Blackjack Basics
Blackjack Rules
Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack is currently the most popular casino card game in the United States and online blackjack is the most popular online casino game, with a French origin the game is thought to have derived from games such as “chemin de fer”. The original game was called 21 and was first played in French casinos around 1700.
Online Blackjack Screenshot
Online blackjack screenshot from Go Casino
Although Blackjack migrated to the US by the early 1800s, it wasn’t until 100 years later that it was introduced into casinos. Casino managers offered odds of 10 to 1 to entice any players that scored 21 with an Ace of Spades and either of the two black Jack cards in the pack. Nowadays blackjack continues as a vastly popular online casino game also!
Blackjack is a table game where up to seven players face a dealer, each player plays one-on-one against the dealer and not with or against any of the other players at the table.
The object of the game is to hold a hand of two or more cards that is higher than the dealers hand, but does not exceed 21. A player that wins with a “blackjack” (a two card hand comprising of an Ace and any 10 value card, making a total of 21) are paid odds of 3 to 2 with all other winning hands being paid at even money.
Blackjack Variations
There are many different variations of online blackjack, there is European Blackjack, Las Vegas Strip Blackjack and Single Deck Blackjack to name a few. If you would like to know more about blackjack variations we recommend the blackjack variations at OnlineGambling.com for more in depth information about blackjack variations.
Card Values
All cards have their pip value, except the Ace, which can count as a 1 or an 11 and picture cards (King, Queen and Jack) count as a 10. The Ace, when held by a player can count as a 1 or 11 at his discretion and he can change his mind any number of times during play. The dealer on the other hand has to always count the Ace as 11, if he has a card count of 17 or more: for example an Ace and a 6 must count as 17.
Table Layout
The Blackjack table is a simple, curved table which at which the dealer stands one side facing up to seven betting spots. Players sit at a betting square and all bets must be places here during play.
Play always works from the dealer’s left and although one player’s game has no influence on any of the other players it is commonly felt that the last position before the dealer is a disadvantageous spot, and usually would be avoided by an experienced player, regardless of whether they are playing at an online casino or a land-based casino.
The Deal
Up to eight packs of cards are used in Blackjack, they are shuffled by the dealer and cut by one of the players, who inserts an indicator card into the combined pack.
The dealer completes the cut and places the cards face down in a dealing show, with the indicator card inserted a few cards up from the bottom – the cards below this indicator will not be used. Before any cards are dealt, each player places a minimum bet in the square before them, subject to the table minimum.