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Blackjack, also known as “21″ and “pontoon”, has long been among the most popular casino games in the world, topping craps, roulette, and poker in its reach. To play real money blackjack online, a unique combination of skill, guts, and luck – not to mention a bankroll-building blackjack bonus and access to blackjack codes for promos – is required. It’s precisely this combination that has inspired players all over the globe to pursue dreams of riches at the card tables.
From the frontier gamblers of the American West to the gangsters and mob bosses that founded the casinos of the Las Vegas Strip, this no-nonsense card game has been instrumental in establishing fortunes and building empires. Mathematicians and computer scientists have established unique systems for beating blackjack and created teams of card counters that have taken in millions of dollars.
How to Play Online Blackjack for Money
Real money blackjack allows for fast games and quick player decisions, a fact that makes it unique among many of its card game competitors.
Online blackjack follows a clear path and game flow proceeds quickly and without fuss. Perhaps that’s the reason so many players have fallen for it. Blackjack rules make for quick games, wherein game odds are quickly calculated small and not-so-small fortunes are won and lost within seconds.
Online blackjack is really quite simple. If you want to win Blackjack, there is one straightforward, simple objective: beat the dealer. To do this, you must hold a stronger Blackjack hand than the dealer without going over 21.
What does “without going over 21″ mean?
- Every card from 2 to 10 has the same score as its number, also known as its rank.
- All face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are valued at 10 points.
- Suits are irrelevant. A 10♥ is worth the same ten points as the 10♠.
- Aces count as either 1 point or 11, depending on the circumstances. For example, a hand with an Ace and a 6 can be scored as either 7 (1+6) or 17 (11+6, also called a “soft” 17).
The Deal
At the start of each game, before any players receive any cards, all players post their bets. The dealer then distributes cards from a long box (called a “shoe”) one at a time face up to each player. He issues himself one face-down card.
The dealer repeats this process-sort of-so that each player holds two cards face up. He issues himself a second card. This one is face up (called the “upcard”).
Hit or Stand
The second aspect of Blackjack rules involves player decisions. Following the deal, a player may decide to either take another card (“hit”) or to play with his first two cards (“stand”). A player can continue to hit until he either decides to stand or his score exceeds 21. A player whose score exceeds 21 “busts” and loses his bet.
Additional Betting Options
Players have additional betting options. To learn Blackjack properly-both how to play Blackjack and how to win Blackjack-requires understanding these basic Blackjack betting strategies.
Depending on the Blackjack rules specific to the casino, these may include:
Insurance
Insurance bets are placed if/when the dealer shows an Ace as his up card. Essentially, they are wagers that safeguard players against losing their entire initial bet if the dealer holds a natural (an Ace plus a 10 card). Not all, but most casinos permit this type of bet.
Even Money
Players who receive a Blackjack hand (Ace plus a 10 card) when the dealer displays an Ace up, may accept even money. This betting option is undertaken before the second dealer card is revealed. It is another form of insurance; this time, against a tie between the dealer and the player. Should the dealer also hold a Blackjack hand, the game results in a push and no money is awarded to the player.
Splitting Pairs
Examples of paired hands include 9♦ + 9 ♥ and 8♣ + 8♠. You may split these into two separate hands.To do this, you post another bet equal to your initial wager. For instance, if your first bet was $5, you must put down exactly $5 to split your pair. The dealer separates your hands and you take separate actions per hand.
Double Down
Here, you duplicate your wager and receive one more card.To do this, place the additional bet next to your first. The dealer will issue you one more card to close the hand.
After all the players have either busted or stayed with their hands, the dealer turns over his face-down card to reveal his point total. If the dealer’s hand has a total point value of 17 or better, he must stay; if his hand has a total point value of sixteen or lower, he must hit until his score exceeds 17 points.
Wins & Losses
Part of learning how to play Blackjack means knowing which hands pay and who wins what. Here’s the breakdown:
- If the dealer busts, all active players in the hand win their bets.
- If the dealer’s score is between 17 and 20, any player with a score better than the dealer’s wins his bet.
- If the dealer scores 21, any players with scores below 21 lose and any players with a score of exactly 21 tie (or “push”); they keep their original bet but don’t win any additional bets.
