Your Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Online Blackjack 2023

In this comprehensive blackjack guide, new and veteran players can glean helpful insights about the game, including its rules, strategies, jargon, variants, and more. Players will also get great tips for maximizing their bets and gameplay. Check it out now.

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Overview

Blackjack, also known as 21, is a popular land-based and online casino game that combines both luck and skill. Players compete against the dealer to reach a hand valued at 21, or as close as possible, without going over. If a player’s cards exceed a value of 21, the dealer wins.

Cards 2-9 retain their numerical value, while picture cards have a value of 10. An ace can have a value of 1 or 11, which players can decide based on their hands.
Before the cards are dealt, in-person or virtually, players place their bets. The dealer/software then deals two cards to everyone, including themselves. Usually, one card is dealt face-down and the other face-up.

Players can then divide to “hit” (receive another card from the dealer) or “stand” (remain with their current cards). Advanced players may also decide to split their hand, which is usually done if they receive two cards of the same value. At this point, players can also “double down,” which doesn’t change the value of their hand but changes their bet.

The dealer must also choose their course of action, which there is a protocol for depending on the hand they’re dealt. For example, if their hand is below 17, they must hit. 17 and more, they must stand.

If the dealer reaches 21 and the player has less or more, the dealer wins. If the dealer’s hand goes over 21 and the player’s doesn’t, the player wins.

Blackjack is a game that’s suitable for beginners and veterans. The more you play, the more sophisticated your betting strategy can be. There are many blackjack betting strategies to choose from, as well as several variants of the game, including European and American. Blackjack is available at most online casinos, in free and real-money versions.

Pros & Cons

Pros
Easy and straightforward rules.
Low house edge.
Many different betting strategies.
Cons
Not all casino bonuses apply to blackjack.
Can take time to withdraw your winnings.

History of Blackjack

Blackjack’s predecessor was known as 21 and is likely of Spanish origin. Its first reference was by the famous Spanish author, Miguel de Cervantes in the early 1600s, who refers to it as veintiuna (21 in Spanish). British records of the game appear in the 1770s while American references to 21 appear in the early 1800s. Americans developed their own variant, which they named blackjack, at the turn of the 20th century. In 1931, the first legally banked game of blackjack was played in New Orleans, and the rest is history. Today, blackjack is available at land-based and online casinos around the world.


Blackjack Terminology

Part of becoming an experienced blackjack player means learning blackjack terminology inside out. 

Popular blackjack terms include:

  • Hit: When the player requests an additional card from the dealer.

  • Stand: When the player does not request another card from the dealer.

  • Bust: When the player's hand exceeds a value of 21.

  • Double Down: Double your original bet and get one more card.

  • Split: When a player gets a hand with two cards of the same value and divides it. You can get an extra card for each hand.

  • Surrender: When a player forfeits their hand and recoups half of their original bet.

  • Insurance: A side bet that allows players to bet half of their original bet if the dealer's face-up card is an ace. Players win the bet if the dealer gets blackjack. 

  • Blackjack: A hand that equals 21 with an Ace and 10-point card.

  • Croupier: The dealer.

  • Soft hand: A hand with an Ace that counts as 11 points.

  • Hard hand: A hand with no Ace or an Ace that counts as one point. 

  • Push: A tie. In this case, the player gets their original bet back.

  • Upcard: The face-up card of the dealer.

  • Hole card: The face-down card of the dealer

  • House edge: The advantage of the casino/website in a particular game. Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of all casino games.  


Blackjack Rules

In blackjack, players compete against the dealer to see which one will get a hand with a value of 21, or close to it, without going over. Aces can be worth one or 11 points, picture cards are worth 10 points, and all other cards are worth their face value. Players place a bet before the cards are dealt — one card is dealt face-up, the other face-down.

Players can then ask to “hit” or “stand,” along with several other options. If the player’s or dealer’s hand exceeds a value of 21, they lose. If a player and dealer have the same hand, it’s a tie. While blackjack is largely a game of luck, there are many different betting strategies players can employ to increase their chances of winning.


Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack betting strategies are designed to increase your chances of winning, although in games of luck, there are no guarantees. There are several blackjack strategies that you can use to maximize your bets. These include:

The Martingale Strategy:  This strategy can be used for blackjack and other casino games. The idea behind it is to minimize the impact of your losses. According to the Martingale strategy, every time you lose a hand, you should double your bet. This way, when you win a hand, you’ll recoup what you lost. This strategy works best for players who plan on playing blackjack for long stretches at a time. 

Winning Streak Strategy: According to this strategy, you should double your bet every time you win. If you lose, you don’t change the bet. Even though you can score big wins this way, the Winning Streak strategy is riskier, since statistically, the longer you play, the higher the house edge. 

Steady Betting Strategy: This is the simplest and easiest strategy to remember. All you do is keep your wager the same no matter what. The benefit is that your losses are limited and you will likely find it easier to stay within your budget. 

These are just some of the blackjack strategies players use. There are many more out there should you want to avail yourself of them. 

 

 

Blackjack Tips

Want to get the inside scoop on blackjack? Check out these tips from our experts!

