How to Play Blackjack | Detailed Guide
Blackjack is one of the most popular table games that you will find at the majority of the casinos in the virtual space. To learn how to play blackjack at casino, you should understand the various strategies and rules that guide them. This is the only way that you can imagine becoming a winner and getting rewards for your effort.
Written by a team of CasinoOnlineCA experts, you will find this article useful and quite insightful, whether you are just venturing into the world of casinos or trying to relearn the basics of blackjack.
☝ Things to Remember Before Start Playing
Before you begin playing blackjack, there are several rules and casino terms that you need to know. The game is usually appealing and attractive to casino enthusiasts because it is a classic and popular card game that is normaly available in both brick-and-mortar locations and virtually. Without further ado, the following are some key considerations to note. They include personal recommendations from the CasinoOnlineCA team and encourage you to gamble responsibly.
🃏 What is Blackjack and How Does it Work?
Blackjack is a famous card game played in various casinos all over the globe. This serves as a reminder that the main goal of the game is to possess a hand value close to 21 as much as possible without going above it. The card game includes numbered cards, face cards, and aces. Winning or losing depends on how well you can play the game.
📃 What Are the Basic Rules of Blackjack?
There are various blackjack dealer rules to learn and understand before trying to play this card game. For instance, if your first two cards add up to 21, that’s blackjack. If you end up with any other total, you can decide whether to stay or draw. Below are some crucial blackjack rules.
- 📜 Hit: This refers to when players request an extra card from the dealer to strengthen their hand. Most players opt for this when they believe adding this extra card to their existing collection will bring them closer to a 21 without going above it. You need to make a hand sign indicating the word when you say “hit.” Although there is a risk of bust (exceeding 21), you can make multiple hits while playing the game.
- 📜 Stand: In contrast to hit, stand indicates that you are satisfied with your current hand and are not interested in getting any extra cards. Often, when players decide to stand, it means that they have a hand that is enough to stand head-to-head with the dealer’s hand. You can either verbally say “stand” or wave your hand over your card to convey your intentions. After standing, your hand total is locked in, and you are left to wait for the outcome of the round based on the dealer’s actions and the final showing of hands.
- 📜 Double Down: It is a part of the blackjack rules which lets players multiply their initial bet after getting the first two cards. It is compensation for deciding to stand after getting one extra card. You should opt for this strategy when you have a strong starting hand and believe adding one more card will greatly improve your winning chance. To double down, you must place an extra bet equal to your initial bet.
- 📜 Split a Pair: When dealt a pair of cards with similar rank, like two 7s and two Jacks, you can decide to “split” them into two different hands. This way, you can play each card as an independent and strong hand, improving your winning chances. However, there are certain rules attached to this move that you should uphold. When used wisely, this strategy can be quite effective despite its element of risk.
- 📜 Regular Wins Pay 1:1: 1:1 indicates that if you win a hand, you get an amount that equals your original bet. If you have a hand that beats the dealer’s hand without exceeding 21, and it’s not a blackjack, you still win the round. The payout for this regular win is 1:1, which earns it the name.
- 📜 Blackjack Wins Pay 3:2: In a standard blackjack game: winning with a blackjack usually pays a rate of 3:2. It indicates that if you are dealt a natural blackjack (a 10-value card and an ace), and the dealer does not also possess a blackjack, you would be paid 3 units for every 2 units that you bet.
- 📜 Below 16: In most situations, hitting when your hand totals below 16 is best. This way, you can improve your chances of winning and avoid a bust. With a soft hand (a hand with an Ace), the strategy is quite flexible. So, with a game like Ace-5 (soft 16), hitting is usually suitable and flexible because it can be counted as an 11 or a 1.
📈 How to Increase Your Chances of Winning?
To increase your winning chances, you need a combination of healthy bankroll management, strategic decision-making, and understanding the game’s probabilities. Our editor-in-chief, James Segrest, presents a few insightful ideas below that can help enhance your winning chances while playing blackjack. These tips stem from his six years of gambling experience, so you can trust them to help you win.
