Quick Beginner’s Guide to Mastering and Playing Online Blackjack

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An introduction to blackjack

Blackjack is, without a doubt, one of the most popular table games you’ll find on both brick & mortar and online casinos. Also known as twenty-one, blackjack is a game of strategy and skills as it’s not solely reliant on luck. This game offers an incredible low house advantage and interestingly, it is easy to learn and master the different winning strategies. By practicing more, you gain an advantage over the opponent, which is the casino.

Although playing offline blackjack has its own set of benefits, online blackjack seems a better option that has become popular for a number of reasons. Well, read on to find out.


Why blackjack is popular online

  • Convenient and easily accessible — you can bet on your mobile device or computer at the comfort of your home, as long as you’re connected to the internet. This relieves you from unnecessary stress, such as traveling expenses and getting dressed up just to go and place a bet.
  • Variety of options — many online casinos present players with a wide range of blackjack variations, unlike the standard brick & mortar casinos that often host only a few options (typically the most popular). 
  • Available 24/7 — online blackjack games are always at your disposal any time (day and night), so you don’t have to worry about securing a seat at the blackjack table.
  • Online casinos offer attractive bonuses — the gambling industry faces fierce competition for players and, therefore, most casinos offer new players very lucrative welcome bonuses to try out the casino games for free,
    including blackjack. Some casinos also have special loyalty programs for all the players.
  • Great Comfort — with online blackjack, you don’t have to worry about feeling the pressures associated with a live casino atmosphere. It eliminates the potential annoyances of other players (smokers, noisemakers, complainers, etc.).
  • Fast and fun — moves rapidly and a player can set the pace when enjoying a hand online. You can play several games within a short period of time, and this undoubtedly boosts your chances of winning.


How to play online blackjack

First off, you need to understand the card values in the deck. Well, they are defined as follows: 

An ace (1 or 11 points)

Face Card (10 points)

2-10 cards (Face Value)

Placing your bet

You’ll need to place a bet based on the table limits (maximum and minimum bet), in order to receive 2 cards from the dealer. The dealer also distributes 2 cards to herself/ himself. One card is displayed face down, while the other is turned face up for you to see. In this step, you’ll need to check out your card and determine your score to be sure of what strategy to use.

Key strategies new players should know

When it comes to the basic blackjack strategies, every new player should master when to hit, stand, double down and split. Well, your present score will help determine if you should take an additional card (Hit), take no more cards (Stand), double the size of your bet by taking one more card (Double down), or split cards with an exact pair (Split).

If you get a hand lower than the dealer or simply go bust (exceed 21 at any time), then the dealer wins.

When to hit, stand

Score 2-11 — Hit

Score 12-16 — hit if the dealer has 8+, stand if he/she has 2-7

Hard total 17+ — stand

Soft total 17 — Stand if the dealer’s hand is showing 8+

Soft total 18 — stand if the dealer’s hand is showing 9+

Any score of 19+ — Stand

Splitting, doubling down

Always split Aces and 8’s, and avoid the 5’s and 10’s as you can easily ruin a great hand of 20.

Any total of 11 — double

Any total of 10 — double unless the dealer’s hand is showing 2-8

When to insure against blackjack

Only if dealer’s face up card is an Ace

Now you’re ready to start practicing! Be sure to take advantage of the above key blackjack strategies for an optimal gaming experience.

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