One of the most popular games in online casinos and without a doubt the most played card game in online casinos is the exciting and fast-paced game of Blackjack. Blackjack’s popularity is partly due to the fact that it’s a fast-paced casino game that’s easy to master and, provided you play it smart, you’ll never have to suffer too great losses. Blackjack can be played in various ways and is available both as a regular table game, but it can also be played as a live casino game, where you sit at the same table with multiple players and a live casino dealer playing blackjack. Below you’ll find more information about this popular card game and we’ll briefly explain the most important rules.
Blackjack strategies
An important element in playing the game of Blackjack is to make sure that you don’t overplay your hand by getting a card value of more than 21. In that case, the game is over for you. The choices you’ll make during the Blackjack game will also be aimed at that. Furthermore, it is of course important that you use your betting options properly and, in particular, use winnings to make more profit.
In other words, start with low stakes and only increase your bet once you’ve built up some profit. By doing so, you reduce the risk of running out of money sooner. Finally, you can make use of a strategy card when playing blackjack. This card lists all the possible card values and advises you which choice will give you the best chance of a good outcome.
Playing for free
Even though Blackjack is a very popular game, you might not have played the game before. It’s good to know then that you can try Blackjack for free at an online casino, without spending any money. Visit an online casino and go to the section where the Blackjack games are gathered. Open the game by clicking on the ‘Play for fun’ button and the game will be opened with a fictitious play credit. With that, you can try out the game without having to create an account or deposit money.
Learn blackjack rules
You don’t play against other players, as is the case with poker, for example. The aim of the game is to use the cards that the dealer gives you, and if necessary ask for additional cards, to make a combination of cards whose value is as close as possible, but never higher than 21. It is important that at the end of the game you have a higher card value than the dealer, who also plays on behalf of the casino for the highest possible card value. The game has three different rounds of play: a betting round, a playing round and the payout round. During the betting round you determine how much you want to wager and there are usually limits to these wagers. Once all players at the table have placed their bets, the game is started.
At the beginning of the round, each player receives two cards from the dealer. These are placed face up on the gaming table. The dealer also receives two cards, but only the first card is placed face-up. The second card is not opened until all players have played their game. After the cards have been dealt the dealer asks each player what he wants to do. Players have the option of folding, requesting an additional card without limitation or, in some cases, doubling down. Passing is done when you have a good card value (usually 17, 18, 19, 20 or when you have an immediate Blackjack (an Ace and a Ten). Asking for a card is generally done when you have a card value that is at least lower than 17. Some players choose to ask for an extra card if they have 15 or 16; others choose to pass.
If you choose to ask for an additional card and the card value exceeds 21, you automatically lose the game. Your cards and bet are then immediately removed from the table. Once all players have made their choice and finished playing, the second card is turned over by the dealer. The dealer is not allowed to make too many choices, because the dealer’s options are laid down in the rules of the game. For example, if the card value is less than 17, the dealer must always draw an additional card. If the card combination is equal to or greater than 17, the dealer must pass. Once the dealer’s card value is known, all players know whether they have won, tied or lost. Winners are paid double their wager and in case of a tie, the player keeps his wager.
Playing in the live casino
Blackjack can be played in various forms, including as a live casino game. At each site in our live casino top 10, games are played in much the same way as in the land-based casino. You play with several players at the same table and there is a real dealer who is in charge of the game and who interacts with players in the online casino via a video link. Playing blackjack in the live casino is for many players a much more enjoyable way than playing the game of blackjack at the computerized tables. There you play only against the computer and the comparison with the atmosphere of a real casino is almost impossible.
More and more players are swapping the computerized version of the Blackjack game for that of the live casino, simply because it’s a lot livelier and because (just like in a real casino) you can have a chat with both the dealer and other players at the gaming table. If you haven’t played live blackjack before, then it’s definitely worth giving this live variant of the online blackjack game a try.