The best possible starting hand is an ace with a ten-value card (ten or face card). This is called a “natural” or a “blackjack”. It pays $15 on a $10 bet in most cases.
Blackjack Glossary
Understanding the language used at the table is an integral part of playing Blackjack. It determines not only how much you win—you can’t split if you don’t know what splitting is—but how well you interact with your gaming comrades.
In both land-based and online casinos, whether live or on chat, players are frequently fine with, if not keen on, speaking to fellow players; hence, your first need of a not-so-basic Blackjack glossary that includes both in-game terms and the Blackjack slang used at the tough-talking, streetwise Blackjack tables.
The second need of a Blackjack glossary stems from the game itself. Playing Blackjack requires skill, of course, but before even that comes something more basic: knowing how to play the game. Understanding Blackjack bets and Blackjack game flow and the ability to distinguish between a rule specific to the dealer and a one specific to you are crucial aspects of the game.
The below Blackjack Glossary explains the various types of Blackjack bets and highlights some of the key Blackjack terms and Blackjack slang in popular use today.
Banker: the person that accepts and distributes wagers and payouts; in casino Blackjack the banker and the dealer are the same.
Bankroll: the money a player has set aside specifically for wagering.
Burn cards: cards the dealer discards from the deck after every shuffle.
Bust: the rule that dictates any hand over 21 results in an automatic loss.
Card counting: Keeping track of cards that have already been played in order to predict what remains in the deck.
Chart: a Blackjack “cheat sheet” that includes the optimal move for every possible player versus dealer’s hand.
Chips: the betting currency for casino Blackjack; all cash must be converted to chips before use at the Blackjack table.
Dealer: casino employee that distributes the cards and against whom all other Blackjack players are competing.
Deposit bonus: free cash a casino awards to eligible players; usually a code is required to redeem deposit bonuses.
Double down: doubling your original bet and requesting just one additional card; a unique player option usually only utilized with a hand total of 10 or 11.
Hand probability: the likelihood of receiving a particular hand (like a natural 21) at any given time.
Hard Ace: a hand with an Ace that can only be used as a 1.
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Hit: to receive an additional card.
House edge: the casino’s set advantage over a player; in Blackjack, a perfect strategy can actually eliminate the house edge.
House rules: game rules that dictate how the dealer must play his hand.
Insurance: a side wager against the dealer holding Blackjack; this is typically half of a player’s original bet.
Limit: the minimum or maximum amount that a player can bet per hand when playing Blackjack at any specific table.
Natural: the acquisition of a 21 with your first two cards.
Push: when the dealer and the player have the same hands.
Shoe: a box or stack of cards that contains several decks; shoes have replaced single decks in Blackjack to discourage players from counting cards.
Shuffle: when the dealer remixes the cards in a deck or shoe; this is also done to discourage card counting.
Soft Ace: an Ace that may be played as either a 1 or 11.
Split: when a player’s original two-card-hand is a pair, they may double their bet and split those two cards into two separate hands; this is generally only advisable with Aces and 8s.
Stand: to accept your existing hand by refusing any additional cards.
Surrender: the option to give up your hand and keep half of your original bet; this option is not available at all casino Blackjack tables.
Blackjack Strategy
Pop culture depictions of successful blackjack players may have everyday players worried that the best Blackjack strategies are beyond them. The card counting in the film 21 and the MIT students who undertook it made the game look simple for geniuses and impossible for the rest of us. The truth is you don’t have to be an MIT student or a math genius to master Blackjack strategy; you just have to be committed to the game.
Blackjack strategy begins with your own cards but ultimately incorporates much more. For example, most Blackjack strategies advise that you give as much consideration to the dealer’s visible hand as your own. Some strategies-like card counting-will even have you looking at other players’ hands.
Focus on your Hand First
Let’s start with the most basic online Blackjack strategy: pay close attention to your own hand. While the game’s calling card is that it pits player against dealer, the most fundamental aspect of the game is getting as close to 21 as possible without going bust. When focusing solely on your own hand, your decisions will be more rational and less emotional. You will decide whether to hit or stand based on your odds of going over 21 instead of your desire to beat the dealer.
