Blackjack is considered one of the most popular card games in the casino. It has been known as gambling in Europe since the 17th century. Since then, nothing has changed: the goal in blackjack is to hit exactly 21 points. In this comprehensive blackjack guide you will learn all about the rules, strategies and tips for the game.
In the top list you will find the best online casinos for blackjack. Learn everything you need to know about blackjack strategy in the course of the article.
The preferred choice of our customersThese are the Best Blackjack Online Casinos for 2023
1 | 100% Match Bonus up to CA$1500 + 270 Free Spins |
Ice Casino Experience |
Play Now | 18+ / Play responsibly | Terms and Conditions apply | |
2 | 150% Match Bonus up to CA$200 |
MYSTAKE's experience |
Play Now | 18+ / Play responsibly | Terms and Conditions apply | |
3 | 100% Match Bonus up to CA$500 + 200 Free Spins |
Casinoly Casino Experience |
Play Now | 18+ / Play responsibly | Terms and Conditions apply | |
4 | 100% Match Bonus up to CA$300 + 100 Free Spins |
Golden Star Casino Experience |
Play Now | 18+ / Play responsibly | Terms and Conditions apply | |
5 | 450% Match Bonus up to CA$4000 |
Weltbet Casino Experience |
Play Now | 18+ / Play responsibly | Terms and Conditions apply | |
6 | 425% Match Bonus up to CA$1000 + 125 Free Spins |
Vulkan Vegas Experience |
Play Now | 18+ / Play responsibly | Terms and Conditions apply | |
7 | 100% Match Bonus up to CA$500 + 200 Free Spins |
OhMySpins Casino Experience |
Play Now | 18+ / Play responsibly | Terms and Conditions apply | |
8 | 100% Welcome Bonus up to CA$100+100 Free Spins |
OXI Casino Experience |
Play Now | 18+ / Play responsibly | Terms and Conditions apply | |
9 | 100% Match Bonus up to CA$300 |
Slotimo Experience |
Play Now | 18+ / Play responsibly | Terms and Conditions apply | |
10 | 300% Match Bonus up to CA$1000 + 300 Free Spins |
Need for Spin experience |
Play Now | 18+ / Play responsibly | Terms and Conditions apply |
The most important Blackjack strategies
- In blackjack, the player tries to get as close as possible to 21 points without overbought.
- The player can choose between HIT, STAND, SPLIT or DOUBLE depending on his hand and the dealer's card.
- There is almost no difference between online blackjack and blackjack in casinos or live casinos.
- Always use the blackjack table when playing to maximize your own chances.
Live Dealer Blackjack Games
Be sure to try the new live blackjack. In this variant you play with other players against real dealers in the live stream. Casino atmosphere and a real blackjack table bring gaming experience to the next level – an unforgettable experience directly on the TV, mobile phone or PC. More about the topic: Live Casinos
Unlike the "normal" online blackjack, the player does not play live blackjack against a programmed computer, but with a real person. You can follow the dealer and the cards he lays out on the table in the fast live stream. The player sees the table in the same way as in a real casino, while the bets and payouts are calculated in parallel by the computer. A perfect mix of convenience and authenticity!
The Advantages of Live Dealer Blackjack
- Allows players to play live blackjack through a stream from the comfort of their own home.
- Players can chat with the live dealer and other players.
- Live Blackjack brings the authentic casino gaming experience to the screen.
What is there to consider in live blackjack?
In live blackjack, the same rules apply as in normal blackjack games in the online casino. Make sure to follow the optimal basic strategy. Also pay attention to the payout conditions as well as the game variant – then nothing can stand in your way!
Bet Behind the Live Blackjack feature
Players of the popular Unibet casino are now allowed to try a new feature. With the “Bet Behind” function, players can place a bet on another player's hand while waiting for a seat at the blackjack table.
This allows players to bridge the time with exciting bets while the game is in full swing. The display also shows which players are currently “hot” at the table, or are winning.
Blackjack Strategy - how to play Blackjack
The game process and the rules of blackjack are very easy to understand. This makes the game very straightforward and fair. Unpredictability and house advantages are not hidden behind show effects. If you make good and well-thought-out decisions, you can consistently win in blackjack.
In our blackjack guide, we would like to guide you through the game principles of this popular gambling game. Beginners will learn all about the rules, the goal and the game process of blackjack to get an overview of the basic knowledge.
Our Blackjack explanation and instructions on Youtube
With the blackjack explanation of casino games you are well equipped for your win at blackjack in online casinos. Just watch our blackjack video and get fit for all blackjack topics such as cards, bets and winnings.
The goal of the game
The player's goal is to get as close or as close as possible to 21 points with their own cards, but without exceeding this total. Then the hand is immediately lost for the player. As a player, you should therefore know exactly what you have to do in the game and what the cards on your own hand mean.
