, the percentage is equal to 69.
– If players get a hand total of 18 or below, the percentage is equal to 77.
– If players get a hand total of 19 or below, the percentage is equal to 85.
– If players get a hand total of 20 or below, the percentage is equal to 92.

From these numbers, players can figure out when they should stand and when they should hit. Players who get a hand total of between 2 and sixteen should generally hit and get another card. If they get a hand total that is more than 17, they should typically stand.

Of course, players will have to take the showing card of the dealer into consideration. The next set of numbers shows the dealer’s chance of busting according to the facing up card.

– Ace (11.65%)
– 10/Face Card (21.43%)
– 9 (23.34%)
– 8 (23.6%)
– 7 (25.9%)
– 6 (42.08%)
– 5 (42.89%)
– 4 (40.28%)
– 3 (37.56%)
– 2 (35.30%)

Taking these numbers into consideration, as well as the previous ones, will help players decide whether they should hit or stand.

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Besides hitting and standing, players should also know when to split and when not to split:

How To Play Blackjack At A Casino

– When players get Aces or 8 cards, they should always split. There is a big chance to get a hand total that is closer to twenty-one when you hit on these two cards.
– Players should never split 10, 4, or 5 cards, regardless of the upcard of the dealer. Splitting in these scenarios will put you in danger of busting.
– Players should split 7, 3, and 2 cards if the dealer is showing a card between a 2 and a 7. If the value of his card is 8 or over, you should hit instead of splitting.
– Players should split 6 cards if the dealer is showing a card that has a value between 2 and 6. If the value of his card is equal to 7 or over, you should hit instead of splitting.

Pro’s Perspective: Blackjack Strategies and Tips

With John Grochowski

Not all blackjack games are created equal. Beyond the basics, there is a mix-and-match set of rules, and each casino chooses the conditions for its own game variations. Some rules are favorable to players while others give the casino an extra edge.
Let’s look at some of the more common options.

Number of Card Decks

How To Play Casino Blackjack Strategy

Fewer decks are better for players. That’s because more blackjacks are dealt with fewer decks. That’s true for both players and dealers, but players are paid a premium on blackjacks and dealers aren’t.

In a single-deck game, if your first card is an Ace, 16 of the other 51 cards, or 31.4 percent, are 10-value cards that complete a blackjack. In a six-deck game, a first-card Ace leaves 64 of the other 311 cards, or 30.9 percent, as 10 values. There is a similar effect when the first card is a 10-value. Regardless of whether an Ace or a 10 comes first, there is a greater chance of blackjack with fewer decks.

How To Play Blackjack Rules

However, not all single-deck games are better than all multi-deck games. You need to consider other rules in effect, including those listed below.

Blackjack Rules

The basic blackjack rule is that the dealer hits on 16 or less and stands on 17 or more. However, many casinos have the dealer hit soft 17, where an Ace is being counted as 11. Soft 17s such as Ace-6, Ace-2-4, Ace-3-3, and others can’t be busted with a one-card hit because the Ace can be counted as 1 instead.

It’s better for players if the dealer stands on all 17s. Hitting soft 17 gives the dealer a chance to improve to hands that could beat player 17s, 18s, 19s or 20s, and even push player 21s.

For most of blackjack’s history, two-card 21s have paid 3-2 so that a $10 bet brings $15 in winnings. Some casinos nowadays only pay on 6-5 on blackjacks, so a $10 bet only wins $12. This is one of the most important rules in blackjack. If blackjacks only pays 6-5, it adds 1.4 percent to the house edge – an amount greater than the entire house edge in many games that pay 6-5.

Variations of Double Down

As a player, you want to see games where the player may double down on any first two cards, including after the player has split pairs. If you split a pair of 8s and receive a 3 on one for a two-card total of 11, you want the option of doubling down. It increases the house edge if the casino does not allow doubling down after splits. Similarly, some casinos do not allow doubling down on soft hands and some restrict doubling to two-card totals of hard 10 or 11.

Fewer restrictions are better for smart players who know how to use them. Have your web browser search for basic strategy charts. They’ll tell you the proper times to double down along with the best plays for each possible hand.