How to Play Blackjack?
Blackjack is perhaps the most popular card game you’ll find at online casinos, which is thanks to the fairly easy concept of blackjack. However, whereas the outcome of other casino games like roulette and slot machines are determined by luck, there is in fact a skill element to blackjack. This means that experience and knowledge can actually help you make better decisions, which gives players a lot more incentive to play the game as they can make the difference themselves. The main objective is that you should know when it’s worth taking a risk and when to stick with the hand you have. If you’re a beginner and want to know the basics, we’ve got you covered as this is what sums up the game:
- The goal of blackjack is to get your hand as close to 21 as possible. If you go over the total of 21, you ‘bust’ and lose the round.
- The values of the cards 2 to 10 correspond to their numerical order. Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 10, and Aces are worth either 1 or 11 — depending on your choice.
- Each round starts with the dealer dealing two cards, both to yourself and to the house. Whereas both your cards are both face up, the dealer takes one face up— the ‘hole’ card— and the other face down.
- You can choose to either hit or stand. Hit means you draw another card, while standing keeps your hand as it is. You can hit as many times as you want before going bust.
- If your first two cards are the same value, you can choose to split, which means you separate the cards into two hands and play the rest of the round with both of them. The other option is to double down, where you double your bet in exchange for another card being dealt. Beware that you can’t hit again after receiving the third card, so it’s all or nothing.
- There are three ways to win at blackjack: hitting a ‘natural’ 21 on the first two cards, having a higher hand value than the dealer at the end of the round, or the dealer going bust. If both hands end with 21, the game will usually result in a ‘push’ and your stake will be returned.
1. Place your bet
As with many other games, the first step is to make a bet. At every blackjack casino there is a minimum bet and a maximum bet. Playing with real money? Then you will have to have enough credits, unless you’re playing the demo version and practising for free. To make a bet, select the betting box you wish to bet on and confirm the bet.
2. The dealer deals the cards
With online blackjack we are talking about a game that is played by several players sitting at one gaming table. Despite it being a social game, players don’t play against each other, but instead they play against the dealer. Once you have placed your bets, players receive two playing cards. The dealer then deals the playing cards. This is done:
- Clockwise (left to right).
- Each player is dealt 2 face up cards.
- The dealer gets one face down and one face up card.
The playing cards each have their own value:
- 2 to 10: the values of the cards 2 to 10 correspond to their numerical order.
- Jack, Queen and King: each have a value of 10.
- Ace: the ace is a special card as its value can be either 1 or 11 points, depending on what favours you best. By changing its value, the card automatically adjusts from 11 to 1. This is particularly useful when you’ve got a score close to 21.
3. Take a look at your cards and make a decision
You win when your cards have a higher value than the dealer’s cards. Ideally, you would have 21 points immediately with the first two open cards. In that case, you have blackjack and you will be paid 1,5 times your stake. In most cases, however, you will get another score that is lower than 21. An extra playing card could help you, but you would also risk going bust if you take another card. This is why a good blackjack strategy comes in handy.
4. The dealer plays its hand
After you have made a choice for yourself, the dealer deals his or her hand. A number of fixed rules apply to the bank:
- Does the dealer have 16 points or less? Then the dealer must draw an extra card.
- Does the dealer have 17 points or more? Then the dealer ‘stands’ and no more extra cards are added to the game.
Regardless of the values of your cards, the dealer will always have to follow these steps.
Let’s illustrate this with an example:
Let’s say that you have 20 points and the bank 17, meaning the dealer can stand. Do you have 14 points, while the dealer gets to a total of 16? Then another playing card is drawn. That can work out very well for you, because with the additional card the dealer can still exceed 21 points. If a ‘bust’ follows, you win.
5. Play on or cash out?
Payouts follow after each round of play. A number of scenarios apply when it comes to the payout:
- Did you manage to get more points than the dealer? Then your bet is doubled.
- In case of a tie, you get the stake back.
- Less points than the bank? You lose, the dealer wins.
- More than 21 points? This means you bust: you lose and the dealer wins.
RTP
Online blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of all casino games, around 0,5% to 1% for most variations when you play with basic strategy, which means the Return to Player (RTP) is somewhere between a very convenient 99% and 99,5%. The high RTP also explains why blackjack has managed to become popular among players around the world. In fact, if you play with the optimal blackjack strategy, you can reduce the house edge even further. But it’s not all just about knowing when to hit and stand when it comes to the RTP. Splitting, doubling down and wagering on side bets can all affect blackjack odds and payouts, as can the number of decks used and other rules that are specific to the variant you’re playing. You will learn more about the different variants later on.