How to play Blackjack
- Up to 6 players take place at a semicircular game table. The dealer stands in the middle and shuffles the cards.
- Before the cards are dealt, the player sets his bet.
- Each player is dealt two cards face up. The dealer also receives two cards, but one of them – the second - is dealt face down. There are also variants in which both dealer cards are dealt face down.
- The dealer now asks one player after the other in turn what move he wants to make – draw another card, double, or insure. We will come back to the possible moves later.
- After the round, the dealer calculates his own hand individually with each player's hand, announces the winners and distributes the chips accordingly.
- Everyone can see the cards of the other players. This is not a disadvantage, because each player plays his blackjack game exclusively against the dealer (“against the bank”).
The Blackjack table
The game table has the shape of a semicircle. It can accommodate up to 6 players. Opposite is the dealer. In the online casino and in the casino you have your own area at a blackjack table. Here it is recorded exactly where cards, bets and side bets need to be placed. In addition, payout percentages and rules are usually printed on the place.
- Dealer Seat - this is where the dealer sits, opposite the players.
- Card shoe - usually contains 6 to 8 card decks and is reshuffled as soon as it has been played to 60-80% - indicated by the cut card.
- Table Rules - here the table rules are noted, such as the payout for a blackjack (3 to 2 or 6 to 5) and whether the dealer has to take another card at Soft 17.
- Player Card Box - this is where the dealer places the player cards as soon as he has made his bet for the round.
- Player Seats - this is where players take a seat to participate in blackjack.
The card values
The card values are set as follows:
- Ace counts 1 or 11 points (see Soft/Hard hand below)
- Face cards count 10 points
- All other cards have their face value
Example: Jack, 2, 9 = 21 points (won); 8, 5, 9 = 22 points (lost).
The Blackjack Moves
STAND: With the announcement "Stand" you declare that you do not want to draw another card. Your hand is fixed with it. The players to your left will still have a chance to improve their hand.
HIT SONG : With the announcement "Hit" you declare that you want to draw another card. The dealer gives you another card face up. If your hand remains below 21 points, you can draw more cards or advertise "Stand".
DOUBLE (Double) : With this turn you double your bet on one hand. The following must be observed. You have to announce "Double" before you announce "Hit". You will then only get ONE more card! It is not allowed to withdraw the decision "Double" or buy more tickets.
SPLIT : This move can be announced if both starting cards have the same value. "Split" divides your hand into two hands. For the second hand you have to make the same bet as for the first. Then you continue to play both hands separately from each other. You are allowed to double both hands.
SURRENDER (Surrender) : Some casinos offer you to give up your hand. So if you think your chances are bad, you can give up the game round. However, it will cost you half of your stake. In general, it is not recommended to use this move, since the dealer can still overbought himself regardless of his open card.
INSURANCE (Insurance) : You can insure against the dealer holding a blackjack if the dealer's face-up card is an ace. If you take out the insurance, it will cost you half of your bet. If the dealer actually holds a blackjack, you win in a ratio of 2:1, i.e. you don't lose any money (although you can't beat the dealer).
Dealer's moves
When your game is over and you have not overbought (BUST), it is the dealer's turn. He does his own bills. Also in the Online Casino Games the computer takes over the evaluation of the results for you. Nevertheless, it makes sense to know the individual moves.
Once all players have completed their turns, it's the dealer's turn. He first turns over his 2nd card, which until then was still lying face down on the table. Depending on the card value, the dealer's further moves are already determined:
- The dealer must draw if his hand has 16 or less points.
- The dealer may no longer draw if his hand has 17 or more points.
- If the dealer holds a "soft hand", e.g. A6 (a soft 17), it depends on the rules of the respective online casino whether the dealer has to move on and possibly gets a hard hand, or whether he has to stop on the "Soft 17".
Winners and Losers in Blackjack
- If the dealer overbought, i.e. holds more than 21 points, all players who have not already overbought themselves have won.
- If you have as many points as the dealer, it is called a "push". With such a tie, you get your stake back.
- If you have more points than the dealer, you win in a 1:1 ratio, i.e. the same amount as you bet.
Hard Hand and Soft Hand
The terms "hard hand" and "soft hand" refer to a special feature in blackjack: the ace can count both one point and eleven points. It depends on what other card you have in your hand.
All hands dealt at the blackjack table can be classified as either a hard or soft hand. Hard and soft hands each have their own place in the basic blackjack strategy.
What is a Hard Hand in Blackjack?
In the simplest case, a hard blackjack hand is any sum of two cards that does not include an ace. Here are some examples:
Q2
= Hard 12
94
= Hard 13
77
= Hard 14
87
= Hard 15
K6
= Hard 16
A hard hand is not flexible: the points you get as a player are determined by the cards. This looks very different with an ace.
