The Basics of Playing Blackjack Online

Also known as 21, blackjack is one of the most popular games in both land-based and online casinos. Though playing it requires a bit of strategy, blackjack rules are pretty simple and straightforward. This makes it easy for beginners to learn.

There is an extensive selection of Internet gambling establishments offering blackjack games. A good number of them even provide demo versions so beginners can learn how to play blackjack online without putting up or risking any money. Players who would like a more immersive experience, on the other hand, can play live blackjack online where the cards are dealt by real dealers and the games are streamed in real-time.

So, what should a beginner know before playing blackjack online? Here are the basics.

The Objective of Blackjack

Beating the dealer is the goal of any blackjack game. In order to achieve this, the player needs to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. In addition, the dealer also has to have a total that is lower than what the player has, or to bust (have a hand that exceeds 21).

Online Blackjack Decks and Card Values

The number of card decks used in a blackjack game varies, depending on the game variant and the casino. Normally, online blackjack casinos use between six and eight decks, though some use single decks.

An ace has a value of either one or eleven, while cards from one to nine carry their displayed pip value. The jack, queen, and king are called face cards and are valued at ten.

Playing a Hand of Online Blackjack

First, the cards are shuffled, then the players place their bets. Next, each player receives two face-up cards. Likewise, the dealer gets two cards, but one of them (called the hold card) will remain face down until all the players at the online blackjack table have played out their hands.

Players will add the value of the two cards in their hand. For example, if the hand has a queen and a seven, the value is 17. They then have several options to choose from for their next move. These include:

• Hit. This is getting another card to add to a player's hand. The value of the new card will be then be added to the cards in the hand. A player can continue hitting as long as they don't bust or go over 21.
• Stand. This means that the player's hand is complete. A player can choose to stand either after the first two cards or after he or she has hit.
• Blackjack split. A player can only split when the value of each of the first two cards is equivalent (for example, a pair of fives, or a ten and a king). The player takes each starting card and forms a new hand with it. A bet is added to cover the second hand. After the split, the player can continue to play out each single hand.
• Insurance. A player can take insurance only when the dealer is showing an ace. The player places of the original bet and get a payout of 2:1 if the dealer does turn out to have blackjack. If the dealer does not have blackjack, the player loses the insurance bet and plays out his or her original hand.
• Surrender. If players believe that their hand won't beat the dealer's hand based on what their first two cards are and what card the dealer is showing, they can surrender. When they do so, they lose half of their bet and get half of it back. The player's hand is over once he or she surrenders. After all players have played their hands, the hidden card is turned over by the dealer. The dealer must hit if the total of the first two cards is less than 17 and if there are still players left in the hand. The dealer continues hitting until the cards in their hand comes to a total of 17 or above, and then they must stand. However, if the dealer busts at any time during this process, the remaining players in the hand win their bets.