Online Blackjack

Blackjack is widely regarded as one of the most entertaining casino games available today. However, there’s always room to delve into the finer intricacies and basic principles to potentially enhance your winning prospects and improve your gameplay.

Top Online Casinos for Playing Blackjack

This guide is designed not just for beginners but to also boost your chances of making even more profits the next time you engage in virtual gambling.

Blackjack is a relaxed card game that doesn’t demand as much strategic thinking as poker or other card games.

If you're a newcomer to online casinos, this is likely the first table game you'll want to take for a spin, especially after going through this guide.

Now, let’s delve deeper into the world of blackjack.

How To Play Blackjack in 2024?

If you are looking at this guide and have never tried your hand at blackjack, there's no need to feel overwhelmed. It’s entirely normal to feel anxious when learning new online casino games. These games have a long-standing history in both online venues and traditional brick-and-mortar establishments, but everyone has to start somewhere, right?

In this guide, we will explore how to achieve victory in blackjack along with the strategies involved.

To play, the aim is quite straightforward: get your total as close as possible to 21 while ensuring your total beats that of the dealer.

While there are strategic elements to consider, the fundamental concept of the game is easy to grasp, even for those just starting out.

Once you've absorbed the information in this guide, you’ll likely find yourself earning more than you did previously!

Play Blackjack For Free

Certain online casinos provide free blackjack options. These can be accessed in two main formats: Sweepstakes/Social Casinos and demo modes. Sweepstake/Social Casinos do not allow for the exchange of real money.

However, once you exhaust your virtual credits, you may need to purchase more virtual currency to keep playing.

Demo modes are typically offered at real money online casinos but, once again, do not lead to any real cash winnings.

These modes serve as a valuable foundation before you decide to place real money bets, but ultimately, your aim should be to win real cash.

Therefore, after you’ve gained some experience with these modes, make sure to transition over to the real money games!

If you’re on the lookout for other free-play games, feel free to check our free table games page.

How To Win At Blackjack?

There are a few key strategies for winning at blackjack.

• Reach 21 and the dealer does not have 21
• Aim to get as close to 21 as possible while ensuring the dealer has a lower total.
• You can achieve close to 21 without exceeding that number, particularly if the dealer busts.

Strategizing your way to 21 is essential.

Blackjack Game Strategy 2024

• Double down on 11
• Consider doubling down when you have a total of 10, unless the dealer shows a face card or an ace.
• If the dealer’s showing card is 7 or higher, continue hitting until you hit a total of 17.
• When the dealer's upcard ranges from 4 to 6, stop hitting once you achieve 12 or more.
• For a dealer showing a card between 1 and 3, stop drawing when you reach a total of 13 or higher.

As you gain experience, numerous strategies will become apparent, but these five tips will help you secure more wins at real money online casinos.

Become A Blackjack Expert

Like any skill, becoming proficient at blackjack will demand time and practice. There are many subtleties to grasp if you aspire to excel.

There is a significant amount of jargon to familiarize yourself with, along with the various approaches to playing blackjack. It's advisable to start with the basic rules before exploring the alternate variations available at online casinos.

You will also gradually learn in this guide the distinction between soft hands and hard hands, and how to effectively navigate your gameplay depending on which hand you hold.

Patience is crucial. Using this guide as your initial reference point is an excellent first step towards mastering blackjack.

Blackjack Rules

We have discussed the basic objective of blackjack: aim for a total of 21.

There are rules for the game, however.

The game initiates with the dealer dealing each player one card face-up, while the dealer also receives one face-up card. In the following round, players receive one card face-down, as does the dealer.

Though variations may exist with specific games, this is the standard way the game is initiated. The player seated to the left of the dealer begins first. When it’s your turn, you can either opt to 'stand' (refusing additional cards) or 'hit' (requesting more cards).

After all players have been dealt their cards, the dealer flips over the face-down card. If their total is 17 or more, they must stand. If it's 16 or less, they must draw another card.