What is a Soft hand in Blackjack?
In blackjack, you always have a soft hand when you have an ace in your hand, which can be counted as eleven (points) or one (point). These hands are considered very advantageous, because you can adjust their sum depending on your current situation.
Soft Hand with Ass
As long as you have less than or equal to 21 points with an ace in your hand, the ace counts eleven points. If you are overbought, however, it only counts as one point.
Example:
- Your cards are an ace and a 5. This gives you soft 16 (or Hard 6, but that's not relevant yet).
- Now draw another 5, if you have 21, you have won.
- Draw a 6 and your points add up to soft 22. In this case, however, you do not lose, because the ace now counts only as one point. The same happens with all other cards with a value of 6 or higher. The result: you do not have 22 points, but only 12, because the ace counts as one point and 1+5+6 =12. This makes the ace such a particularly important and powerful card in the game.
What happens if you are dealt two aces in blackjack?
If the rare case occurs that you get two aces, they are automatically split and counted as soft 11. This is an excellent starting point for doubling. Since the aces are now separated, each of them can build a soft or a hard hand, depending on the course of the game.
Respect : It is not allowed in Blackjack to play the aces as one hand and play one Ace Soft and the other Hard.
The Blackjack House Advantage
What is the difference between 3:2 and 6:5 Blackjack?
The difference between 3:2 blackjack and 6:5 blackjack is simple. If you have a winning blackjack hand, you will get 3 dollars for every 2 dollars you bet, or 1.5:1. In 6:5, you will get 6CA$ for every 5CA$ you bet, which is equivalent to 1.2:1. It may seem like a small detail, but it makes a big difference in the expected result.
There are many factors that determine the final expected return, but in general, the house increases its advantage by about 400% if it offers you the 6:5 variant. In the 3:2 blackjack game, the house advantage when playing the optimal basic strategy is in the range of ~0.5%. This means that for every $100 wagered, you will earn an average of $0.50.
With 6:5 Blackjack this advantage increases to almost 2%! With this you pay almost 2CA $ per 100 dollars used in the cash register.
The choice of seats in blackjack
For regular players, there is no mathematical advantage to sitting in certain places at the blackjack table. For new players and card counters, however, choosing your own seat can be very relevant and decisive for the game. However, in blackjack jargon, only three of these seats are relevant to the players.
Statistically, it doesn't matter where you sit (unless you want to count cards).
First Base
The first seat on the far right opposite the dealer is known as the “first Base”. This is because he gets the cards from the dealer first – they are always dealt from left to right (from the dealer's perspective). The player's turn comes first in the cards and moves.
Third Base
The third Base seat is the last seat from the right or the first seat from the left. This position is sometimes called an anchor or anchor in English. This is the player who receives the cards last and makes a decision about his course of the game last. Many consider the third base to be the best seat, but this has no mathematical background.
Shortstop Position
This place is located in the center of the table. For the course of the game, it is not as relevant as the first or third base. But he can make sure that other players do not sit in from the left.
Which is the best seat at the blackjack table?
Statistically, it doesn't matter where you sit (unless you want to count cards). Many consider the third base to be the best seat, but this has no mathematical background.
What to Look for in Blackjack Table Limits
The betting limits refer to the minimum and maximum amount that you can wager in blackjack. Since the limits for an online blackjack table can be very different, blackjack is accessible to players of all budget sizes.
If you have a small budget, you should find the lowest blackjack table limits and stick to these games. If you have a lot of money, you are also welcome to risk more and participate in games with higher limits.
Pay attention to blackjack limits in betting systems!
Many players love to use betting systems such as the Martingale system to keep their winnings and losses under control. In the Martingale system, for example, the bet is doubled until you win (and get your bets back). However, it is so easy to reach the limits of the table limits and risk losing all bets. More about betting systems in Online Casino Games you can find it here: Betting Systems .
Blackjack Variants
Blackjack and blackjack are not the same thing. Various variants and variations have developed all over the world, all of which are now also available online. No variant is significantly different from the original game, and yet each has its own merits and demerits.
Blackjack Switch
Blackjack Switch is played in a similar way to regular Online Blackjack . However, there are a few crucial differences: first of all, you basically play at least two hands at the same time. For this, it is allowed to exchange cards.
The top two cards of your two hands may be exchanged. An example: you get Q8 in one hand, and 5A in the other.
Now you are allowed to swap the 8 and the ace and thus get a hand 58 and a QA build.
Another important rule is that a dealer deals with 22 Points did not overbought. Instead, there is an automatic draw against all players except for a natural blackjack.