- ❌ Never Split Two-Face Cards: Not splitting two face cards like two Jacks, two Kings, or two Queens is one of the most common strategies to adhere to while playing this casino game. If you decide to split a pair of face cards, you risk weakening two strong hands into probably weakened hands.
- ✅ Always Split Aces & 8s: By splitting Aces, you generate two separate hands, each starting with an Ace, and this increases your chance of getting a blackjack in one or both of the split hands. Ace results in an increased payout of 3:2, which maximizes the potential return on your original bet. Splitting a pair of 8s allows you to turn a weak hand into two potentially stronger ones to protect your overall position in the game.
📝 How to Play Blackjack Step by Step?
How do you play blackjack? If you are new to the gambling world, you need to realize that there are rules to become familiar with on how to play blackjack at a casino. Playing blackjack and standing a winning chance involves different steps ranging from making your initial wager to making strategic decisions throughout the game. So, here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can easily start playing blackjack, as accumulated by our experienced team.
💥 Advanced Betting Options in Blackjack
Besides the standard betting options, other side bets and variations make up the advanced betting options. These further add complexity and thrill to the game of blackjack. Below, we will describe three of them: Insurance, Surrendering, and Soft 17. Let’s delve in!
🔴 Insurance
This is a side bet that is offered when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. There are two possible outcomes.
🔸 The insurance bet pays 2:1 and offsets the loss on the original bet if the dealer has a blackjack.
🔸 Players who took insurance lose the amount they wager on it but still have the main wager in play if the dealer does not have a blackjack.
Insurance may seem like the best way to protect your bet, but it is not a recommended long-term strategy because of its high house edge.
🔴 Surrendering
This is another advanced playing strategy that lets players fold their hands and forfeit half of their original wager before the dealer checks for a blackjack. The move is taken by players who believe their chances of winning the hand are slim. There are two types of this advanced option.
🔸 Early Surrender: Let’s you surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack.
🔸 Late Surrender: Let’s you surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack.
Note that it is not always available in all blackjack variations.
🔴 Soft 17
In blackjack, Soft 17 implies a hand with an Ace counted as 11. They use this term because the total value of the hand can be either a 17 or 7, depending on how the casino counts the ace. Typically, a soft 17 entails a 6 and an Ace.
👑 The Best Casinos to Practice Blackjack
Selecting the best casinos to play blackjack depends on different factors, like the types of blackjack available, as well as the reputation of the casino. Keeping all these factors in mind, below are three casinos recommended by our CasinoOnlineCA experts who have tested and played blackjack at each.
🎲 Zodiac Casino
At Zodiac Casino, they offer a variety of interesting and exciting versions of virtual blackjack. Some available variations include Vegas Strip Blackjack, Classic Blackjack, etc. From the varieties available, you will surely find one that suits your fancy and love in no time. As a game of skill, you can continuously practice and improve your blackjack how to play skills at this casino. Moreover, Zodiac casino will welcome you with a generous bonus – 80 chances to win $1 million!
🎲 JeetCity Casino
JeetCity casino offers players a variety of blackjack titles. Blackjack games from such giants of the iGaming market as Amatic, BSG, BGaming and Nucleus will not leave you indifferent. Moreover, JeetCity also offers a wide section of live blackjack tables where a player can join the game with a real dealer. Not to mention generous bonuses, starting from the welcome package (225% up to C$9750 + 180 free spins) and all the way to regular daily promotions with huge perks. Special cashback gifts are also prepared by JeetCity casino for crypto users.
🎲 Mummy’s Gold Casino
This casino has got you covered when playing table games like blackjack. With blackjack evolving, there are many variations to explore at your disposal at Mummy’s Gold online casino. Some of these include the Atlantic City Blackjack, Double Exposure Blackjack, Classic Blackjack, and European Blackjack, to mention a few. Grab your welcome match up bonus (up to $500) and join the game.
