Black jack
Blackjack has long been a big favorite at land-based casinos that have become hugely popular online. Here we go through the rules of Blackjack and list recommended online casinos where you will find Blackjack in the game selection as well as bonuses on games.
Best live Blackjack casinos
Online casinos with Live Casino blackjack
About Blackjack
As is known today, there are many versions of the classic table game of blackjack. Some variants worth mentioning include Vegas Strip, Single Deck, Blackjack Switch and European blackjack. However, the Selection will vary between online casinos . As a new player, it can be extra difficult to orient yourself among all the options. Here we therefore focus on giving you an introduction to the game's overall rules, strategies, as well as tips and advice for smarter gambling.
Blackjack history
Blackjack is one of the world's oldest and most player card games that exists on casino today, although the game has undergone some changes through the ages. Blackjack originates from a number of other card games and can be derived all the way back to the 15th century. However, the game did not take off properly in various casinos until the 1800s and then also with its current name, Blackjack.
Split sentences
The Italians believe that Baccarat or Punto Banco is the predecessor of blackjack. Although Baccarat is played in many places today, and is currently steadily growing in popularity, it is nowhere near as well known as it once was. The French, for their part, believe that blackjack originated from Quinze, but this game did not arise until the 18th century, which speaks against the theory. The Spaniards also have a theory that blackjack comes from Thirty-one which was widely played in the 16th century. All of these games have the common feature that the goal is to reach a certain score – but not 21 as in blackjack.
Vingt-et-un
If you dig further into the story, there has been another game where the goal was to get up to the total of 21. The game was called Ving-et-un, which, as you might be able to figure out with the help of school French, means precisely twenty-one. The game originated in the French 18th century and was then brought to America in the 19th century. Although the rules of this game are slightly different from what we know as blackjack today, it is possible that blackjack's Foundation is taken from this particular game.
Blackjack takes over casinos
Wherever Blackjack originated, the game took its current form in the 1920s. The game was introduced at casinos in the United States but was outperformed by games such as Roulette . The casinos decided to try to increase the popularity of Blackjack by paying their players who received a card hand consisting of Ace Of Spades and jack of Spades.
It was really only now that the real history of Blackjack began. The popularity of the game skyrocketed and by the 1940s had become more common than Roulette. The increased interest also created room for the development of strategies to increase the chances of winning.
Free Blackjack
Unlike slots, bingo, roulette and many other casino games, blackjack has a certain understanding of the rules of the game. Therefore, we recommend that you both read about and try free Blackjack before betting your own money. Once you have acquired theoretical knowledge of the rules, it's time to try your knowledge in practice. Fortunately, most online casinos offer the opportunity to try full-fledged demo versions of blackjack.
Once you feel comfortable, it can be interesting to try out slightly different strategies, and since there is no guaranteed path to profit, it is safest to do this without the risk of losses. Here on the page you will also find some tips and advice that, with a little luck, can help you make the right trade-offs in$ITIC situations.
Basic Rules
Since there are so many different versions of Blackjack today, it becomes extra important to keep an eye on the fact that the rules vary slightly between these. Here we will give a thorough review of the rules of the game, but for those who really want to get into the rules and strategies of Blackjack, we recommend our Blackjack course a little further down on this page.
It is commonly said that the goal in blackjack is to get a card hand with a value as close to 21 as possible, without going over. That's really not quite right. The goal is simply to win over the dealer. However, the closer you get to 21 (without “getting fat”), the better your chances of winning.
It's all about a trade – off-do you want to draw an additional card and risk getting fat, or do you bet that your hand will last?
Make a bet
Once you have settled down at a blackjack table, you must place a bet to be in the game. Your money is represented by chips, each of which has its own set value. Your bet is placed in the betting area marked on the table. If you choose chips of different value, the most valuable is placed at the bottom and the least valuable at the top. You have the opportunity to combine chips into a bet that feels right for you. Once you are satisfied with your bet, you are ready to start the game.