In addition, in Blackjack Switch, a natural blackjack is paid with 1:1, instead of the usual 3:2.
Blackjack Surrender
In Blackjack Surrender you have the option to give up your hand if you pay half of your bet for it.
A distinction is made between "early" and "late" surrender. In the first variant, you can discard your hand before the dealer has checked his hand for a natural blackjack.
In the "late" variant, you can still discard your hand after the dealer has checked his cards.
The early Surrender is rarely offered in casinos today. It turned out that it meant a disadvantage for the house, so the casinos quickly abolished it again. However, the late surrender is still allowed, and if you handle it correctly, you can take advantage of it as a player.
Some casinos like Vulkan Vegas Casino who allow the surrender rule, lower the payout for blackjacks or otherwise try to increase the house edge so that the game remains profitable for the casino in the long run. So if you want to play Blackjack Surrender, you should make sure that you find the same conditions as with regular blackjack.
Spanish 21
In the Spanish 21 variant, the tens are missing in the deck.
Since you have mastered the basic rules of blackjack by now, it is of course clear to you that this can not be a good thing. Just to clarify one thing: not all 10-point cards are taken from the deck, but only the actual tens. To compensate, a few rules are changed in favor of the player.
Double Exposure
In this variant, both cards of the dealer are dealt face up. This gives the players much more information.
That sounds like a huge advantage at first, doesn't it?
Well, that's true, but some other rule changes have been made for this.
Blackjack game rules you train best with play money with us!
To make it as easy as possible for you to train the blackjack game rules, you will find a demo version of the game at the beginning of our guide. You can try out all the rules presented here and also the strategies without obligation. You play with play money and do not have to use real money. If we didn't offer you this option, learning the game of blackjack and the rules of the game would cost you real money. Because on the way to becoming a professional, you would make a whole series of wrong decisions and then pay for them with tuition money, i.e. lost bets. Therefore, it is especially important in blackjack to practice the rules of the game in a demo version of ours.
And that's exactly what this one is for. Here you can check if one of the tactics suits you. Here you can familiarize yourself with the general gameplay and betting options. And when you have used up the play money, you can simply reload the page and you will have virtual credit available again. This is how we help you to know exactly what's going on during your first game with real money and to master the blackjack rules in your sleep. After all, the same applies to blackjack: in order to successfully cash in an online casino or a casino, you need expert knowledge. And it also means that you can read the rules in and out.
Dream Job - Become a Blackjack Dealer?
With the advent of the many online casinos and the live tables available there, a whole new professional group has emerged. Because here you can work as a blackjack dealer in a live casino. And this is something completely different from working in a casino. The big live casino providers such as Evolution & Co operate their studios mostly in Eastern Europe, as staff costs are low here. The studios themselves are located in modern company buildings. For many local young people, this is a perfect employer. In addition to the fact that companies pay well in relation to the average monthly income in the countries, there are no such high requirements for working as a dealer.
At the same time, they work in a very modern digital environment with the latest technology. And before these dealers are unleashed on us as an audience, they are trained by the providers in seminars. Currently, many of the studios are expanding their live offerings for the US market. Industry leaders Evolution, for example, are looking for new live dealers for the US market and pay them $ 21 per hour.
Young people beware: Work & Travel with a gambling provider abroad!
Taking into account that now the job is not such a complex work, quite a decent hourly rate. Since there are no opportunities for advancement in this work and the training is completed relatively quickly, there is a high turnover among the blackjack dealers and the roulette croupiers. You rarely meet them for more than a few months. Although exceptions confirm the rule here and there are now a handful of dealers who have caused some notoriety.
The biggest disadvantage of these jobs is that the Live Studios offer their services 24/7. I.e., here work is done in shifts. If you are in your early 20s, are interested in gambling and would like to work as a blackjack dealer abroad for a few months, you should take a look at the career network of game provider Evolution. They have just about 20 jobs as a blackjack dealer open to create this guide. The only requirement is that you have completed the 19 year of life. The training costs are covered by the company. For work & travel at a young age, the whole thing lends itself!
Blackjack Tournament Strategy
To successfully pass a tournament, you need to use a different tactic than in regular blackjack. The specific structure of a tournament requires you to compete against other players and collect more chips than them. Unlike regular blackjack, this is about a total prize pool, and only the best players win.
Rules for Blackjack Tournaments
When you play in a blackjack tournament, you are competing against other players and not against the casino dealer. You and your opponents start with the same bankroll and play the same number of hands. The player with the most chips at the end of the round (which consists of a certain number of hands) wins and advances. Sometimes two players advance, in other cases only one player per table is eliminated.
