The Ultimate Guide to Blackjack
What Is Blackjack?
It only takes one trip to a retail casino to quickly learn that Blackjack is America's favorite casino table game. That's also true for online casino enthusiasts as evidenced by the offering of as many as a dozen standard and live dealer Blackjack options by most online casino operators.
According to the dictionary definition from Merriam-WEbster, Blackjack is : "a card game the object of which is to be dealt cards having a higher count than those of the dealer up to but not exceeding 21"
The player's objective when playing Blackjack is to get closer than the dealer to a card count of 21 without going over. If either party's hand exceeds 21, that party's hand "busts" and the other party is the winner. If both parties land on the same number when the dealing is done, the hand is ruled a push and the wager amount is returned to the player.
Note: There are dozens of Blackjack variations, each with unique rules regarding how cards are dealt, what the player/dealer is allowed to do, and how winning players are paid. It's incumbent on each player to understand the specific rules under which they will be playing based on the chosen variation.
Brief History and Evolution of Blackjack
The origins of Blackjack can be found in the book "Rinconete y Cortadillo", which was written in the very early 1600s by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes. Also referred to in early discussions as "21", the first evidence of the game being played in a casino-like setting occurred in England in the 1780s and in France in 1888. The rules as we know them today evolved around 1780 in England.
Through the last 2+ centuries, dozens of variations have been created at the whims of Blackjack aficionados who were looking for ways to reinvent or spice up the game for players.
It's worth noting that retail casinos are often limited by space. Therefore, it's difficult to find more than 2-3 available variations: Conversely, online casinos can offer dozens of variations due to ease of access. Over the last 7-8 years, live casino/dealer Blackjack options have become very popular among online casino players worldwide.
How to Play Blackjack – The Rules Explained
Keeping in mind that different variations often call for different game-playing rules, the following how-to-play guide will focus on the basics. The different variations will be covered in the next section.
- Number of players: the standard retail blackjack table has 1-7 player positions with the dealer positioned in front of them in a horseshoe configuration. Online Blackjack is played one-on-one, the player versus the dealer with the only exception being a live dealer variation.
- Card values: The card values are equal to the number of each card (2-10) except for the ACE, which has a value of 1 or 11, depending on which value benefits the player more. All face cards have a value of 10.
- Dealing: The dealer is going to deal two cards to each player and two cards to themselves. In most cases, one of the dealer's cards will be dealt face-up.
- Gameplay actions: After the two cards each are dealt, the player acts. Their options are:
- Hit - take another card
- Stand - no more cards taken
- Double-down - double the bet to draw one care only
- Split - if two cards have the same value, the player can split them and play separate hands, each with the same wagering value
- Take insurance - This option comes into play if the player sees a dealer's ACE and wants to protect against a dealer's Blackjack **
** The cost of insurance is 50% of the original bet. If the dealer has Blackjack, the player effectively pushes with no loss. If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the player loses the insurance and the hand plays on.
What is a “natural blackjack”? If the player or dealer lands an ACE plus any 10 in the first two cards, it's considered a natural Blackjack. Once a natural Blackjack is dealt, the receiving party automatically wins. If it's the player who wins, they will normally get paid at odds of 2-1 or 3-2. If both parties get a natural Blackjack, it's a push.
Popular Variations of Blackjack
As indicated above, there are dozens of Blackjack variations, especially online. Here are some brief descriptions of the most popular variations:
Classic Blackjack - See the "how to play Blackjack" section above.
European Blackjack - Played with 2 full decks of cards with very strict doubling-down and splitting rules. The dealer deals themselves 1 card up and 1 card down. Natural Blackjack pays 2-1.
American Blackjack - Played with 4-6 decks. The dealer deals themselves 1 card up and 1 card down. Natural Blackjack pays 3-2 or 2-1.
Blackjack Switch - Player plays 2 hands. After the hands are both dealt face-up, the player is permitted to switch 1 card between the hands. Natural Blackjacks only pay 1-1, and the dealer doesn't bust until they get to 23.
Double Exposure Both of the dealer's cards are dealt face-up. Natural Blackjack only pays 1-1 and the dealer wins all ties except for a tie with Natural Blackjacks.
Double Attack Blackjack - The dealer's first card is dealt face-up. After seeing the first card, players can elect to double their wagers and the game plays on.
Pontoon - Players place their wagers after seeing their first cards. Both of the dealer's cards are dealt face-down. If a player receives 5 cards or more and stays at 21 or under, they are paid 2-1.
