See full list on wikihow.com. Online Blackjack Strategy Make sure to understand the house rules, which can vary. Stick to your budget and play safe by staking around 3 to 5% of your bankroll. This is a good way to protect your bankroll.
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Ask any experienced casino online player what the best online casino game is and they will all have one answer; blackjack. Blackjack has the lowest house edge and is also considered one of the easiest games to win. Why? It’s simple. Casinos usually operate almost exclusively on luck with a small dependence on the house edge, specifically on games like Slots. Blackjack has an edge of around 1.5%, whereas roulette’s house edge is around 5%. In addition, a game like roulette is unpredictable. You never know where the ball is going to land and this could be dangerous when everything you have rests on that tiny ball. In blackjack, you could win if you have a background in the game and a certain level of skill. Also, decisions made in the game are what determine the odds. If you are smart about it, you end up having the mathematical advantage over the casino. In blackjack, it all comes down to using the correct strategy.
History of Blackjack
There is no clear origin of blackjack, but many players believe that the game originated from French casinos in the 1700s. Back then it was called Vingt-et-Un, which translates to 21. The card games are derived from games like French Ferme and Chemin de Fer. Back then, only the dealer could double. Vingt-et-Un was commonly played at the French Royal Court during King Louis XV’s reign. Some believe that blackjack was invented by the Romans. The Romans played blackjack using wooden blocks marked with different numbers. 21 expanded through North America thanks to the French occupying those regions.
Around the time that blackjack was discovered, there were other games that were already dominating regions of Europe. These games were Spanish versions like Trente-Un (One and Thirty), French Quinze (Fifteen) and Italian Sette e Mezzo (Seven & a 1/2). Sette e Mezzo is played with a deck of 40 cards. The face cards count as ½ a point and the A counts as up to 7 points while other cards count as normal values.
Trete-Un means 31. In this game, the objective is to get as close to 31 points as possible. J’s are counted up to 11 points, Q’s up to 12 points and K’s up to 13. In Quinze, players needed to draw cards until they would reach a certain value just like Ving-et-Un. However, the 3 games are much older than the French version. Ving-et-Un made it to America in the 1800s. Although it is basically the earliest version of blackjack, Ving-et-Un is a very different game from the blackjack we know and love today. Sometimes, the dealer’s second card is visible to players. It was also okay for the dealer to make their own decisions.
The game continued to evolve in America during the 1900s, especially after it started to be played in New Orleans in 1820 in a few gambling halls. Eleanor Dumont heard about the prospects in America and emigrated there from France. Dumont was a skilled dealer and settled in California, where she opened a gambling hall. She called it Vingt-et-Un. Her place became so popular that crowds from all over the country gathered there to witness two shocking things. One, a woman was gambling and two, she was good at it.
Blackjack card counters started to emerge in the 1950s. Two books were instrumental in the popularity of blackjack. The first was “Playing Blackjack to Win” written by blackjack players Maisel, Baldwin, McDermot and Cantey. This was published in 1957 and the 2nd book was “Beat the Dealer” by Edward O. Thorp released in 1962. Thorp’s book birthed the concept of card counting. His theory was based on a ten-count system where you would start with 2 numbers, 16 and 36. These were both related to the 10’s in the deck. When the game begins, the author counts backwards and divides the remaining card numbers against 10. This system, known as the Thorp Ratio, worked perfectly when the game was played using a single deck. Today players use multiple decks, so Thorp’s Ratio has become more complex to use.
Harvey Dubner borrowed from Thorp’s Ratio when he introduced his high-low method of card counting. Around this time more players started to learn strategies and dealers began to offer advice at the tables on the ideal moves to make in whatever situation. Nowadays, players can use card counting, but there are even more strategies out there to master. However, although card counting is not illegal, it is highly frowned upon. Casinos have the right to refuse entry and that is exactly what they do to blackjack counters. Blackjack dealers are also highly trained when it comes to identifying card counters.
Today, you can play blackjack anywhere you are as long as you have a smartphone an internet connection. Using card counting online is almost impossible because the game moves so fast. Even when there are 6 to 8 decks, they are continuously shuffled. The best way to enjoy blackjack online is to play a live version of the game.
How to Play Blackjack
The first thing you need to know when playing blackjack in a live casino is what the house edge is and what it means.
House Edge
The house edge refers to the mathematically expected amount that you lose on each bet made in the long run. Think of it in this way;
If a game has a house edge of 3%, a player should expect to lose $3 for every $300 bet made in the game. The house edge doesn’t refer to the randomness of a game. It refers to the probabilities of a win or loss against the amounts you win/lose.
The house edge does not affect short term goals. If you are playing blackjack and betting $300 on a single hand, you may lose $300, win $300 or win $350. The $3 loss is the theoretical average a player may get if they continue to play the game. Most casinos employ something that affects the house edge e.g. how in roulette adding a single 0 to the wheel changes the odds. Adding a double 00 affects the edge even further in their advantage. In blackjack, the order in which the dealer and players play affects the edge. A player can lose instantly when they go bust and the house gets its edge by playing their hand last. If the player and the dealer both go bust, it’s not a push. You will have already lost your bet before the online casino dealer even plays their hand. There are plenty of more conditions that affect the house edge.