Start the game
The dealer is responsible for dealing cards and always deals Clockwise. Initially, you are dealt two cards face up, while you always see only one of the dealer's cards. Your further actions should be based on an analysis of both your own hand and the dealer's visible cards. Essentially, this means that you sum your cards to value if you desire additional cards to achieve a value closer to 21. If a new card involves imminent risk of exceeding 21, you have the option of standing over the dividend. You also need to constantly keep in mind that you are competing with the house. If the House has a value closer to 21 than you have, you lose. You can get some information about the dealer's hand by keeping an eye on their exposed cards.
Value of Cards
All number cards , that is, 1 to 10, has the same value as the card shows. Accordingly, a hand consisting of Cards 6 and 9 gives a total of 15.
All dressed cards , that is, Jack, Queen and King, has a value of 10. Thus, a hand consisting of the cards Jack and King gives a total sum of 20.
ACE has a special position as it can assume two different values; 1 or 11. What value the card gets depends on what is most beneficial for your current card hand. If you are already sitting with a face card with a value of 10, the ace will automatically receive a value of 11. The total is 21, which is the best you can achieve in blackjack.
Play Blackjack online
As you know, Blackjack has conquered new markets outside of traditional casinos, and the most striking example of this is the online entry. Nowadays, players can enjoy casino entertainment anywhere and anytime. As a consequence of this, there are now many major tournaments and professional players who earn their living from the ancient and popular card game.
A guide on simple blackjack strategies follows further down on this page.
Blackjack bonuses
This popular game is basically always placed under the category online casino games , why bonuses that apply to casino games can usually be used when playing blackjack. Among the bonuses of casino with New Zealand license there are offers for both new customers as well as existing ones. Free spins without Deposit is a type of bonus, but it is not a bonus that can be used in just blackjack games.
New customers can look forward to so-called welcome bonuses, while for already established customers it is usually reload bonuses that apply. Welcome bonuses is a fairly stable feature among online casinos, although the match percentage and the maximum amount may change in the long run.
Reload bonuses are more time-limited in nature, and in order to take advantage of these, it is recommended that you stay up-to-date on your online casino's news and current offers. Visit the site often, and sign up to receive newsletters when you sign up, so you don't miss out on great deals. Different online casinos offer different great bonuses, so take the time to inspect the different options.
Wagering requirements for Blackjack bonuses
Another worthy thing to keep in mind when it comes to playing with bonus money and achieving wagering requirements , is that it can get a bit tricky when it comes to just table games like Blackjack.
In the vast majority of online casinos, Blackjack does not contribute more than any percentage to the turnover. The same applies to the vast majority of table games, so have a little extra check on the bonus rules and terms of your bonus offer before you sit down at any of the tables!
Game variants in Blackjack
An important thing to keep in mind is that the house edge can vary depending on the type of Blackjack game you have decided on, as well as where you play. You should therefore get in the habit of checking this out before you start playing. We include some typical examples of the house edge in the different versions of the game, but this may vary. It can definitely be worth making sure to choose a casino that offers you a fair deal.
House advantage at spal on Blackjack:
- Atlantic City Blackjack – 0.35 %
- Bonus Black Jack – 0.39 %
- Double Exposure Blackjack-0.69 %
- European Blackjack-0.39 %
- Spanish Blackjack-0.38 %
- Vegas Downtown Blackjack – 0.38 %
- Vegas Strip Blackjack-0,34 %
Atlantic City Black Jack
This variant is available with both single hand and multihand at most online casinos, and both variants follow the same rules and strategies. Atlantic City Black jack has, as the overview above shows, usually one of the lowest advantages for the House. The game uses 8 decks of cards and is strikingly similar to the classic variant. The dealer has two cards from the start, and if he has blackjack from the start, the game will end before you can lose more money by doubling. The dealer also stays on soft 17 in this game.
Bonus Black Jack
This game uses the same rules as European blackjack, with the difference that players can take part in a bonus bet alongside the regular game. This bonus is won if you bet on it and get a blackjack consisting of an ace and a jack. The best are ace of spades and jack of Spades, which give you a payout of 50:1. The game uses two decks of Cards.
Double Exposure Blackjack
This game is very different from the classic variants. The game uses eight decks and the dealer's first two cards are laid face up. One might think that this gives the player an advantage, but unfortunately there are rules that make this not the case. In practice, the House has an advantage of 0.69%, which is among the higher house advantages you will find among blackjack variants. The dealer always wins in a draw. The dealer always stays on soft 17.
