Blackjack is another of the more popular games in online and land-based casinos. The game’s popularity comes from the fact that you can apply some form of strategy to it, whilst also needing a bit of luck from the cards as well.
Whilst there are several versions of the game, the principals of how you play blackjack will remain the same, with a few of the rules altered for each.
Throughout this article we will be looking at how the classic form of blackjack is played out and also pass on some tips that you can apply when first starting to play blackjack.
Blackjack Bonuses
Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges available at a casino. Because of this, online casinos do not like to give out bonuses which can be used to play blackjack; or if they do give bonuses they ramp up the wagering requirements.
Having said that, there are still a few casinos out there that are willing to let players have a go on the blackjack tables with their bonus without penalising them with crazy terms, you just have to know where to look. This guide will be updated frequently to show an up to date list of the best blackjack bonuses available.
We should, however, point out a couple of things. First, not all blackjack games are equal and some variations may be excluded from these blackjack friendly bonuses. Second, the bonuses or wagering requirements sometimes vary depending on what country you’re from – check the relevant casino’s website for details.
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How to Play Blackjack
Each card in blackjack is ranked from 1 through to 10, with all three of the face cards counting as 10. The Ace counts as either 1 or 11, depending on whichever helps your hand the most.
The aim is to get a hand that is higher than the dealer’s without going over 21 (bust).
By getting a face card (including the 10 card) as well as an Ace you will achieve ‘blackjack’ which is an automatic win; the dealer doesn’t even get to play their hand. If you go over 21 then your hand is mucked and you lose.
Step 1 – Place Your Bets & Receive Your Hand
You should first make a note of both the minimum and maximum amount you can bet at the table in question before taking your seat, as these will vary from one table to another.
Before any cards are dealt you will have to place your bets. This buys you into the game.
After this, the dealer will give you two cards that are played face up on the table. The dealer will also deal themselves two cards, but only one card will be face up, the other face down. This gives you some idea of how likely you are to beat the dealer.
Step 2 – Stick or Hit
Once you have seen your hand, you then get a chance to stick (stand) or hit. If you stick this means that you are happy with your hand and you don’t want to receive another card. The play then moves on to the dealer and they act according to the hand they have been dealt.
Alternatively, you may feel as though your hand needs to be improved and want to hit. This means that the dealer will offer you another card face up. You add the value of this card to your existing hand and work out your overall score.
You can hit as many times as you wish to try and get to as near as 21 as possible, but the higher you go the more likely the next card will make you go bust. In this example we decided to Hit.
Step 3 – Dealer Plays
Once you have decided on your hand and are happy with it – assuming you haven’t bust – the dealer will then play through their hand.
They will turn the second card they had originally dealt face upwards and play through as per table rules.
Usually, this means they will continue hitting until they go bust or have at least 17, at which point they will stick.
Step 4 – Compare Hands
The final stage is when you compare your hand to the dealer’s hand and work out who has won.
If you have a higher number than the dealer then you win and they will double your original stake. If you have a lower hand than the dealer then you lose and the dealer will collect your stake for the house.
If you the have same hand then this is called a ‘push’ and you will get to keep your original stake with no further action taking place. We hit and got a King, taking our total to 23, so we lost (bust).
Bet Types and Side Rules
There are several actions that you may be able to use throughout a blackjack game which are different to merely sticking or hitting.
Splitting Pairs
If you get two cards of the same value then the dealer will ask if you would like to split your hand to create two hands. To do this you must add in a second bet that is equivalent to your original bet and essentially play out two blackjack hands.
The dealer then deals two more cards, one to each separated pair, before you then decide to hit or stick with each hand.
Here, we got two 3’s and split them, giving us two hands with totals of 12 and 13 respectively. What would you do, sitck or hit?
Doubling Down
Doubling down occurs after you have been given your first two cards. You will then be able to double the amount of your original bet and receive one more card.
After you do this you cannot add any more cards to your hand and the dealer will move on to the next player or complete their hand.
This is not recommended unless you are a little more experienced and know when it is most likely to be a wise move. We doubled down in this example and were lucky to finish up on 20, which will take some beating by the dealer.