The initially large field of players will eventually be reduced to a final table with six (or seven) players playing a final round to determine the overall winner of the tournament. Of course, this one will receive the main prize, but the other finalists usually do not go empty-handed either. The goal of every tournament player is, of course, to land “in the money”. So at the end of each round, at least, it is important not to have the fewest chips at the table.
You don't have to “win” a lot of chips to advance in a tournament. Let's say you have an initial bankroll of 5,000 chips and you only have 500 chips at the end of the round. If that's more than your opponents, that's enough for the next round.
Therefore, in the tournament game, you not only have to play your cards against a dealer's upcard, but you also have to keep an eye on your opponent's bankrolls so that you know whether they are ahead or behind during the round.
The decisive thing in such tournaments are the elimination hands. They are usually evenly distributed in a tournament. For example, a distribution such as hand 8, 16, 25 out of a total of 30 hands is common.
Regardless of when they take place, the principle is always the same: the player with the fewest chips after this hand is eliminated.
Even the players who no longer have enough chips for a minimum bet are eliminated.
In the meantime, they also like to play with a clock in tournaments. This means that you only have a certain amount of time for perhaps difficult decisions. This is usually 25 seconds.
In an elimination hand, however, this time period shrinks to only ten seconds. Does that make you nervous? Then practice Free Blackjack before the tournament!
Short-Term Blackjack Tournament Strategy Explained
A tournament is always created on a certain number of hands. You have to try to keep more chips than the other players after each game round.
At the beginning of the tournament, set your bets according to the amount the other players bet. This ensures that your profits or losses are about the same as those of the others.
Later, vary your blackjack strategy depending on how many chips you have and how good your opponents are.
If you are behind, you have to play more aggressively to get closer to the chip leader and maybe overtake him, or at least not to be eliminated.
On the other hand, if you are a chip leader, you can play a little more conservatively to limit your losses. And then, of course, you also need a little luck.
The Contrarian Strategy
Many good international players swear by a simple strategy, also known as the Contrarian strategy.
When you use this strategy, you are basically always doing the opposite of what your opponents are doing.
Let's assume that the opponents set a constant high, then the Contrarian player sets low or vice versa.
The theoretical basis behind this strategy is the assumption that better hands do not always mean that a certain player actually wins.
This strategy allows to stand out from the rest of the field. Set high when the others set low, so you have the opportunity to quickly get to the top.
If the dealer is overbought, you win more than your opponents.
This also works the other way around. If you bet little, if the others bet a lot, then you lose less if the house wins.
For the Contrarian player, the size of the stakes is more important than the cards that are played (although a good strategy, of course, takes both into account).
General Tips for Blackjack Tournaments
1. How good is the tournament?
In order to participate in a tournament, players must pay an entry fee. The best tournaments are those that refund players all tournament entry fees in the form of prizes.
In some tournaments, the casino can use even more money to finance the prize pool. These are the most sought-after tournaments, since the total prize pool exceeds the participation fees.
The least desired tournaments are those where the prize pool is less than the entry fees.
But remember, even if a casino pays out less, it could also give players overnight stays, free meals, and other perks; so you need to factor the value of those perks into the equation.
Conclusion : Ask the tournament director how much of the entry fees will be returned to the prize pool and stay with tournaments that return close to or over 100% of the entry fees.
2. Pay attention to the rules
There are two blackjack tournament rules that are often violated by players (on several occasions), which leads to the fact that they either lost a tournament or were immediately disqualified from the tournament.
The first to make a "String bet". This means that you have several chips in your hand and then drop them one by one into your place of use.
In a blackjack tournament, you have to place all the chips you want to bet in your betting area with one move, i.e. it is best to stack the amount of chips you want to bet outside their betting area and then push the stack into your betting area with one move.
If you make a string bet or try to bet another chip in your area, the chips you bet will be returned to you. It always applies: the first chip that hits the felt in your field is the one that counts.
It has happened before that players lost their last hand because of this error. So care is required!
The other faux pas What you want to avoid is talking to observers during the final round. This is not allowed in most tournaments. In a tournament at a casino, a player started talking to an observer in a foreign language, and the observer answered in the same language. Both were immediately removed from the tournament room for breaking this rule.
In most tournaments, players are also not allowed to talk to their opponents in the last round. You're on your own in the final round, so make sure you don't play against the “no talking” rule.
3. Catching up on Tournament Blackjack
If you are behind the chip leader, it is best to make one or two large bets to try to catch up, rather than making a series of small or medium bets.
Wait for the dealer button to pass you before you make your catch-up bet.
Also pay attention to the maximum bet limits:
You don't want to be more than the maximum bet behind when you start the last few hands, otherwise you won't even be able to bet enough to catch up.
Also make sure that you have enough chips to double or split if necessary.
Of course, no player wants to end up in a situation where he has only a few or even only one chip in his hand. And this leaves no room for bankroll building.