European Blackjack
This variant is similar to the standard game, with only a few variations in the rules. The dealer must stay on soft 17, while the dealer in the standard variant takes one more card. It is only allowed to double your bet when the sum of the first two Cards is 9, 10 or 11. It is also not allowed to lie down.
Spanish Blackjack
This is, despite the name, an American game that is different from many other variants of blackjack. Eight decks of 48 cards each are used here. This is due to the fact that all cards with a value of 10 are removed from the decks. This gives the house a huge advantage if you don't know the rules of the game, so pay attention.
Vegas Downtown Black Jack
This is also an American variant, and is usually available as single-hand or multi-hand. Depending on which variant you play, the optimal strategies will also vary. In general, however, the game is similar to the basic version of the game, as it is based on classic blackjack and played with two decks of Cards. The dealer stops on soft 17.
Vegas Strip Blackjack
This is one of the most popular variants of Vegas blackjack, due to the fact that the house edge is relatively small. It is essentially played like classic blackjack, but with four decks instead of two. The dealer stops on soft 17.
Progressive Blackjack
This type of Blackjack is a variant of 21 with a side bet that, perhaps not entirely unexpected given the name, includes a progressive jackpot. This allows players around the table to win not only their own game round, but also a significantly larger amount that grows on the side of.
American Black Jack
These two variants of the game differ slightly in several ways. The objective is the same as for Standard Blackjack, but in the European version you cannot double once you have split your hand, and you can only split once. In the American variety, it is possible to both split aces and also choose Surrender late in the game, which is not allowed at all in European Blackjack.
Pontoon
Pontoon is similar to classic Blackjack in several ways but differs in the way that you deal the cards face down. You have no idea what the dealer is wearing. The goal is more or less the same as in Blackjack, it is to get as close to 21 as possible without getting fat. Something that separates the variants more is a’ five card trick ' which is the second best hand you can have in Pontoon, and it is not even$that you reach up to 21 to win. For example, if you are sitting with 2/6 on your hand and the next card is 3/a/4, Your hand of 16 will knock out any hand except a Pontoon.
Casino School - quick course in Blackjack for beginners
No need to waste time-we jump straight into the center of events. In this first stage, we will outline a game of blackjack so that you who are new can get started and play in no time. After this section you will understand how the game is done and be able to play on your own. However, you will not be familiar with advanced blackjack strategy. But every thing has its time, and you have to learn to walk before you learn to run.
Blackjack in 10 steps:
- Blackjack can be played with 1 to 8 decks of Cards. The fewer decks, the better the chances of making good decisions, but more on that later.
- In blackjack, you play against the croupier. Other players will not affect your game.
- The goal is to get a better hand than the croupier, without going over 21 (”get fat”).
- Number cards have their natural value, face Cards are worth 10, and Aces are worth 1 or 11 depending on what is best.
- After placing bets, the croupier deals two cards to all players and himself. One of the croupier's Cards is open (visible).
- Players can now choose from a number of actions. The most common is "stand”or "pull". Read More further down.
- When each player has had his turn, the croupier turns over his hidden card (hole card). If he has 16 or less, he draws new. In some cases, the croupier draws new even on "soft 17" (read below).
- If the croupier goes over 21, all players who have not become ’fat’win.
- If neither you nor the croupier get fat, the highest hand wins.
- Regular win gives 1:1, while blackjack (21) gives 3: 2. In case of equal ("Push"), the bet is usually returned.
There were a few points there! However, perhaps the easiest way to learn the basics of blackjack is by taking a test. The key to becoming a good player is to combine theory and practice, so be sure to read through the game above and then test it in practice.
Possible actions after the first two cards
We mentioned above that you can choose ”draw new” or ”stay” after receiving your first two cards from the croupier. These are the most common actions, but far from the only ones. Let's go through them, one by one.