Surrender
Some games will allow you to surrender your hand after you have been dealt your two face cards. Maybe you just aren’t feeling it or maybe your hand is rubbish.
If you decide to do this you will get half of your stake returned but then your hand will be mucked.
Depending on the stakes this can either be almost pointless or save you a lot of money.
Hints, Tips & Advice
Know the Table Rules
As mentioned, there are a number of variations of blackjack that can be played and it can be easy to confuse them at first. Some online casinos have dozens of different versions of blackjack with the rules for each game changing slightly from one to another.
Make sure you know what bets can be made and what is required from you with each hand. It might be worth just observing the table for a few hands prior to taking your seat, but often each table will instruct you of the rules before sitting.
Ensure You Play Optimal Strategy
Blackjack is a game that allows you to practice a pretty sound basic strategy just by knowing what cards you have and the cards that the dealer is showing. Mathematically speaking, following this strategy will give you the optimum formula for improving your chances of winning from game to game.
For example, if a dealer is showing a 7 and you are dealt Ace, 4, then the table suggests that you hit on this hand. But, if the dealer is showing a 7 and you are dealt 9, 9 then it suggests that you should split these cards.
Manage Your Bankroll
As with all online casino games, applying a solid bankroll strategy to your game may be helpful.
Bet only what you can afford to lose, make sure you don’t chase the game when you are on a bad run, and walk away when you feel like the time is right. Losing money is a hazard of the hobby, and knowing when to call it quits can keep your bank roll stronger for next time.
Whilst blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of any casino game (as low as 0.28% in some cases), the game is still set up in the casino’s favour, so don’t lose sight of this.
Blackjack Variations
You’re all probably familiar with Blackjack, and most will have played at least a few hands in your lives either at home with friends, at a casino or online. But are you aware of how many different types of blackjack there are?
Let’s have a look at the more exotic and less common forms of Blackjack which are often only found online.
Power Blackjack
Power Blackjack adds two powerful features to the regular game of Blackjack – Power Double and Power Split.
- Power Double: When doubling on a 9, 10 or 11 the power double feature gives you the option of replacing the double down card.
- Power Split: Allows you to split a hard 15 or hard 16, potentially turning a bad starting hand into a great one.
Now obviously these rules tip the game in the players favour somewhat, so the dealer has to have a trick up their sleeve too; if the dealer gets 22 the hand is tied and the players bet is returned.
Other than this, regular blackjack rules apply.
Blackjack Switch
To play Blackjack Switch you need to play two hands of Blackjack at the same time, and you get to switch cards between the two hands in order to improve your chances.
Because of this switching, payouts for Blackjacks are reduced to 1:1.
There is also a side bet you can place that pays out based on the number of pairs that are dealt between the two cards.
Blackjack Double Exposure
In Double Exposure Blackjack you get to see both of the dealers cards instead of just the one, giving you a much better idea of whether you should hit or stick.
In exchange for seeing the dealers card, the payout for a Blackjack is reduced to 1:1 and the dealer wins all tied hands except for tied blackjack.
Vegas Blackjack Plus 20
Blackjack Plus 20 is just like regular blackjack but with a side bet that pays out if you are dealt a hand of twenty or more from your first two cards.
The payout rate for the side bet varies depending on the outcome of the game, from 2:1 for winning the hand with 20, to 30:1 for tieing the dealer with blackjack:
- Blackjack Tie – 30:1
- Blackjack Win – 3:1
- Twenty Lose – 20:1
- Twenty Tie – 10:1
- Twenty Win – 2:1
Blackjack With Hot Streak Bonus
One of my favourite Blackjack variants is Blackjack with Hot Streak Bonus. Here you have the option of placing a side bet which pays out when you have multiple consecutive wins.
For each win your side bet moves further up the Hot Streak ladder. After 2 wins the payout is 1.5x your site bet, with an additional 3x your side bet for 3 wins and then another 6x for 4 wins. If you continue to place the side bet each hand you can create a chain that will continue until you lose.
A must for fans of big wins.
21 + 3 Blackjack
If you’re a fan of both Blackjack and 3 Card Poker, this could be the game for you. As well as playing a regular hand of Blackjack you have the option of placing an additional 3 Card Poker side bet.