When to Hit & When to Stand
If you approach the game from a place of logic rather than emotions, you will be better able to work within systems that can almost entirely erase the house edge. For example:
- If your first two cards total 11 or less, it is impossible for you to bust. In this case, you should always hit.
- With a hand total of 17 or more, you are extremely likely to bust (unless you are holding a soft Ace). Therefore you will (almost) always stand.
- Hands between 12 and 16 are a gray area that requires newer, more intuitive Blackjack strategies.
Add 10 to the Dealer’s Hand
In situations where the choice to hit or stand is not obvious, you will have to consider a second variable-the dealer’s hand. Without exception, one of the dealer’s first two cards is always visible. This single card will be the basis for a majority of your player decisions.
Most Blackjack strategies advise players pretend that the dealer’s down card is a 10. By adding 10 to the dealer’s up card you create a hypothetical hand with which to compete.
We won’t cover the full odds for every possible dealer versus player hand here, but if you want a perfect “how to win at Blackjack strategy”, then find yourself a good Blackjack chart or two. Blackjack charts and odds tables are available almost anywhere, though some are more comprehensive than others. Memorizing a Blackjack chart is the easiest way to learn the optimal move for every hand.
More on How to Deal with the Dealer’s Hand
A simple understanding of the game’s rules and odds should make some decisions quite obvious. For example, all dealers must act according to house rules, and most house rules stipulate that they hit until they reach a hand of at least 17 (a small handful of casinos ask their dealers to stand at 16).
A new player’s initial response to the Dealer hits to 17 rule is to assume then that they must get a hand of 17 or better, but sometimes it’s smarter to stand. For example, if a player has a hand of 16 and the dealer’s hypothetical hand is 15, then you know the dealer must hit. You also know that the odds are good that the dealer will bust. So, rather than busting yourself, stand on your 16.
With a hard hand of anywhere from 13 to 16, your own odds of busting are high. Thus, if the dealer has an up card of 2 through 6 it’s always smart to stand and let him take the risk of busting out.
Always stand with a hard hand of 17 to 21; even if the dealer’s hypothetical hand is better than yours, the odds of busting at this point are too high. Soft hands (two-card hands where the Ace can still be used as either a 1 or 11) offer more possibilities. You should not only hit on most soft hands of less than 19, you should often double down.
Blackjack Odds & Probabilities
Understanding Blackjack odds is essential if you want to beat Blackjack. Many beginners mistakenly believe that acquiring a few simple techniques is enough to win. After all, they reason, the house advantage is one of the lowest house edges among casino games. Unfortunately, this is only really true when one plays with exceptional strategy, and to do this requires understanding Blackjack math.
Enter Casinobonus.org. Our Blackjack odds charts and Blackjack probability stats provide the perfect platform for winning. Collectively, they act as a sort of “Blackjack cheat sheet” that provides the Blackjack secrets player hoping to beat Blackjack should have.
It doesn’t take a genius to grasp the logic behind Blackjack odds and probabilities, and at Casinobonus.org, we’ve made it even easier. The term “Blackjack odds” most frequently refers to your odds of winning or losing-whether a single hand or the entire session. “Blackjack probability” is typically used in reference to how likely it is that you or the dealer will receive a specific hand. The term is also applied to a player’s likelihood of busting should he hit with a certain hand. Odds are usually expressed as ratios or fractions while probabilities are usually expressed as percentages.
Player vs. Dealer Advantage
The advantage of knowing both the odds and probabilities is that it makes some moves more obvious.
- Blackjack Probability – Example #1
If you know that the probability of the dealer hitting a natural is a mere 4.82%, the argument against buying insurance is much clearer.
- Blackjack Probability – Example #1
- Blackjack Probability – Example #2
If know that have a higher than 50% probability of busting if you hit on a hand of 14 or more, it is easier to understand why some players stand when the dealer shows a hand of 16 or less.
The house rule that dictates that a dealer hit on anything less than 17 is what gives you your advantage, while the house rule that allows the dealer to make his moves after all the players is what gives him his advantage.
Blackjack Math, Blackjack Odds Charts & Other Blackjack Secrets
Blackjack odds will change minutely depending on varying house rules, different table rules and on how many decks are in use. In many cases, the easiest way for a new player to learn Blackjack odds and probabilities is by consulting a simple Blackjack odds chart (a.k.a. “Blackjack cheat sheet”). These best of Blackjack secrets show players the optimal move for each possible player/dealer hand combination.