Tournament Blackjack - Your game?
In a blackjack tournament, the pressure is constantly increasing. In order to stay on top of it, you have to constantly increase the risk.
That's why tournament blackjack is not right for every player. Those who prefer a calm and more even game are better served with regular blackjack.
But if you want to improve your game, tournament blackjack is the right next step. Remember, if you can play better than your opponent, you have a mathematical advantage.
Old and new side bets in Blackjack
Although blackjack is already a few hundred years old, there are always new and creative side bets. But not everyone offers every side bet in blackjack. What you need to pay attention to and where you can play the side bets, we explain to you here:
Blackjack 21 + 3 Side Bet
This popular side bet can be placed next to the main bet. She mixes blackjack and 3 Card Poker , and therefore offers attractive chances of winning. In the 21+3 Blackjack side bet, you bet that the first two cards of your hand and the dealer's face-up card together make one of the three poker hands with three cards: Flush, Straight, 3 of a kind, Straight Flush, or Suited of a kind. The 21 + 3 side bet is offered mainly in the live casino of Evolution Gaming .
Perfect Paris Side Bet
In the Perfect Pairs side bet, it is bet that the player draws a pair of cards. If the two cards are either a mixed pair, a colored pair or a perfect pair, the player wins according to the paytable. A perfect pair would be an identical pair (Two queen of hearts), a colored pair would be if both cards are either red or black cards of any suit (a eight of hearts and a eight of diamonds), a mixed pair is a pair consisting of a red and a black pair (3 of diamonds and 3 of clubs). Perfect Pairs is a very popular bet and can be found in most blackjack casinos.
Lucky Ladies Side Bet
In this Lucky Ladies side bet, players bet that their first two cards have a total of 20 and ideally consist of two ladies. To place a Lucky Ladies bet, we must first place a main bet. The Lucky Ladies bet must be at least equal to the minimum amount announced on the table. The maximum winning ratio is 1,000:1 if you are dealt two queens of hearts and the dealer has a blackjack. Lucky Ladies is a very popular bet and can be found in most blackjack casinos.
Suit Em Up Side Bet
The Suite Em Up bet is very easy to understand. In addition to the main bet, the player also bets that his two cards are “suited”, that is, have the same suit. The player is dealt two cards. The payout increases according to the rank of the two cards. The only difference in the way this game is played is in the number of sets of cards used, as well as in the payment structure. The game is currently offered at Felt Gaming and RTG casinos.
Lucky Lucky Side Bet
Lucky Lucky Blackjack is a traditional blackjack game where you can play up to five hands at a time, but with the addition of a side bet where you could win a huge payout. The Lucky Lucky side bet is a bet on the first two cards of a hand and the dealer's face-up card, which form one of eight winning combinations and allow a payout of up to 200:1. Lucky Lucky Blackjack can be played at FELT casinos.
Buster Blackjack Side Bet
Buster blackjack is a side bet where a player wins if the dealer loses. The odds-based payouts are determined by the number of cards in the dealer's “busted” hand. The higher the number of cards in the dealer's “Busted” hand, the higher the payout for the Buster bet. Players can win both their blackjack bet and their buster bet when the dealer is “busted”. Buster Blackjack is available to play in AGS casinos.
The optimal Blackjack Strategy
A long time ago, mathematicians, players and statisticians have developed an optimal action strategy for the blackjack game in the casino. This shows a player what he has to do when he (and the dealer) are assigned certain cards. If you use this optimal basic strategy, you can minimize the house edge of the bank to only 0.25%.
What the optimal blackjack strategy looks like depends on the variant of the game:
- Variant 1: Dealer stands on Soft 17.
- Variant 2: Dealer moves to Soft 17.
What is the best blackjack strategy?
The basic rules of the optimal blackjack strategy are simply explained and can be read in a single table (depending on the variant of the game, see above):
Betting Systems
In addition to a basic basic strategy, there are of course also – as in many other casino games – the betting systems that you can use to manage your own bankroll. We ask our players to be careful: depending on the betting system and table limits, you can quickly reach your limits here.
The Paroli System
By using the Paroli system, you can minimize losses in blackjack while maximizing profits at the same time. As a basic rule, if you win, you bet more money; if you lose, you bet less money. This gives you an overview of your bankroll and allows you to take advantage of good and bad phases accordingly.
The Martingale System
The Martingale system follows a negative progression: you bet more money here if you have lost your original bet. This system is intended to make up for lost bets twice. Martingale is known as a risky betting system and is more for high rollers.
The 1-3-2-6 system
The 1-3-2-6 system is an alternative for less risky games. The series of numbers tells you how to raise or lower the bet if you win. So if you bet five dollars in the first game and win, you bet 3×5 dollars in the next and so on. This allows players to gradually increase their winnings and still budget.