Blackjack Basic Strategy
There is a correlation between playing proper Blackjack and winning.
What is a basic Blackjack strategy? To succeed in playing Blackjack, a player has to know when to hit, stand, double-down, and split cards. Playing properly would be considered following a basic Blackjack strategy.
Learning to play properly takes a lot of time and effort. If a player wants to take a shortcut, they might want to use a strategy chart. Such a chart acts as a useful guide as to how to play hands based on the player's hand and or the dealer's face-up card.
Examples: The player is dealt 13 and the dealer shows a 7 upcard. The chart says hit! If the player is dealt paired 8s, the chart says the player should always split no matter what the dealer is showing as an upcard.
Card Counting – Does It Really Work?
There is no denying that card counting is one of the most controversial topics related to casino gambling. There is also a lot of bad information about this process out in the public domain. Hopefully, the following information will offer some clarification.
Card counting is a system by which Blackjack players can track the cards that have been dealt. This is typically done by players to help them identify instances in which they might have an advantage.
There are about a dozen or so card counting systems. Here are descriptions of the 3 most popular systems:
Hi-LO - Card numbers 2-6 get a +1, ACES and 10s get a -1, and all other cards (7-9) are rated as neutral.
Knockout - Card numbers 2-7 get a +1, ACES and 10s get a -1, and all other cards (8-9) are rated as neutral.
Red Seven - Card numbers 2-6 get a +1, ACES and 10s get a -1, "red 7s" get a +1, "black 7s" are neutral, all other cards (8-9) are rated as neutral.
Is it legal or banned in casinos? Card counting is not illegal anywhere in the world. However, it is highly discouraged by retail casino operators. In fact, players who get caught counting cards could get banned and red-flagged for the benefit of other retail. casino operators.
Is card counting effective in online blackjack? Yes and no. If a player is playing a live casino version being streamed from a studio or live casino, card counting will work as well as it would in a retail casino environment. As far as standard online Blackjack is concerned, card counting is useless because cards are reshuffled after each hand.
Playing Blackjack Online
Online Blackjack opens the door to a lot of fun and exciting variations from which a player has to choose. It's just a matter of choosing the right variation and learning the rules.
Online Blackjack play differs very little from retail casino play. Very seldom does a particular variation carry rules that differ between online and retail play. It's simply: place wagers, play hands, and hopefully win.
One of the great online Blackjack innovations over the last 7-8 years has been the introduction of live dealer variations. The games are played against real dealers who are manning streamed Blackjack tables located in studios or real casinos. It's like standing in a retail casino often minus the sounds and smells of retail casino gambling.
One advantage afforded to online Blackjack players is the chance to play free Blackjack. Free Blackjack games are often offered by online casino operators as a learning playground for novice players before they step up and start playing real money Blackjack.
Online Blackjack Pros:
- More than a dozen variations
- Free Blackjack play available
- Save money on travel and hotels - gamble from home or the coffee shop
- Online casinos offer bonuses and access to VIP clubs
- Play is very quick for players who like fast action
Online Blackjack Cons:
- Miss out on the retail casino gambling experience
- Losses can accumulate faster with faster play
- Need a good internet connection
- Bonuses come with strict rollover requirements
- Withdrawal limits can be restrictive
Where to play blackjack online?
Enjoy our selection of online casino legal in USA to play online blackjack legally.
This guide only lists US-approved online casinos that have been licensed by one or more US states.
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Best Tips to Improve Your Blackjack Game
If you are going to play Blackjack online, you might as well invest in learning how to do it the right way. Here are some tips you might want to follow:
- Bankroll management - never wager more than 2% on a single hand
- Blackjack systems don't work
- Table selection - Find variations you enjoy and learn the rules before wagering real cash (play for free when possible)
- Understand bonus rules and use that free money wisely
- Never gamble with more than you can afford to lose
- Respect that the house will always have an advantage of .8% to 1.2%, depending on the variation
- Use a strategy chart to help you make the right decisions
Conclusion: Armed with the aforementioned information, you are now equipped to wage battle as a retail or online Blackjack player. The key takeaways are to learn the rules, understand the casino's advantage, and have fun!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes and no. They can help you learn to better manage your bankroll. However, they won't do anything to increase your advantage over the casino.
To date, seven (7) states have legalized online casino play. That list includes Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
In most jurisdictions, online casino players must be 21 years of age or older.
Yes. All licensed online casinos are required by their regulatory bodies to offer easy and unfettered access to problem gambling resources. Links are usually provided from the operator's home landing page.
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