Just be sure that the Blackjack cheat sheet you use is accurate for the game you’re playing. For example, most cheat sheets are designed for tables where the dealer stands at 17; if you are playing at a table where the dealer stands at 16, this will affect the ideal move for several hands.
The below table lists the chances of busting on a single hit where the current hand value is 11 or more.
Total Hand Value | Probability for Busting if Player Hits |
21 | 100% |
20 | 92% |
19 | 85% |
18 | 77% |
17 | 69% |
16 | 62% |
15 | 58% |
14 | 56% |
13 | 39% |
12 | 31% |
11 or Less | 0% |
The below Blackjack odds chart displays perfect Blackjack strategy* according to the various dealer and player hands.
Player Hand | Dealer Up Card | |
Hard Hands | 2 – 6 | 7 – Ace |
4 – 8 | HIT | HIT |
9 | Dbl (w/ more than dealer) | HIT |
10 or 11 | Dbl (w/ more than dealer) | Dbl (w/ more than dealer) |
12 – 16 | Stand | HIT |
17 – 21 | Stand | Stand |
Soft Hands | ||
13 – 15 | HIT | HIT |
16 – 18 | Dbl | HIT |
19 – 21 | Stand | Stand |
Should I Split? | ||
2/2, 3/3, 6/6, 7/7, 9/9 | YES | NO |
8/8, A/A | YES | YES |
4/4, 5/5, 10/10 | NO | NO |
*Additional Strategy:
Do not post insurance bets.
If your strategy advises that you double but it isn’t allowed, hit instead (except on soft 18).
Number of Decks & Casino Software Variations
Online gamblers often worry that their games are programmed to beat Blackjack players. While online games make it almost impossible to count cards, secure software ensures that Blackjack odds remain intact. Today’s software is designed to provide the same Blackjack odds as those found in live games.
That said, just as the deck size or rules will change from table to table, different online casinos use different software platforms. This, in turn, means differing Blackjack odds. If you’re serious about making the most of your in-game strategy, you’ll want to determine which set of Blackjack odds and the number of decks a site’s software is programmed to use.
Online Blackjack Tips
Playing a solid round of any casino game requires more than simply understanding the game’s basic rules. Many elements combine to form winning Blackjack strategies. Taking into account a few simple Blackjack tips will increase both your wins and your enjoyment of the game.
The below Blackjack tips cover everything that basic strategy doesn’t, from the best ways to place your Blackjack bets to knowing when to hit or stand. Take our Blackjack advice to improve your game.
1. Make smart Blackjack bets
Betting changes very little whether you choose to play online or sit at a live table. It’s easy to get excited or frustrated and overbet. Regardless of which casino game you favor, any pro will tell you that bankroll management is a critical part of making your money work for you.
When you play online games, it’s especially important that you moderate your Blackjack bets. This ensures that your sessions are long enough to outlast negative odds and endure a few bad hands.
2. Avoid betting schemes & Blackjack systems
Blackjack systems may seem like a smart and easy way to manage your bets, but in truth, most of these betting schemes can have you wagering too much too soon. It’s far more logical to determine in advance how long you want to play and how much you have to play with. Set a maximum per hand bet that allows you to stay within both of those parameters.
3. Use a blackjack hand chart
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Winning Blackjack games any casino game requires a good understanding of the odds. Thankfully, odds and probabilities charts offer players a shortcut. In fact, charts make learning the odds so easy that many people call them “cheat sheets.” There are many charts out there, so when you choose yours be sure to go with one that makes the right move obvious. Avoid complicated odds and percentage tables and go with the charts that outline the ideal move for every hand.
On the left-hand side of nearly all of these charts are potential Blackjack hands. At the top of the chart will be the dealer’s hands. Between each of these two variables will be the ideal move when these two hands face off. Generally, charts are broken down between hard hands, soft hands, and pairs, making it easy for you to find your solution quickly.
