A Beginners Guide to Blackjack Online
Blackjack is the most popular online casino card game in the world. Online blackjack, or 21 as it is commonly known, has countless variations and can be found at every reputable online casino. Yet, many players don’t know the proper strategy, house edge and betting strategies that increase a player’s chance of taking down the dealer. The goal of blackjack online is to attain cards in your hand that will inevitably add up to 21 and no more. Your hand must also beat the dealer’s hand.
Best Blackjack Online Casinos
- How do I play blackjack online?
- What do I do after I receive my blackjack hand?
- What is Spanish 21?
- What is LIVE dealer blackjack?
- What is European blackjack?
- What is single deck blackjack?
How To Play Blackjack Online
The first action to take place when you sit down at an online blackjack table is to make a bet. Depending on the amount you have in your bankroll and the table you choose, you can bet anywhere from 50 cents to hundreds of dollars on any given hand. While playing blackjack, you simply click on the denomination you want to bet and then put it in the middle of the table.
- Make your bet
- Receive cards from dealer
- Decide to hit, stand, double down, split
- Repeat until satisfied with your amount
- Await dealer’s hand for result
Do I Hit, Stand, Double Down or Split?
After the bet is made, the dealer is going to give all the players two cards and one card face up for himself. The first decision a player makes is whether they want to hit, stand, double down or split. The two factors that go into this decision are what’s in your hand and what is the dealer’s card.
-
Hit
A hit is asking for an extra card from the dealer. This is the most common action done when a player receives their first two cards.
-
Stand
Passing on any more cards from the dealer. If you have 17 or more in your hand without an ace, you should always stand. If you have 19 or more with an ace, you should stand.
-
Double Down
If a player chooses to double down, they double their initial bet and receive one more card from the dealer. After this, they won’t be able to receive any more cards in this round. Rule of thumb is a player should always double down on 11 regardless of what the dealer has in their hand. The reason for this is the odds of a 10 or face card (they both have the same numerical value) being the next card is in the player’s favor over the long run.
-
Split
- Spanish 21
- LIVE Dealer
- European
- Single Deck
To split, a player’s first two cards from the dealer must be a pair. This decision is slightly more complicated and is based on what the dealer’s upcard is as much as the pair in the player’s hand. When a player splits, they also double their opening bet as now they have two hands.
Different Types of Online Blackjack
When you decide to play blackjack online, you have a host of options when it comes to the different variations of the game. Here is a look at just a few you will come across, but rest assured, there are plenty of other games that follow the objective of blackjack.
Spanish 21
This variation of real money online blackjack allows players late surrenders, doubling after a split, re-splitting aces, player’s 21 always wins, player’s blackjack beats dealer blackjack, a player may double down on any number of cards. There are also different payouts when a player hits 21, whether it’s 5, 6, 7 card 21s or three suited 7s.
Live Dealer Blackjack
In this popular blackjack variation, players can enjoy a traditional casino experience while playing online as there is a live dealer in real time dealing the cards. Live blackjack is a great option for players that want the live casino experience with the convenience of playing from their laptop or mobile device.
European Blackjack
European blackjack is a popular variation with minor differences from traditional real money blackjack. One central difference is it is only played with two decks of cards, where others use six to eight decks. There’s no hole card in the European variation of the game and the dealer doesn’t receive a second card until the player has completed their hand. Doubling down is also limited. In European blackjack, players can only double down if they have a hand of 9 through 11.
Single Deck Blackjack
This version of blackjack is only played with one deck. For years, single deck was the standard, but casinos began to mix in multiple decks to make card counting more difficult.
Blackjack Glossary
| Blackjack Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Blackjack | a popular card game where the goal is to have your hand get as close to 21 without going over, another word for hitting 21 |
| Hit, Hit me | to receive another blackjack card |
| Stand | to receive no more cards |
| Double Down | double the amount of your original bet, receive one final card |
| Split | when dealt cards of the same value, you may split and wager as two separate hands |
| Insurance | a side bet in blackjack when a dealer is showing an Ace, wins if dealer hits blackjack |
| Bust | for your hand’s value to exceed 21 |
| Soft Hand | when a hand with an ace is valued as 11 because the hand will not bust by taking another card because the Ace can also equal 1 (one) |
| Surrender | a rare occurrence in blackjack when player gives up their hand, receives half of original bet back |
| 21 or Twenty-One | another name for blackjack |