Start Playing Blackjack

Ready to start playing real money blackjack? Follow these five simple steps.

1 Find an online casino.

Choose an online casino that meets your criteria for blackjack games. If you’re not sure how to find a casino, our list of the top blackjack casinos is a good place to start.

2 Register.

Register to the online casino. You'll be required to enter some basic information like name, email address, etc.

3 Claim welcome bonus.

If there's a relevant welcome bonus, make sure to claim it before you start playing.

4 Deposit money.

Deposit money into your online casino account.

5 Choose your blackjack game.

Find a blackjack game you like and start playing!

Blackjack Terminology

Each casino game has its own lingo, and blackjack is no exception. To succeed at blackjack, you first need to become familiar with the game’s terminology. Below you can see some of the most common blackjack terms — we recommend becoming familiar with them before beginning your player journey.

Blackjack Terminology

Blackkack Variations

Blackjack might be a simple game, but that hasn’t stopped many variations from developing. Today most online casinos offer several versions of blackjack. We’ve compiled a list of the most popular so you can make an informed decision about which version(s) you want to play.

Classic Blackjack

In classic blackjack, players compete against the dealer. Everyone gets two cards initially, and whoever gets 21 or as close as possible without going over is the winner.

Live Blackjack

Live dealer blackjack can encompass many variations of the game — the thing they all have in common is that players compete against a live croupier.

Spanish 21

Spanish 21 has slightly different rules than classic blackjack. The main difference is that the 10 cards are removed from the decks in play. The picture cards still remain, which are worth 10.

American Blackjack

The difference between American and European blackjack is in how the dealer receives their cards. In American blackjack, the dealer gets two cards right away, one facing up and the other facing down.

Pontoon

Pontoon differs from classic blackjack in several ways: the dealer is dealt two cards initially, both face-down, players can’t stand if they have below 15, and they can double down at different times.

Super Fun 21

Super Fun 21 is a variation of blackjack that differs in the way the cards are dealt, when players can double down, and even how players can win the game.

Blackjack Switch

Invented in 2009, Blackjack Switch is a relatively new version of the game in which two sets of two cards are dealt to players and the dealer, and players can switch cards between hands.

Atlantic City Blackjack

One of the main differences between Atlantic City Blackjack and its traditional counterpart is Late Surrender, which allows players to surrender if they discover a bad hand after the peek.

European Blackjack

Unlike American blackjack in which the dealer gets two cards in the beginning, in European blackjack, the dealer gets only one card. They get the second card after players make their decisions.

Perfect Pairs Blackjack

Perfect Pairs blackjack is named for a side bet that players can place. They bet that the first two cards they receive will make a pair.

Infinite Blackjack

Infinite Blackjack only exists as a live dealer game. As opposed to players waiting for a seat at the virtual table, infinite blackjack allows all players to “share” the same seat.

Double Attack Blackjack

Double Attack Blackjack is a variation of Spanish 21. It pays out even money on a blackjack and allows players to double their bet after they see the dealer’s face-up card.

Double Exposure Blackjack

As the name implies, in Double Exposure Blackjack, both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face up. Additionally, blackjack pays out 1:1 as opposed to 3:2, and there are no insurance bets.

Triple 7s Blackjack

Triple 7s Blackjack is a progressive version of the game, which means that the goal of reaching 21 is the same, but players also have the chance to hit a giant jackpot.

Vegas Strip Blackjack

Vegas Strip Blackjack is similar to American blackjack, except for a few small differences, such as the dealer can only peek at their hole card if their upcard is an ace.

Big Five Blackjack

Big Five Blackjack was created by Microgaming. The main difference between this and classic blackjack is that five decks are used, an unusual number for blackjack.

Vegas Downtown Blackjack

Vegas Downtown Blackjack is a collective term for blackjack games that are played in Downtown Las Vegas. The rules are generally considered more player-friendly than others.

Ante Up 21 Blackjack

Ante Up 21 Blackjack is a combination of blackjack and poker. As such, the game is slightly more complicated than simpler versions of blackjack, but there are additional payouts for poker hands.

Chinese Blackjack

Also known as 21-point and ban-luck, Chinese Blackjack is a favorite game of the Chinese New Year. It has different rules regarding how the dealer plays and players’ hands.

Blackjack Surrender

Blackjack Surrender is a variation of the game in which players can have an Early Surrender, which can occur right after receiving their cards and before the dealer peeks at their own cards.

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FAQ

Yes, when you play at a licensed online casino, you can rest assured that all the games are fair.

Yes! Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of all casino games, especially when you follow optimal betting strategy.

Many online casinos offer free games of blackjack. Make sure to check that your online casino offers this option.

Most online casinos offer a selection of blackjack games. Check out our list of the top online casinos for blackjack.

Blackjack is mainly a game of chance, but there are certain things you can do to improve your chances of winning. For example, there are different blackjack betting strategies you can try, as well as different protocols to follow for when to hit and when to stand.

No, in blackjack you play against the dealer.

Yes, there are different types of online blackjack. The goal is the same for the most part, but the rules are slightly different. Blackjack variations include European, Pontoon, Match Play 21, progressive blackjack, multi-hand blackjack, and more.

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