-
Drag / Hit
After the first deal, choose whether you want to stand or if you want additional cards. If you want more cards, press”hit". You have the option to draw new cards until you exceed 21. -
Stop / Stand
When you are satisfied with your hand of cards, be it after the first hand of cards or after drawing additional cards, mark this by clicking on “stand”. After this, you do not have the opportunity to draw any more cards and you are now sitting with your current card hand. -
Double/Double
If the first card deal is promising and you think a third card can pay good dividends, you have the option to double your bet. If the draw goes in your favor, you have a doubling chance to win more money. -
Split/Split
If you receive two cards of the same value during the first deal, you have the option to split them and play with two hands. To be able to make that$even, you are prepared to make a new bet of the same size as the original one. -
Lay down
If you don't like your chances, you can fold. You then give up half the stake, and keep half. -
Insurance
If the croupier's open card is an ace, he can offer you Insurance. You then win 2: 1 if the croupier turns out to have blackjack. Note: relatively poor odds.
Extra terms that are good to keep an eye on are ’ Natural '- A natural hand is a hand that contains two cards that together add up to 21. A natural hand is an instant blackjack. ’ Push – - This is the designation used in cases where there is a draw between you and the house. And ’ Bust/Thick '–If you exceed the desired value of 21, this is called bust, and you consequently lose your bet.
Quick guidance in the game
It is not always so easy to know when it is time to split two cards or when you should or even have the opportunity to double in Blackjack. Even if you know the terms and rules, it can be difficult to know how to play smart in the heat of the moment. Here are some guiding tips;
When should I play blackjack?
If you play at an online casino that offers blackjack variants where you have the chance to ”fold” (also called surrender or LS) then you will only have that choice for your two dealing cards. Thus, you cannot lie down after you have taken a ”hit” card. Therefore, this particular option should be the very first thing you consider for your betting hand. Do you have the choice to do it and if you then have the desire, is entirely up to yourself. The tip, however, is to stick to as good cards as possible.
Should I split?
This should be your second thought in order at the table, i.e. if you are going to split the two cards you have been dealt into two separate hands. You only have that option when your first two cards dealt form a pair – alternatively if you have two cards worth 10. (such as a jack and a king) if this is not the case, it is probably best not to split.
When can I double down in Blackjack?
When it comes time to double down, which you know best depending on your cards in your hand, we recommend that you do so. It is not all versions of Blackjack that allow a doubling. But a tip is to do this only when you are sitting on a good hand and have a chance to win. The winning amount is therefore double if you make a profit.
When to take a Hit card or stand over in blackjack?
One more bump to consider before breaking loose is whether to take another ”hit” card or whether to skip. If none of the above options are relevant to your hand, then it's time to consider a hit or Stand. Remember that you want to get as close to the sum of 21 as possible without getting fat. Review the cards and make a decision accordingly.
Tips for beginners
Okay-you have now received a basic walkthrough of how blackjack is played. Again, we want to emphasize the value of try free Blackjack . For example, we can recommend NetEnt's Single Deck Blackjack Pro-a variant with a single hand and a single deck, to keep it simple.
Set up a budget
This basic rule should be A and O for everyone who plays for money , both online and offline. Most people have probably noticed how easy it can be to get carried away when the tension rises. We therefore strongly recommend that you set a limit on how much you want to play for in advance. A good and simple trick is to choose a reasonable amount and then visualize this being lost. If you feel uncomfortable with the idea, you should adjust the amount until it feels like you can cope with a possible loss. The most important thing, however, is to actually stick rock-hard to this budget. When the ceiling is reached, you immediately end the game. It may feel tough, but in the long run, this method is extremely important for healthy and fun gambling.
Fewer decks provide a better overview
The fewer decks that are used in a blackjack game, the better you know what Cards are left in the deck. This will give you better opportunities to think strategically. For example, if you have two aces, the probability that the croupier also has an ace decreases considerably. In games with 8 decks you have minimal overview,.
Beware of stingy blackjack variants
A good basic rule for not getting blown is to choose a blackjack game with the following payouts:
- Blackjack: 3:2
- Win: 1:1
- Insurance: 2:1
More and more blackjack games appear where the payout for blackjack is worse than 3:2 (for example, 6:5). This can often be masked with other, ”flashy” features and side bets. Take a look at the game's paytable before you start lira. If the game has worse wins than the ones we listed above, it's time to turn around 180 degrees and find a new game.