The side bet pays out based on the players 2 cards and the dealer’s first card, and pays out for straights, flushes and three of a kind:
- Suited Three of a Kind – 100:1
- Straight Flush – 35:1
- Three of a Kind – 33:1
- Straight – 10:1
- Flush – 5:1
Live Dealer Blackjack
Live Blackjack uses Live Dealers to bring a real-life casino into your own home.
The game is essentially the same as regular blackjack, but you are connected to a casino (or studio) via a webcam where you watch a croupier deal your cards.
You can chat with the dealer as well as other players (or not), and bet instructions are delivered using a standard online casino interface. You can sometimes see wins others have had after each hand, too.
Blackjack Stand Or Bust
This last game is only loosely based on the original game of Blackjack. Here the player doesn’t receive any cards, instead, you are presented with four options for the dealers starting card.
The aim is to pick a card to be the dealers first and then say whether the dealer will ‘Bust’ or not. So you are guessing on the outcome of their hand.
Payout rates vary depending on the card and outcome that is chosen, and scoring works in the same way as traditional blackjack.
The History Of Blackjack
Blackjack has a mysterious history; no one is sure where the game originated from but the earliest references to the game are as far back as the 1600s. The French, Spanish and Italians all have games very similar to modern day Blackjack.
In 1602 Miguel Cervantes wrote a short story featuring a gambler who was proficient at cheating at Ventiuna, a card game detailed in the story with the goal of reaching 21 points without going over and the ace valued at both 1 and 11. The game is very similar to modern Blackjack, however Ventiuna is played without 8s, 9s or 10s in the deck.
The French are typically credited with inventing the game of Blackjack. Vingt en Un in French translates to “21”. Like Ventiuna and Blackjack, Vingt en Un has the ultimate goal of reaching 21 points without going over. In Vingt en Un, however, the dealer was allowed to double, and the cards were dealt in rounds with betting between each round, much like poker. If the dealer hit a natural 21, the players had to pay triple.
Regardless of where Blackjack originated, it found its way into American gambling halls around 1900. The game did not get a great reception initially, and casinos offered bonus payouts to entice players to try this new game. These bonuses didn’t stay around for long, but they forever impacted the game. A 10 to 1 bonus was paid out on a hand that consisted of the Ace of Spades and a Black Jack. This hand was informally called Blackjack, and the name stuck. In modern versions of the game, a Blackjack is any hand with an Ace and a face card, or an Ace and a ten.
Blackjack has long been subject to card counting issues, and casinos continue to battle against unsavoury methods of winning. From the 1960’s Edward Thorpe’s book detailing methods to beat dealers, and the books written by Ken Uston that outlined how he earned thousands of dollars a month playing blackjack, there have always been gamblers trying to beat the house at thier own game. Millions of dollars were made by the 1990’s MIT students, a group of card counting professional gamblers who beat the system and only served to boost the appeal of a card game so accessible to the masses. With a good counting system, players can not only lessen the house edge but can also possibly secure a net win.
There are a number of different versions of Blackjack available in both casinos and online gambling websites. The popularity of this game is not only down to the budget friendly odds, but the variety of Blackjack game types out there. With the advent of internet gambling blackjack has become an even more popular game.
Blackjack offers the thrill of gambling with the fun of card games, but it is a very simple game at heart. There are only a few choices in the most basic version of the game and as long as you can count to 21 you can play. The simplicity of this game only makes it easier to adapt and shape, creating a myriad of slightly different games that are all the same at heart.
Blackjack and blackjack tournaments are highly popular at online casinos and can be found alongside Poker as one of the most sought after card games today. With many online casinos offering free bonuses and deposit promotions, a player with a good system playing at a reputable site has the opportunity to make a decent net win.
Blackjack Blogs
- Dana White, Blackjack King
- What Is Betting Behind in Blackjack & What Is the Etiquette?
- What Are Wonging & Semi-Wonging in Blackjack?
- When to Surrender in Blackjack
- When to Double & Split in Blackjack
- Geoff Hall: Blackjack's Great Game Inventor
- Is Card Counting Possible Online?
- What Affects the House Edge in Blackjack?
- How Casinos Can Detect Card Counting
- Where are the MIT Blackjack Team Now?