How To Play Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular card games in the world. While it is a 21st-century favourite, it can trace its roots back several hundred years. Eventually, it made its way from Europe to the USA where Las Vegas casinos embraced it.
Today, there are a range of different blackjack variants for you to choose from, in addition to the classic version. The beauty of blackjack is that, even though there are hundreds of different variants, the basic blackjack rules remain the same. So, once you have learned the basics, you can easily switch between any of the variants and experiment with different strategies as you do.
You’ll find everything you need to know about how to play online blackjack in our guide below. Covering everything from the basic mechanics and rules to the different types of bets you can make and even what strategies you can apply as you play.
How blackjack works
Like many casino favourites, when you first learn to play blackjack games, you’ll see just how simple the basic rules and mechanics are. Each game is played against the dealer, so while other players can join, play at, and leave the table while you’re there, they have no bearing on your game.
Each blackjack game starts with you placing a bet. Then, two cards will be dealt to you and the dealer. Yours will be placed face-up on the table, while at least one of the dealer’s will be facing down. Your objective is to beat the dealer by making a hand valued at 21 or as close to it as possible, without going bust (over 21).
If you already have 21 (which, in this case, will be made up of a 10 or picture card plus an ace) when the first cards are dealt, then that game ends and you win (or draw if the dealer also has 21).
However, if you have a different hand, then you’re presented with a choice - you can either hit or stand. Choosing to hit means requesting another card from the shoe, which the dealer will place next to your others, whereas opting to stand means you’re happy with your current cards. You can hit as many times as you like, but if you request too many cards you can bust your hand.
Once you stand, the dealer will go through the same process with their hand until they reach or exceed 17. Once this is done, the winner is whoever has the highest-valued non-bust hand.
Types of bets
Excluding side bets, there’s only one bet you can make in blackjack. You simply choose an amount to wager at the outset of each game and then the dealer will begin handing out cards. This makes it much easier if you are looking to learn how to play blackjack since you can focus on the cards and whether to hit or stand.
Standard Blackjack Bet
In standard blackjack games, a win returns 1:1 plus your initial stake. Therefore, a bet of £5 would return £10 in total if you beat the dealer while losing would yield nothing. This makes things very simple because you just need to remember that a win doubles your money.
Natural Blackjack
There is one exception to this payout on a standard blackjack bet and that is if you make a hand of ‘blackjack’. This is the strongest combination you can have in the game and is made up of an ace and a face or ten card. In this case, the payout increases to 3:2 meaning a £5 bet will return £7.50 plus your original stake (£12.50 in total).
Insurance
In most variants of blackjack, you will come across a side bet known as insurance. This wager is available when the dealer has an ace up card and allows you to hedge against a loss.
Paying 2:1, the insurance side bet will payout if the dealer has natural blackjack. This means that, while your original wager will lose, the double payout of the insurance will offset the loss and the cost of the additional stake.
However, if the dealer doesn’t have blackjack and you win your original bet, this will be offset by the cost of the insurance meaning you break even. Therefore, it’s important that you use it wisely.
Other Side Bets
Other variants of blackjack may also include other side bets. These will be explained in the rules of that game, so be sure to check before you play. Some of the most common side bets in blackjack include:
- 21+3: You’re tasked with making a three-card poker hand between your two cards and the dealer’s face-up card.
- Perfect Pairs: A wager on whether your first two cards will be pairs.
- Easy Match: A bet on whether the first two cards you’re dealt will be from the same suit.
Variations on the types of blackjack games
There are several variants of blackjack. Almost all of them use the same basic rules with the main differences being in side bets, the number of hands you can play at once, and speed. Here are some of the top variants you can find in our online casino.
Lightning Blackjack
Lightning Blackjack is a live casino variant of blackjack that contains a multiplier feature. It uses the standard rules with no side bets and requires paying an additional non-returnable “Lightning Fee” equal to their bet amount. This means that an initial win will break even, but subsequent wagers benefit from a multiplier of between two and 20 times.
Multihand Blackjack
Multihand Blackjack lets you take things to the next level. Instead of just having one set of cards in each round, you can bet on and play with up to three hands each time. Each hand is played individually against the dealer, giving you three times the entertainment.
Strategy on playing and how to win
As with all types of wagering, strategies can add structure to your gameplay and take it to the next level. However, it’s important to understand that when speaking about how to make money playing blackjack, there is not a winning strategy, and you should always play responsibly. That said, many players spend a lot of time trying different strategies. If you’d like to try this too, here are the most common ones you’ll come across.
Basic Blackjack Strategy
Basic blackjack strategy is a prescribed optimum decision for every possible card hand value combination. For example, if you have a hard 17 opening hand, you should always stand. However, if you have a hard 14, you’ll want to stand whenever the dealer has a 6 or lower and hit when they have a 7 or higher.
A good tip for getting started with basic blackjack strategy is to have a chart that you can reference. There are plenty of these available online that you can have on your computer screen at the same time, or you can print them off or keep them on your phone if you prefer. Eventually, you’ll begin to memorise each one as you practice more.
Perfect Blackjack
Perfect blackjack builds on the basic strategy and takes it to the next level. The main difference between them is that there are additional charts to consider, accounting for whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17 and the number of decks in the shoe.
It is, by no means, easy to get the hang of perfect blackjack because there are so many different charts to memorise. However, if you can successfully implement it, perfect blackjack can reduce the already low house edge to practically 0%.
Betting Strategies
Another popular strategy is to use betting strategies. These differ from the blackjack-specific strategies described above because they focus on the size of your wager rather than the decisions you make on whether to hit or stand.
These betting strategies typically involve increasing or decreasing the size of your wager each time, depending on whether you won or lost the previous game. Some of the most popular betting strategies include:
- Martingale
- Reverse Martingale
- Fibonacci
- Parole
If you do decide to try one of these betting strategies, it’s important to remember to keep an eye on your bankroll as some can see your wagers quickly balloon in size.