The Parlay System
Parlay is one of the risky betting systems. Here you should double your bet after each round. Here the player sets his own limit for the game cycle. With this system, you have to remain very disciplined and down-to-earth in order to really compensate for losses in the long term.
The Fibonacci System
Named after the mathematical formula structure, the Fibonacci system is a sequence of consecutive betting actions: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34. By this series of numbers you can see quite well that the next number always forms the sum of the two previous numbers. The system is very easy to understand. You apply the sequences when you have won a round. Unlike other progressive betting systems, however, the player is not forced to constantly double the bet on winning rounds. However, you also have to have a lucky streak – at least five wins in a row - to make really high bets (and wins!) can be done.
Pay attention to blackjack variants!
If you have the choice, always play the variant in which the dealer is still at Soft-17 pull shall. This variant has a house edge that is 0.2% lower than the other.
Counting Cards in Blackjack
Card counting is a casino card game strategy that is mainly used in the blackjack family of casino games. Players want to determine whether the next hand will give the player or the dealer an advantage. Of course, if you can count cards and calculate which one comes next, you can also make better decisions for your own game and reduce the house edge.
There are several strategies for card counting. In order to be able to count cards in blackjack, you don't have to be a “Rain Man”, as the film world often demonstrates. However, you should be skillful - because in the casino it is unwelcome to be seen (even if it is not illegal). The most popular strategy is “Hi-Lo” card counting.
Hi-Lo Strategy
In the Hi-Lo strategy, the player wants to recognize the ratio of high cards to low cards in the game. High value cards, such as tens and aces, not only increase the chance of a blackjack being dealt, but also increase the chance of hands worth at least 20 points. A deck that has a lot of high cards puts the player in a very profitable situation, because it increases the chance that the dealer will lose.
Is it possible to learn card counting?
The short answer to this popular question is: yes.
The long answer: Don't do this to yourself. It is very difficult to learn card counting in blackjack. Apart from the fact that you have to deal with the game (and all its variants) extensively, you should be able to play the basic strategy by heart before you can even flirt with card counting. That means: 250 moves have to be rehearsed before you have started. In addition, you should be able to calculate cumbersome numbers very quickly and skillfully in your head and at the same time watch the game attentively. All in all, card counting is not impossible – but an ordinary player does not have much fun with the game.
Here you can read more about the Blackjack Hi-Lo Strategy and Card Counting learn.
Blackjack Tournaments
Blackjack tournaments have been around for several years in both casinos and online casinos. They are admired by blackjack fans for various reasons. Just like poker, blackjack tournaments are big events with big prize money. Most often there are players who participate from Professional Online Casino Player have. Many players love the thrill, the social component and, of course, the hefty winnings.
What You Should Consider when Playing Blackjack Tournaments:
- Usually you have to pay a starting fee to be able to participate in a game.
- In a tournament, the players compete against each other.
- The aim of the game is to keep as many chips as possible to win the prize.
- Each individual tournament has its own rules.
- Sometimes you have to deviate from the classic blackjack strategy to make a profit.
The different types of Blackjack tournaments
As we have already mentioned, there are several different types of blackjack tournaments online:
Traditional Blackjack Tournaments / Elimination Tournaments
Traditional elimination blackjack tournaments are probably the most popular type of tournaments in gambling and blackjack. During these types of tournaments, players usually play against other players at the table. The winners at each table advance while others are eliminated. In some of the tournaments, you can usually buy a re-buy and enter the game more than once.
Non-elimination or accumulation tournaments
During the non-elimination tournaments, players compete against all other players with the goal of having the most chips after a set number of rounds. The names of the tournament leaders are usually published on a board known as the leaderboard. Consequently, all the different players have an idea of how much money they actually need to move up the ladder.
Live Blackjack Tournaments
In live Blackjack Money tournaments, every single participant needs to buy chips to start playing. Unlike other tournaments, these types of tournaments have chips with real money value. Therefore, assuming that you decide to bet the maximum bet amount during the blackjack tournament, you will be putting your own money at risk and not the chips.
Sit 'n' Go Tournaments
Sit ’n' Go blackjack tournaments are tournaments that are typically hosted by online casinos on the internet. In general, they run continuously as soon as 6 players have found each other at a table.
Freeroll Blackjack Tournaments
In general, freeroll blackjack tournaments do not cost money to participate. However, they still offer a prize that is worth playing for, although it is not as big as in a regular blackjack tournament. Typically, these are held by casinos for regular players or to attract new customers to the casino.