The simpler, the better
There may be exceptions, but this is a good rule of thumb overall. The simpler the game, the better your odds tend to be. There are a lot of blackjack variants that offer jackpot and various side bets. Sure – if you are lucky enough to win a jackpot, it is brilliant, but the odds are that you will go back on such a game.
Note that this has nothing to do with graphics – NetEnt's blackjack games, for example, are graphically really nice-but still offer decent rules.
Blackjack Strategies
Of course, a large part is about luck and chance, but it is not by chance that Black jack is one of the pro players ' favorite games when you can improve your odds with mathematical calculations. An experienced player can use Blackjack strategy to reduce the casino's advantage from 2% to 0.5% . Below we go through some of the strategies you can use in classic Blackjack.
Strategy schedule
To improve your chances in blackjack, you have the option of following a basic strategy using a so-called strategy chart. There are a variety of ready-made schemes on the net, both for one and several decks. Below you will find an example. Before we go through how the scheme is used, you should know that it is assumed that the House draws cards with a value of 8 or less and that the house hand is 17 or better.
H = Hit (Drag new)
D = Double (Double)
S = Stand (stop)
P = Split (Split)
The croupier's open card | ||||||||||
Your hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
4-8 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
9 | H | D | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
10 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H |
11 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H |
12 | H | H | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
13 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
14 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
15 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
16 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
17 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
A, 2 | H | H | H | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
A, 3 | H | H | H | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
A, 4 | H | H | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
A, 5 | H | H | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
A, 6 | H | D | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
A, 7 | S | D | D | D | D | S | S | H | H | H |
A, 8 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
A, 9 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
A, A | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
2,2 | H | H | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
3,3 | H | H | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
4,4 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
6,6 | H | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | H | H |
7,7 | P | P | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
8,8 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
9,9 | P | P | P | P | P | S | P | P | S | S |
10,10 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
This strategy looks more complicated than it really is. You simply look up your own hand on the left side of the schedule and the dealer's hand on the top edge of the schedule. The scheme is marked with possible Card values. All you have to do is follow the dealer's card value and your own card value into the schedule. You will then land on a coordinate that indicates what you should do next. Your options are hit, stand, split or double.
Strategic card counting
During the 50s, it was discovered that it is not too difficult to cheat your way to a win in Blackjack. People started playing in structured teams and counting cards to strategically access a win. This became possible when Blackjack was traditionally played with a deck of exactly 52 cards and players picked up the technique.
The first system was published by Edward Thorp. The Book "Beat the Dealer" came out in 1963 and scared the wits out of many casino owners. Since then, the systems have been further refined, but the casinos have taken countermeasures and found new ways to meet the strategies. For some time, however, it was considered to completely remove Blackjack from the casino table games.
How it works
Unfortunately, card counting has no value if you play in a regular online casino, as the cards are shuffled at each payout. If you want to be able to count cards, you should play at live casino with real dealers, as many online casinos today offer.
The strategy is that you count plus ( + ) or minus ( - ) for all cards dealt. For each low card (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) Dealt, count +1. For 10, face cards and Aces, you count -1. For the other cards (7, 8 and 9) you count nothing. If you keep track of all the cards dealt since the deck was shuffled, at any given moment you have a number in your head that is either positive ( + ), negative ( - ), or neutral (0). If the value is positive, the player has an advantage and you should increase your bet. If the value is negative, you should lower your bet. Card counting works best when there are few cards left.
Practice Other strategies
Blackjack is, as I said, quite easy on a basic level, but mastering more complex strategies requires a certain amount of effort from you as a player. You need to learn to analyze your own cards as well as the dealer's, and make smart decisions based on this. If you are interested in counting cards, you need to train both short-term memory and concentration. The whole thing is further complicated by the fact that many variants of blackjack are played with several decks of Cards. The good news is that you don't have to learn how to count cards to improve your odds. It goes a long way to learn basic strategies using strategy charts that you can find online.
Read, try and learn
Theory and practice are two equally important sides of the same coin. Once you feel that you have created a clear picture of blackjack, the next natural step is to turn your knowledge into skill. It takes both time and interest to acquire proper experience, but in the long run it pays off in a lot of pleasure and probably a lot of Pleasant profits. The more knowledge and experience you possess, the better you will be at making the right decisions in Sharp mode. Free blackjack is therefore recommended as an exercise.