Payouts
The rules of blackjack are simple; players are paid off at 3:2 odds so if you bet $300 and get a win, you win $350 instead of $300. A win is formed when you have 2 cards that total or are close to 21. Blackjack can only form with an A & 10, 10 meaning any combo of cards that equal 10 points which can be the J, K or Q. The dealer always stands on 17 or more and always hits on 16 or less. A soft 17 is where the player has an A & 6 or an A & other cards giving you a total of 17. Since the A counts as 11 or 1, you can’t bust with a 17. The dealer also can’t stand on 17. Different games have different rules, but these are always indicated on a placard next to the table. You can also easily tell if it’s a single-deck game or a multiple deck game. However, knowing when to split or double down isn’t obvious. Some casinos don’t allow players to re-split after splitting or double down. At others, players won’t be able to hit the hand again after they split A’s. The more generous a casino is with their rules, the better.
In some blackjack games, the payout ratio is at 6:5 odds instead of 3:2 odds. It sounds impressive, but it isn’t at all. A $300 bet that hits at a blackjack 6:5 table wins you $320 instead of $350. Other games have favourable rules, but only pay even money when a blackjack hits. The 6:5 game has a 1.4% higher house edge, while the even-money game is 2.3% higher. This ends up adding to your expected losses per hour. You will find that in a game you’re betting $300 per hand, you’re averaging 50 hands per hour. That means you’re putting in $15,000 per hour into action. If your current blackjack game has an edge of 0.5%, your expected hourly loss is $750. That means the loss gets even greater in a 6:5 odds game and even larger in the even-money game.
-Single deck vs multiple decks
People love to play single deck blackjack online casino games because these are usually the easiest to use strategies on. It gets easier to get an edge over the house when you are counting cards in a single deck game. Multiple decks came into the picture to prevent the counting cards strategy. A single deck game usually subtracts 0.5% from the house edge. Every deck of cards a casino adds to the game raises the house edge higher. If you are playing a single deck game with a 6:5 payout, the difference from the low payout is more than enough to compensate for the low number of decks. However, if you’re choosing between an 8-deck game and a single deck game, both games will pay off the same. Always choose a single deck game even if you don’t know how to count cards as the odds are always better that way.
Blackjack Etiquette
There’s more to mastering blackjack than knowing which strategy to use. You must also know the customs of the game and know how to navigate the rules and the lingo. For example;
- When you sit at a table, wait for the dealer to finish the hand that is in progress. After they are through, you can buy your chips. Place your currency on the cash section and slide it toward the dealer.
- No currency is to remain in the betting box on the table. Casinos don’t take cash bets unless stated otherwise. You need to specify why you have the cash on the table by saying ‘Money plays’ out loud.
- Keep your hands off the chips in the betting box until the hand dealt is over.
- If you are new to the game, avoid sitting on the last seat at the table as this means you will be the last to play before the dealer. It could put you at a disadvantage when players notice that they are losing money because of your mistakes.
- If you wish to leave the table and then return, you can ask the dealer to mark your spot. A clear disk is placed in your betting box to signify that the seat has an occupant.
- Don’t be the guy who is drunk and disorderly at the table. Everyone wants to have a good time and you shouting and messing up the table just kills everyone’s night.
Basic Strategy of Online Blackjack
The basic strategy of blackjack usually comes down to this; it is up to you to study this online casino game, understand it, practice and develop your own strategy. At the end of the day, strategies do work and it is up to the player to try them all and then develop one for themselves. Of course, casinos want you to develop a strategy. That’s why the dealer shows you one of their cards to help bring your total as close to 21 as possible. By revealing one of the cards, the dealer gives you a chance to make an educated guess as to the eventual outcome of the game.
If you are wondering whether you should learn how to play blackjack, the answer is yes. As an online casino game is great because it allows players to challenge themselves mentally with each game. A blackjack player will always evolve with each game they play, whether a win or loss. Start studying today and see how fast you grow.
There’s no doubt that Blackjack is one of the most popular card games in the world and one that is spread across brick & mortar casinos as well as online ones. The game is incredibly easy to learn and can be played for free or real money. Due to its popularity, most online casinos offer it in a mobile and live dealer variation as well.
How To Play Blackjack
BlackJack is also one of the few games that, in theory, allow you to obtain an advantage over the casino. For long it has been a target to advantage players including the famous team of MIT students, who allegedly took some of the biggest Las Vegas casinos for millions of dollars.
Objective of The Game
This is a game where you are literally competing with “the house”. Your objective is to beat the dealer by drawing to a hand that is worth more points than one that the dealer draws for himself.
Many people wrongly assume that the objective of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible, which wrong. As you will learn later in this article, it is often correct to stand on a point score of between 12 to 15, depending on the handheld by the dealer.
Blackjack GamePlay
Depending on the BlackJack game type you have chosen, you might be able to play anywhere from 1 to 5 hands at the same time. Most games online offer at least 3 playing boxes.