• Pair Splitting: If your initial two cards are identical in value, you can play them as two separate hands during your turn. However, you will need to match your original bet for the new hand. You will play your left-hand first.
• Doubling Down: If your first two cards total between 9-11, you have the option to double your initial bet. The dealer will then deal you one additional card face-down, which won’t be revealed until after all other bets are settled at the conclusion of the hand. Dealers are not allowed to double down or split pairs.
• Insurance: As a strategic option, insurance may come into play but isn't something to heavily focus on. Insurance is an option when you see that the dealer has an ace showing. It costs half of your original wager.
• Push/Tie: A 'push' or 'standoff' refers to a situation where both the player and dealer end up with 21 using their first two cards. In this case, your wager is returned, and no adjustments are made.

Blackjack Card Values

Card values are straightforward: number cards are worth their face value, while aces and face cards have special values. An ace can be worth either 1 or 11 (your choice), and face cards are valued at 10.

Blackjack Hands

Now that we have clarified some rules, strategies, and card values, let's shift our focus to the hands themselves. There are numerous factors to consider based on the hand you hold.

We touched upon this in the strategy section, but let's discuss the optimal hand to aim for, as well as the differences between hard and soft hands.

Best Hand In Blackjack

The ultimate hand in blackjack is to achieve a total of 21. There are several ways to do this, but the best possibility comes from getting a 'natural,' which means you receive 21 with your first two cards.

This is achieved with an ace valued at 11 paired with a face card. There’s no way to lose this scenario; at worst, you’ll tie with the dealer if they also achieve 21.

Blackjack Hard Vs. Soft hands

• Hard Hand: A hard hand is defined as one that doesn’t contain an ace, which limits your options as the ace can represent either 1 or 11.

• Soft Hand: In contrast, a soft hand is one that includes an ace. This provides more flexibility because of the varied values the ace can assume.

Exploring the Various Types of Blackjack

Various blackjack game variations await you at online casinos, each equipped with distinct rules worth noting.

We will examine several of these variations and highlight their differences compared to classic blackjack.

European Blackjack

In European blackjack, for instance, players only get one face-up card to start, and the second card is dealt only after all participants have completed their hands, unlike traditional blackjack.

Blackjack Switch

With Blackjack Switch, players start with two hands instead of one. After being dealt, you can swap cards between your hands to potentially enhance your total. A unique rule in this format is that if the dealer hits 22, it results in a push against your hand rather than a bust.

Spanish 21

Spanish 21 operates similarly to traditional blackjack, but one key difference is the absence of 10 cards in the deck, which tends to favor the dealer.

While most of the blackjack options you arrive at in legitimate online casinos in the United States will be the traditional version, exceptions exist where differences primarily concern the look or presentation of the game.

Moreover, game libraries are continuously expanding. As these variations become more available, you’ll be well-informed, improving your chances of winning!

Blackjack Casino Apps

Wherever there are legal online casinos in the U.S., you can usually expect to find a mobile application accompanying these platforms. Today, it’s rare for online casinos not to offer an app compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

Some of the more recognized online casinos currently operational include FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, 888, Harrah’s, among others.

What Should I Consider When Choosing an Online Blackjack Casino?

As previously mentioned, many legal online casinos in the U.S. focus primarily on traditional blackjack, but some may offer alternative options.

Keep an eye out for these vital aspects when selecting your online blackjack casino:

• Expanded library of blackjack
• Blackjack variations
• Blackjack no deposit bonuses
• Minimum and maximum wagers
• Mobile app
• Live dealer games
• Promotions involving blackjack
• The percentage of contributions that blackjack makes to bonus requirements
• The overall user experience and the design quality of both the online casino and the blackjack titles they feature.
• High-quality game developers

Playing Blackjack Across The US

Regulations surrounding online casinos in the U.S. are increasing. At present, online blackjack is available in only six states—Delaware, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Connecticut.

Despite this, alternative methods to play blackjack exist in other regions. Earlier we mentioned that Sweepstakes and social casinos operate legally across all 50 states, including venues like Chumba Casino.

While these may not be real money casinos, they provide an excellent alternative while waiting for your state to embrace online gambling and blackjack!