Some call it blackjack or flat out 21. Either way, blackjack remains one of the most captivating table games that casino players can’t get enough. Far simpler to learn and master than poker, blackjack has never been more popular for beginners especially in the digital age. With 24/7 access, learning online blackjack at home, at the office, or on the phone has never been more easy thanks to this guide.
Knowing How Online Blackjack Works
There are two ways to play online blackjack for real money and for sweepstakes play, live dealer and against the CPU. The most popular version is with live dealer play. For real money online casinos, Evolution Gaming leads the charge, and Ionic 21 handles most live blackjack sweepstakes games.
Either way, the live dealer play gives players a truly authentic and professional blackjack experience as if you were playing in person. Live online blackjack offers more variants than you have playing in person. The same is true for the standalone online blackjack games. Standalone blackjack games use random number generators to guarantee fair and honest wins and losses.
Playing standalone online blackjack offers cheaper options with many variants like Blazing 7’s costing less than a dollar to play. Players can take their time learning the blackjack ropes against the CPU.
Knowing How Blackjack Works
As we mentioned earlier, playing online blackjack is far more simpler than poker games like Texas Hold’em. The goal of online blackjack is to have the higher than the dealer, not the other players. Even better, have a natural blackjack hand with the first two cards received.
Getting blackjack pays 3:2 at most online casinos. However, because the odds of getting a natural blackjack aren’t on your side, the key to winning a blackjack hand is knowing when to hit, stand, or double down.
To hit in blackjack is to draw additional cards to get to 21 or to improve your current playing hand. However, drawing additional cards runs the risk of busting. Busting means having a playing hand greater than 21, which means an automatic loss.
When playing online blackjack, Aces count for a point or eleven points in a two-card hand. The tens and face cards count for ten point. The other cards, without the Jokers, count for their face value. If your playing card is less than ten, always hit.
However, if your playing hand is worth ten to twelve points, it might be worth the risk of doubling down. Doubling down means matching your original bet while receiving one final card for the playing round. If it pans out, you can win double the bet.
To stand means not to draw any more playing cards. The problem with standing to early means you might have to watch the dealer outlast you. In most online blackjack games, the dealer must hit until they get to 17 or better. Of course, the dealer can also bust.
If you a pair (two of a kind), you have the option of splitting. Splitting means matching your original bet while giving yourself a chance to have two potential winning hands.
Choosing the Best Online Blackjack Game
The fun part about playing online blackjack is that most variants feature an RTP of at least 99%. However, rare variants like Gravity Blackjack might have a lower RTP because of the additional side bets and random winning multipliers. Even though Spanish 21 offers bold payouts, it’s not recommended for beginners because there are no tens in the deck.
Online Blackjack Awaits
With the rapid rise of sweepstakes casinos, online blackjack has never been more available. With AI tools at the heart of the latest variants, you can rely on custom strategy guides to help you improve your online blackjack game. Don’t forget to check for promotions including the cashback bonus to help you get back to the table should things don’t go your way.