Start out by placing a wager, which will lead to your starting hand being dealt. This always consists of two playing cards. The dealer always deals at least one card for himself and depending on the game type you are playing, the second card might be placed right away or the first card dealt might be opened.
Once participating playing boxes are dealt two cards each, players have to make a decision between:
a) Stand – do not take more cards.
b) Hit – take another card.
c) Double – get just one additional while doubling your wager.
d) Split – divide your starting hand into two separate ones. Only available if your hand consists of two cards with the exact same value, such as 88 or JJ.
Some game types will also allow you to perform an action called “surrender”. This means giving up half of your initial wager and being done with the hand. Players typically surrender when the risk of ruin is high or the dealer has gotten a face card as his first one.
Note: You cannot surrender if the dealer has dealt an ace to himself as the first hole card.
Natural BlackJack
Natural hand of Blackjack consists of an ace and any face card including a 10. Most newbies think that in order to “get Blackjack” the Jack in the hand has to be either of spades or clubs, but this is incorrect.
A hand like this is considered as having a higher value than regular point score of 21. In fact, it’s impossible to lose when you get a Blackjack dealt with the first two cards. You can only tie it in case the dealer also draws a natural hand of Blackjack.
The other benefit of getting a hand like this is an improvement in payout ratios. Normal win awards an even money payout so if you’d stake $100, you would win $200 total for winning.
When you get a natural hand dealt, this payout will be 3 to 2, – you’ll win $250 total for a stake of $100.
Note: A hand is only considered to be BlackJack if it is made up of two cards – an ace and a jack of any suit.
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Card Values
Regular card values are used in BlackJack. If you are not a regular card player these might be new though.
- Numbered Cards: Face Value
- Face Cards: 10 Points
- Aces: 1 or 11 Points
There are no jokers used in BlackJack and a typical deck of 52 cards and four suits is used.
How To Play Blackjack Dealer Rules for Drawing
Before playing your first hands of BlackJack, you have to understand that dealer acts according to a few drawing rules. It does not matter whether you have a hand worth 20 points or 12 points, he/she still follow these:
- Always draw to 17 or more.
- Never draw a card when 17 or more.
- Depending on the game type played, the dealer might hit soft 17*.
*Soft combinations are those that involve and ace and have a 0% chance of ruin, as the ace can be simply changed to value of 1 instead of 11.
Playing Tips
Before getting to any actual tips you have to understand that BlackJack is a casino game, which means that a casino does have a statistical advantage against you.
This does not mean that you cannot win playing it, but if you take up the challenge of playing 100,000 hands, it is very likely that you’ll end up losing money.
The most important tips we can share with you today are actually two simple ones:
- Never play any of the “special” game variations, such as Switch, Triple 7’s or anything alike. These almost always offer rules that are unfavourable to players.
- Sidebets are for suckers. Typical side-bet offers a house edge of 10 to 20%, not exactly great for your bankroll.
- If you are unable to count cards like a professional, stick to basic strategy. If you apply it properly, BlackJack can be played for as little as 0.05% house advantage.
Applying Basic Strategy
Basic strategy in BlackJack is nothing more than making correct choices that are purely based on statistics and pretty basic math.
Quick question: What do you do if you have hard 12 and the dealer has just dealt himself a 5?
Answer: You stand. It’s very easy for the dealer to bust on a 5 by taking two high value cards. This probability is high enough that it gains more expected value than you hitting on hard 12.
Live Blackjack Dealers
With advancement in casino technology, live dealers have taken place of RNG Blackjack and there’s no going back on this one. When you choose this game type, you are opting in for an improved gaming experience.
Not only can you interact with the dealers a view them on a real-time HD video stream, but it’s also possible to chat with other players that are playing at the same table.
High-rollers also prefer playing live dealer BlackJack in comparison to regular online variation. This is due to a combination of the following:
- Higher Betting Limits
- No Chance of Scams (even though most online casinos utilize legitimate software, there are some that might give you a feeling of something fishy going on)
- Playing experience that is more interactive.
Playing on Mobile
Just like live dealer gaming, mobile play has also blossomed in the last couple of years. Any serious online casino is now offering at least a part of their game portfolio to users of mobile and tablet devices.
It’s possible to play on iOS, Android, Windows Mobile and most BlackBerry devices. Playing experience is rather good, but of course nowhere near one on a personal computer, especially when you utilize the live dealer software.
Blackjack At Casino
That being said, Evolution Gaming now offers live dealer BlackJack that can be played on all iPad and iPhone devices.
Playing for Real Money vs Free
We see many players looking to play BlackJack for free and that’s completely fine, as you should not be risking funds that you cannot afford to lose. Though, you should know that playing for real money has the following benefits:
- You can play the live dealer variations of the game that are not available for free due to high costs of labor.
- When playing for money you also get a completely different set of emotions and focus. There’s often some adrenaline rising when you double down big along with excitement for getting a natural hand of BlackJack dealt.
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Please note that in no way do we encourage you to deposit money and only gamble for real money. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable, be it a $10 deposit, $1,000 or playing for fun chips.