How to Play Online Blackjack?
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, 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’.
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 insures 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.
What are the Card Values in Online Blackjack?
All cards count as their face value in blackjack, except for Jack, Queen and King: they all count as 10. Ace counts either as 1 or 11, according to the player’s choice.
Read about different Blackjack versions.
What are the types of bets in Online Blackjack?
There are a couple of other options when playing blackjack. You can ‘double down’ and ‘split’. Doubling down means you double your initial bet and in exchange get one more card. If your first two cards have the same value, you can ‘split’ them into two separate hands. Always remember that a Blackjack after a split is counted as a regular 21, not a blackjack.
Another option is the insurance bet. If the dealer’s exposed card is an ace, you can get ‘insurance’ against the dealer getting a blackjack. This is a side bet that pays 2:1 if the dealer gets blackjack. If the dealer doesn’t get blackjack you lose the insurance bet.
Betting limits differ depending on the type of blackjack game you are playing. Rest assured, these limits are always visibly shown on your screen before play.
Betting rounds begin when a player makes their first bet (the ‘ante’) equal to or above the minimum table limit.
