Blackjack is a game, often romanticized in the movies, as the one to beat the house. Watch Breaking Vegas, or 21 and you will understand the match skills that go into winning at Blackjack. The iconic films are part of the reason many casinos started using more than one deck in the game. Too many people were showing they had the ability to count cards, and getting movies made about them. Heading out to a South Carolina casino is pretty difficult so if you decide to play online, you should make sure you know what you are getting into. When it comes to finding the best blackjack tables online, you need the proper ranking. You also want to see which tables are better options for playing against the house.
Blackjack Variations
Online blackjack has several variations, not just the single-deck blackjack you are used to seeing and playing with a deck of cards. Here are some of the options:
- Classic blackjack
- Single-hand blackjack
- Blackjack switch
- Multi-hand blackjack
- Double exposure blackjack
- Pontoon
- Spanish blackjack
- Chinese blackjack
- Perfect pair
Each variation has a slight difference, like blackjack surrender, which allows you to end a hand before losing too much.
Rules of Blackjack
Depending on the blackjack variation, you will see a few rules change, but they are simple to learn. The simplest form of the game requires 52 cards. Most of the casinos and online table games will have at least two decks and up to eight decks. The dealer will draw the cards from a “shoe” and distribute cards from left to right around the table for each person who has placed the ante wager.
You will be given two cards; one face up and the other face down. It helps you decide what to do with the cards before you reveal all to the table. Once each person plays their hand, you will get to see what the dealer has. The person with the hand closest to 21 is going to win, but each person also goes against the dealer. By playing the dealer, if the dealer busts, you will win the hand.
It does not matter if other players bust or reach 21. Your hand is individual to you and what can happen at the table.
The Cards in Blackjack
The card values depend on the face of the card. Any card 2 through 10 is equal to the value of the number, so a 2 is 2 points. Aces can be 1 or 11 in value depending on the situation. Picture cards or face cards, such as kings, queens, and jacks are all worth 10.
The total value of the two cards in your hand will tell you what to do.
You can hit, meaning you get another card from the dealer. You can stand, taking no additional cards. Lastly, if you have two of the same cards, such as two 8's, you can split your hand, making a second, equal wager. You then play both hands to see if one or both will win.
Odds in Blackjack
The odds in blackjack are better than other table games because the house edge is less than one percent. The different variations of Blackjack can improve your odds even more due to the house rules the dealer has to play by. In most blackjack games, the dealer has to hit on a soft 17, and must take a card on anything that is 15 or lower.
Player Strategy
For the player, you will want to stand when your hand is 17 or higher. You should hit if you have a soft 17 or hard 16 or less. If you see a high card in the dealer's hand, with a high total like 16, be careful and stand.
For some last-minute tips, stand on 17 or higher, never split 10's, and always split anything 8 or lower. You should also have a bankroll limitation to prevent overspending when you are losing and moderating your wins. Blackjack tables online are fun, and the game is easy to learn.