Blackjack Tournaments
-
Give the dealer the chance to overbought
It's not just about your own cards. Pay attention to the dealer's cards: if he holds a 4, 5 or 6, then you can play more defensively. However, hold a good soft hand and you may become more aggressive. In combination with your cards, it is more likely that the dealer will overbought and you can win.
-
Aces and eights always split - tens and sixes never
An ace is a powerful card in blackjack. Two aces are only eleven points. Split aces basically. You now have two chances on the 21. Two eights add up to 16 points – that's pretty much the worst score ever - but if you split, you have two chances on 18 points, so two good hands. A ten is a good starting card, but two tens are 20 points, and that's just too good to split. Two sixes are twelve points, but this is still better than two separate (split) sixes.
-
Don't move on with high hard hands
If you hold a Hard 17, you should definitely not pull any more. The risk of overbought is simply too great. Even if the dealer shows a face card, 10 or an ace, you'd better stay standing. Although your chances of winning are lower, you are very likely to lose if you move on. Let the dealer pull and hope for a bust or a push.
-
Do not take out insurance
If the dealer holds an ace, you can insure yourself against a blackjack. If the dealer does indeed get a blackjack, you will get your bet back. Statistically, however, it is not worth taking out insurance.
FAQs about Blackjack Strategy
How to play blackjack online?
On this page you will find the game process of blackjack as well as Online Casinos who offer it in all details.
Does free blackjack make sense?
Basically, you are looking for an online casino that offers blackjack for free. On our overview we present you some casinos with free blackjack. With the help of our blackjack rules, practice the game until it feels safe. Then you can start with real bets in any online casino of your choice. For a complete overview, check out our list of the best blackjack casinos.
How many players play at a blackjack table?
A blackjack table usually has six, sometimes up to seven seats. Up to seven players can play at the same time. In some cases, players can also play several hands at the same time. Who sits in which place, the players make out among themselves.
What is the best Blackjack strategy?
A good blackjack strategy depends on several factors, mainly the number of decks and open cards at the dealer. For the optimal strategy, there are now blackjack tables that are easy to understand even for beginners. Go for it and you play against the lowest possible house edge. At the top of this page you will find the tables for the optimal strategy.
What is a Burn Card?
The first card of a deck is basically used as a burn card, that is, it is not dealt, but set aside. This rule is still from the past and is intended to prevent fraud. All important terms about blackjack can be found in our blackjack glossary.
Which is the best seat at the blackjack table?
Statistically, it doesn't matter where you sit (unless you want to count cards). Many consider the third base to be the best seat, but this has no mathematical background. Take a look at our article about The Festival Series be over. This is a must for blackjack fans!
Is card counting legal and can I gain an advantage by doing so?
Card counting
is generally not illegal, neither live nor online. However, casinos understandably have no interest in letting card counters play at their tables, because it certainly has its advantages. However, in films like “21” it looks easier than it is: in fact, you need to have a great gift to be able to effectively count cards. Casinos have several methods to prevent card counting and basically have players removed who are visibly following this.
In the online casino, of course, card counting is not so easy. In any case, you should print out the basic strategy and always have it handy when playing. If you are interested in card counting in blackjack, you should read on here.
Should you take out insurance against dealer blackjack?
Basically: no. It was mathematically proven a long time ago that insurance against a blackjack is a minus deal in the long run. Exceptions to the rule should only be made if you are a good card counter and the deck is "running hot", that is, there are still an above-average number of high cards remaining in the deck shoe.
What are the typical beginner mistakes in blackjack?
The most common beginner mistake is to buy too many cards, although it is actually better to stop. Anyone who still buys at 19 has not understood the rules (and the statistics) of blackjack correctly.
In general, one should not approach the table naively. Those who have not yet understood the basics of the optimal strategy often make themselves vulnerable – for example, if you do not separate two eights on the hand (SPLIT). Experienced players know that you reduce your chances of winning to only 30%. This is almost lost in blackjack.
What is a Blackjack tournament?
A blackjack tournament is a big event that usually takes place in a casino or online casino between several players. As a rule, tournaments last from 2 to 3 days. Upon registration, players must pay an entry fee to participate in the tournament. There are very different tournaments with different rules, payouts, game types and variants.
Most often they are played in the winner-take-All mode, i.e. the winner of the tournament wins the entire prize pool. The winner is the player who has the longest or still the most chips.
What blackjack variants are there?
There are a number of different variants, including Spanish 21, Surrender Blackjack, Switch and Double Exposure. We have compiled the most important blackjack variants for you and explained their differences.
Is my internet connection fast enough for online blackjack?
Online blackjack does not require exceptionally high computing power. Unless you're using an ancient computer, their hardware should have no trouble with blackjack. However, the situation is different with live blackjack. Here the requirements are much higher, and not every device is up to this. We recommend a fast network connection and an up-to-date browser for the extensive live streams.