Best Blackjack Online
If you’re a fan of casino table games then you will want to play blackjack online at some point. Blackjack or ‘21’ is a classic casino card game of luck and skill. Simple rules and thrilling play make blackjack a game that really stands out in the crowd.
The objective of the game is to beat the dealer. You can do that in a couple of ways:
- When you have a hand value that is higher than the dealer`s hand value
- When the dealer`s hand value goes over 21.
- When you draw a hand value of 21 on your first two cards and the dealer doesn`t.
Where Can I Play Online Blackjack?
Almost every online casino offers a couple of variations of blackjack and finding the right casino can result in hours of endless searching. You have to be extra careful when you decide to play for real money though, since choosing the wrong casino can lead to serious long term consequences.
Our recommended best casinos have the necessary licenses and are registered with the appropriate authorities.
All payments are safe, secure and fair and their random number generator software is certified by an independent organization. Our casinos offer generous welcome bonuses to new players and loyalty bonuses and promotions to our existing players.
We have a dedicated team of casino experts who are always working hard to find the best casino games sites for you to play blackjack online.
All you need to do is choose a casino from our list and create an account. In many cases, you can also claim an attractive blackjack bonus and try your luck against the dealer on higher bets.
When you win big you can rest assured that your withdrawal will be processed on time and without any problems.
Rules to Play Online Blackjack
Blackjack is a very simple game with quite a few rules you need to memorize before you play. The game is played with two or more standard 52 card deck. Each card has assigned a point value so the cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value. Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 10 and Aces can be both 1 or 11. The idea of the game is to draw cards with a hand value closer to 21.
The game starts after you have placed your bet, and both you and the dealer receive 2 cards each. One of the dealer`s cards is face-up so you can see it and you can easily decide what your next move will be.
Hit – If you hit, that means you will get another card hoping that you will get closer to 21, and there is no limit of the number of cards you can take. If the total of your cards exceeds 21, then you will go ‘bust’.
Stand – If you decide to stand, that means that you are satisfied with the cards you have so you don`t want to receive any additional cards.
Double down – You can choose to double your original bet and receive one more card. Some casinos allow you to double down on any two cards while others won`t allow you to double on the first two cards with a total of 10 or 11.
Split – When you receive 2 cards of the same denomination you may decide to split them and receive additional cards for each new hand. You need to make a second bet equal to the first one and split the pairs. For instance, if you have received two 7s, the dealer will separate the 7s and put a second card on the first 7. You play that hand in normal fashion until you either stand or bust. Then, the dealer puts a second card on the second 7 and you have to play that hand too.
Insurance – You can take insurance when the dealer`s face-up card is an Ace, and you bet that the down card is a 10 value which will complete a blackjack. Insurance bet pays 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack. The idea behind this bet is that you win the insurance bet and you lose your original bet and you come out even.
When all the players have finished the dealer has to play according to set rules.
- The dealer stands on 17.
- The dealer receives a third card to any total of 16 or less.
There are different variations of blackjack, so in some casinos, the dealer will draw a third card to soft 17.
Variations of Blackjack
Online casinos offer different variations of blackjack. The basic rules of these variants coincide for the most part, but there are differences in terms of some details. This is the main reason players transition from land-based to online play to spice up their gaming experience. Here is a list of some of the most popular variations and their effect on the house edge.
Double downs after splitting – You should always choose online casinos that allow you to double down after a split. This will cut the house advantage by 0.13 per cent.
Re-splitting of Aces – Usually when you split aces you receive only one more card on each ace. In case you receive another ace, it would be a great idea to be able to re-split the pair again. This will also cut down the house advantage by 0.13 per cent.
Early surrender – If the dealer`s face-up card is an ace, the dealer checks the down card before he proceeds with play. If the player wants he can surrender half the original bet instead of playing the hand before the dealer checks for blackjack. This is a great rule for the players since it cuts the house edge by 0.624 per cent.
Late surrender – Late surrender allows the player to play half the bet rather than playing the hand just after the dealer checks for blackjack. This rule cuts the house edge by 0.07 per cent in a multiple deck game and 0.02 per cent in a single deck game.
Double down to hard 10 and hard 11 – When the online casino allows players to double down on hard 10 and hard 11 the house edge is increased by 0.28 per cent.