Card values

Every card has a numerical value in online blackjack. No matter which suit of cards you are dealt, the game is played using a standard 52 card deck. For example, Aces can be worth 11 or 1, whereas face cards (King, Queen, and Jack) are for 10, and all other cards are worth their number.

Winning hands

In order to win, you must have a card hand that is closer to 21 than the dealer’s without going over. “Blackjack” refers to a winning hand consisting of a 10-value card and an Ace, which are the first cards dealt out. Automatically the player wins if they are dealt a “blackjack.”

Going bust

If your cards total more than 21, you’ve gone ‘bust,’ and you’ve lost both your hand and your bet. A “push” occurs when your total and the dealer’s total are the same. This is effectively a tie, and you will receive a refund of your original stake.

As soon as the bets have been put and each player has received their two initial cards, you’ll have to decide whether you want to double down, hit, stand, or split. You’ll want to base your decision on what you have in your hand and what the dealer has in their hand.

In Blackjack, when is it right to hit?

Any time you ask the dealer for another card, this is called a “hit”.

General rule of thumb is to ‘hit’ when your cards total fourteen or less, depending on the dealer’s hand and the online casino’s rules.

In blackjack, when should you stand?

‘Standing’ is the act of refusing to take any more cards.

Typically, a player will “stand” if they believe they have a high enough hand to beat the dealer (depending on what the dealer is showing.)

When should you double down?

“Doubling down” is the act of doubling your original stake and committing to just obtaining one more card from the dealer in order to win.

Players who have 10 or 11 in their hand should generally “double down” since the odds of the next card being a ten or face card are in their favour in the long term. Again, this will rely on what the dealer is showing, as well as the casino’s rules for dealing cards.

Never forget: When you Double Down, your bet is doubled. You also get one more card. However, if you lose, you’ll also lose twice if you’re dealt a bad hand.

Splitting in Blackjack

When a player is handed a pair of cards, they have the choice to “split”. An original pair can be separated into two new ones by “splitting” it. The player’s current wager is also doubled by “splitting”.

The player could divide two 8s, for example, if they were dealt two 8s. As a result, they would have two hands valued at eight apiece, and each hand would receive an additional card. Each of these hands would then be played in the same manner as the first, with the option to hit, stand, double down or split still applying.

Deciding whether or not to split relies on which pair you receive, and what the dealer has on their table. When you decide to split, keep these three points in mind:

• Avoid splitting a winning hand. You may be tempted to split if you get two 10s in a row, but resist the temptation. A pair of 10s means you have twenty points, which is likely to be a winning number.
• Only split cards that are promising. Always remember to only divide cards that you want to use in new hands. Don’t bother splitting if you’re dealt two low-ranking cards (fours) — you’ll wind up with two extra hands of fours instead.
• If you split your bet, your stake is doubled. Remember that splitting doubles your possible winnings, but it also doubles your potential losses.

The top ten blackjack varieties now available in land-based and online casinos are shown below. Although a basic understanding of blackjack is required to play blackjack variations, they are generally simple to master and most people can begin playing in minutes.

Pontoon – British Blackjack

The British version of blackjack is known as pontoon. It has a lot in common with its American counterpart, but there are a few differences that make the game more strategic and exciting. The most significant difference in the casino version is that players can see one card first before placing their bets, and they can increase their stakes at any time during the hand.

How To Play Pontoon

All players are dealt one card in a hand of Pontoon, and they must then decide how much to bet on the hand. The second card is then dealt, and the game proceeds in much the same way as regular blackjack, only with a new terminology, a ‘twist’ instead of ‘hit.’ A player wins when one important condition is satisfied: any player with five cards totalling 21 or less, instantly wins double their bet!

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack Switch, which was patented by Geoff Hall in 2009, has quickly become one of the most popular blackjack variations in casinos, both in real-life and online. While the game is played similarly to blackjack, the difference is that each player is dealt two hands and has the option to switch cards after the initial deal.

Blackjack Switch: How to Play

At the start of the game, each Blackjack Switch player places two wagers and is dealt two hands. After that, the player can swap cards between the two hands, perhaps changing two 16s (A/5, 10/6) into considerably superior hands, a blackjack (A/10) and an 11 (6/5).

This advantage, however, comes with a cost. To begin with, blackjack pays only even money. Second, the dealer can only bust if they have a total of 23 or above; if they have a total of 22, the hand is a push for all players, regardless of their total.

Double Exposure Blackjack

The double exposure Blackjack is a popular game among blackjack players since it is one of the few varieties that genuinely improves the player’s odds. As a result, it is uncommon, as most casinos prefer not to allow players to play blackjack varieties in which they can earn more money. So, if you ever come across one of these tables, take a seat and play.

How to Play Double Exposure Blackjack

The rules of Double Exposure Blackjack are nearly identical to those of a standard multi-deck blackjack game, with one major exception: both of the dealer’s cards are revealed, allowing everyone to see exactly what the dealer has before making a decision. Of course, because this provides the players such a big advantage, there are few modifications that have been made to bring the game back into the casino’s favour. The dealer hits on soft 17s, while insurance, surrender, and multiple splits are not permitted. Even then, the house has a near-zero advantage.

Buster Blackjack isn’t so much a unique blackjack variant as it is a conventional blackjack game with an optional side wager that pays the player if the dealer busts. Because the dealer busts considerably less frequently than the player, the payoff for each additional card it takes the dealer to bust is increased.

How To Play Buster Blackjack

The game is played precisely like it is on a regular blackjack table. The ‘buster’ component is a side bet in which the player wagers on whether or not the dealer will bust. This side bet is simply about the dealer going bust; it makes no difference whether the player wins or loses the hand. The bigger the payout, the more cards it takes the dealer to bust, ranging from 1:1 for a 3-card bust to 250:1 for an 8-card dealer bust. Despite this, the house edge on the Buster Blackjack side bet is fairly substantial.

Bonus BlackJack

When playing Bonus Blackjack, the rules are identical to those of conventional blackjack, save for an optional side bet that allows the player a chance to win big. The fact that bonus blackjack is always played with two decks makes it one of the most popular blackjack variations among card counters and professional players.

Bonus Blackjack: How to Play

Bonus Blackjack is played in the same way as any other double-deck blackjack game, with the added advantage that you can place an optional side bet before any cards are dealt. If you obtain a blackjack on your first two cards, you’ll win a bonus, and this bet usually pays off even if the dealer gets a blackjack. Varying blackjack hands pay different sums depending on the casino – suited blackjacks, for example, pay 25:1. You lose the bet if you don’t obtain a blackjack — it’s as easy as that.

Because blackjack games are so popular among punters and at top-rated casinos, operators have focused on making it simple for players to enjoy while on the road. Blackjack is simple to play on mobile devices such as Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.

Because most online casinos discovered that downloaded apps were inconvenient and took up too much storage space on their customers’ phones, they instead optimised their desktop websites for mobile use. Rather than visiting an app store, simply input your casino’s web address into your smartphone’s browser, sign into your account, and your mobile device’s blackjack gaming experience will be identical to that of a desktop or laptop computer. To add to this, an increasing number of online casinos are including live dealer blackjack in their mobile offers. It is like carrying around a casino in your pocket at all times.

Conclusion

Now that you have learned the rules of blackjack, it’s time to try your hand at the real thing. You can begin playing at any online casino of your choosing right now, but if you need more help with your technique, keep visiting this site for the best blackjack strategy guide. Best of luck!