4. Practice for free before you deposit money
Whether you practice on a Blackjack simulator or choose to a free play game, there are more than a few great ways to test your gaming skills before betting on them. A Blackjack simulator (a.k.a. free play game) functions in the same manner as a real money blackjack game; both use randomization software to recreate the real odds of the game. A Blackjack simulator also gives new players a first look at other aspects of the table.
5. Take advantage of blackjack bonuses
Many new players are so intent on game dynamics and Blackjack bets that they entirely miss other opportunities to make money. No deposit bonuses, first deposit bonuses, reload bonuses and comps can greatly optimize both the time you play and the amount you win. It takes only seconds to find bonus codes, which are often worth hundreds of dollars and which are easy to earn when you are playing hundreds of hands per session. Of all our Blackjack tips, this bit of Blackjack advice is perhaps the most important. Just be sure to read the fine print before depositing your life savings. Many casinos have stiff wagering requirements.
History of Blackjack: Origins from Past to Present
Like so many other games, whose histories reflect their origins and travels, Blackjack history is complex and winding. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where Blackjack history begins, and even harder to predict where it will end. But that hasn’t stopped us from trying.
The CasinoBonus.org complete guide to Blackjack history recounts the long and winding road the game has tread. Here, we also pay homage to its incredible rise to the front of the casino games’ class.
First Card Games
In the strictest sense, the roots of all card games can be traced back to ancient China. This is where, in the 10th century, the first playing cards were printed.
It was in the Middle Ages that early card games traveled along Asian trading routes to the Middle East. From there, they were picked up by Crusaders who returned to Europe with a wealth of foreign concepts and products.
Most game historians agree that Hazard was the first popular European card game. It was from Hazard that other popular gambles like Poker and early forms of Blackjack sprang.
Naming Rights
We know that most of Europe had been exposed to card games by the end of the 14th Century, but it’s widely disputed where the first game of this type was actually played.
Some Blackjack history experts point to a 17th Century Cervantes reference to a Spanish game called “Veintiuno” (Spanish for 21) as proof that Blackjack history begins in Spain.
Another vocal group of Blackjack history buffs claim that the popularity of “Vingt-Un” (French for 21) in 18th Century France is evidence that Blackjack history begins there.
Italy has both countries beat; references have been made to a game of “Trentuno” (Italian for 31) since the early 15th Century. This is the first written recorded mention of a game with an obvious numerical goal.
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Regardless of which game lays claim to the origins of Blackjack, we know that it was French Blackjack rules that laid the foundation for what would become the popular modern casino version we play today. In fact, of all today’s common Blackjack rules, only the insurance and surrender options were absent from 18th Century Vingt-Un.
Vingt-Un to “21”
As with many of today’s oldest casino games, Americans were the last gamblers to discover Blackjack games. That said, they were also the most visionary, shepherding the game towards its now royal status among casino gambles.
The history of Blackjack in America doesn’t begin until the 19th Century when French immigrants brought the game to the gambling mecca of New Orleans. Though the French versions of its Blackjack rules remained largely the same, its French name was translated to English. For several decades thereafter the game continued to be known simply as “Twenty-One.”
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From the Gambling Hall to the Casino
Though Twenty-One spread quickly throughout gambling halls across America, it struggled to captivate and maintain a committed audience. More Americanized games like Craps and Poker continued to dominate.
It was during this time that casino operators began adapting the game in hopes of making it more popular. Some casinos took to offering a special payout for a natural 21, a Blackjack hand consisting of an Ace and a black jack. It was from this special promotion that the game’s modern name was born.
Soon after, serious gamblers realized the profit potential of this skill-based game, and casinos no longer had to work to convince their patrons to play Blackjack.
The Online Blackjack Revolution
Blackjack history doesn’t stop at the casino. Late in the 20th Century, this simple game received another makeover, this time in the form of internet Blackjack. Fans could now play games from anywhere in the world, so long as they had a computer and an internet connection.
While most online casinos kept their internet Blackjack traditional, others experimented with the game’s format. This lead to a wide variety of play and payout options; some casinos even offered Blackjack bonuses and jackpots.
The most committed of Blackjack players now have easy access to the game, and as online gambling continues to grow and evolve, it seems like the possibilities for internet Blackjack are endless.
Is there a next frontier for Blackjack history? Like the game itself, we’ll have to wait for the deal to see what’s in the cards for Blackjack.