Play Online Blackjack at Mr Green Casino

How to Play Online Blackjack?

The rules of casino blackjack are simple. The aim of online blackjack is simple: get to 21 (or 21 exactly) from your deck of cards before the dealer. Getting to that point, however, beginning with blackjack 21, requires a little explanation.

• To begin, online blackjack games start with the player being dealt two cards face-up. The dealer also has two cards, but only one is face-up. (In some blackjack games, the dealer only receives one card during the initial deal. They draw a second card once all active players have made their moves.)
• After the starting cards are dealt, the online blackjack player decides whether to ‘hit’ (take another card from the deck) or ‘stand’ (stick with their existing hand). The dealer can only take their turn after a player ‘stands’. Learn more about the Hit & Stand Strategy.
• As the game develops, the player chooses to ‘double down’ (double their initial bet and receive one more card) or ‘split’ (split their first two cards into two separate hands).
• Players can also choose to make an ‘insurance bet’ if the dealer’s exposed card is an Ace. This side bet ensures the player’s hand against the dealer getting a blackjack (i.e. if they reach 21 without hitting). However, these insurance bets could cost you more money in the long-run, so we don’t encourage their use too often.
• The betting round finishes when the player stops taking cards or the player/dealer exceeds 21 (called ‘going bust’). When this happens, the dealer reveals their hand. (The dealer’s game follows the blackjack rules that they must either keep taking cards until they hit 17 or more, or until they go bust.)
• The winner of blackjack is the one who gets closest to 21 (or 21 exactly) without going bust. In the event of a tie or a ‘push’, the player receives their stake back.

Increase Your Chances of Winning with a Blackjack Strategy

Players are advised to brush up on their strategy to stand the best chance of winning online blackjack.

Simply put, winning online blackjack players analyse: the probability and expected value of their own cards, the probability and expected value of the dealer’s cards, and the varying odds as the game develops. The value of these cards will determine whether an online blackjack player correctly hits, stands, doubles or splits going forward.

For example, 6 is the worst up card for the dealer because they risk making 16 then going bust. Therefore, if the dealer shows a 6, players should stand on any value of 12 or above. This means they do not bust their own hand before the dealer.

Players should also account for the exchange of play; they act first, and this means they are more likely to bust before the dealer.

To learn more about online blackjack mathematical strategy, read our helpful guides on what is the online blackjack best strategy and blackjack odds.

• Hit: Take another card after you have been dealt your initial hand. You can keep doing this until you hit or exceed 21.
• Stand: Take no more cards and ‘stand’ with the hand you currently have.
• Double-Down: Double your initial wager and then be dealt another card.
• Split: If both cards in your initial hand each have the same value, you can ‘split’ these into two separate hands and play a double round of Blackjack.
• Insurance Bet  in Blackjack: If the house has an ace card in their hand, you can place an insurance bet. This is simply an additional side bet on whether or not the dealer will have Blackjack (a score of 21).

When you calculate the mathematics behind this basic Blackjack strategy, you will notice that the player will win 44% of the time, while the dealer will win 48% of the time. The remaining 8% indicates hands that result in a draw (push).

Every single casino game comes equipped with a house edge, including Blackjack. A perfect blackjack example of this is that the player needs to decide what happens to their hand before the dealer is required to draw a second card to their hand. Thankfully, the house edge can be reduced with a Blackjack strategy. However, it greatly depends on the game rules of Blackjack.

For instance, some Blackjack variants will give the dealer the freedom to hit on a soft 17 (a hand that includes an Ace) to give the Casino a bigger house edge, while other Blackjack variants will require the dealer to stand on 17 which will reduce the house edge of a Casino. You will also find that some variants will allow you to double down on any hand value, while others are restricted to only certain hand values.

Blackjack FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the best strategy to play blackjack?

1.There are several strategies you can utilise to better your chances of winning when playing blackjack online for fun or for real money. A few of our favourite online blackjack strategies are:1. Double down on a hard 11 – You’ll most likely win against any dealer’s upcard when dealt a hard 11, meaning doubling down is a good strategy to increase the winnings from that hand.
2. Split in Blackjack. Always split a pair of 8’s or Aces – You should always split a pair of 8’s or aces, no matter what the dealer’s up card is. Some players don’t do this if the dealer’s up card is a 9/10; however, you always have the advantage when splitting 8’s or aces as it gives you two hands with a good strong card on each.
3. Never split a pair of 5’s or 10’s – A pair of 5’s is a hard 10 so you’re generally better off waiting for the next card, while a pair of 10’s gives you 20 which always has a very strong chance of winning any hand.

How to win at online blackjack?

When playing live blackjack online, you win when your hand totals more than the dealer’s but doesn’t exceed 21 – otherwise you’ll go ‘bust’. If the dealer exceeds this total and goes bust while your cards are equal to or lower than 21, you win.

How do bets works in online blackjack

Bets in online blackjack must be placed before the cards are dealt and must meet the minimum table stake requirement, which varies depending on which you choose. If you win the hand, you will get double your stake back. If the dealer draws an ace, you have the option of ensuring your hand, meaning you lose less if the dealer then has a straight 21 from two cards.

Can I play online blackjack for real money?

Yes, all our online blackjack UK games allow you to stake real money, each with its own minimum table stakes and limits. If you want to practice online blackjack before you stake real funds though, playing the demo versions is the best thing to do. Whether you’re playing blackjack online with friends or playing online blackjack for real money, make sure you’re gambling responsibly at all times.

Can I play blackjack games online without downloading? 

You can play online blackjack games via our Mr Green which features the best online blackjack in the UK. You can access these games anywhere at any time – all you need is a compatible device and internet connection.

Can you play blackjack games with a real dealer?

To play live blackjack against a real dealer, you must select one of our many options from the live blackjack section of the site. If you select online blackjack, you will be pitted against a random number generator (RNG) to mimic real-life blackjack as closely as possible.

Can I Play Online Blackjack with Friends? 

This will depend on the game. Some games may offer multiplayer modes, but usually, Online Blackjack is played against a virtual dealer.

What is multiplayer Blackjack?

In short, multiplayer Blackjack can be played by a number of players at the same time. Depending on the game, you can choose to compete against fellow players or the dealer.

What Is The Difference Between Online Blackjack and Live Blackjack

Live Blackjack is played in real time, with a live dealer and offers a more authentic casino experience. You can also chat to fellow players and interact with the dealer as you would in a land-based casino.

Online Blackjack is played against a virtual dealer and is built around RNG software (random number generator).