Though blackjack online is a fantastic way to learn the ropes, if you want to cash out your winnings, you need to play with real money. Before you create an account with a casino site, ensure that you’re familiar and satisfied with the payment options, transaction fees, and processing times. Check out the secure websites list for real money Blackjack here!

Blackjack is a card game where players play against the dealer. In online blackjack, you will play against the computer. In a live dealer game, you will be playing alongside other people as blackjack tables accommodate 5 to 12 people depending on table size, however, every player is playing against the dealer and not each other.

Blackjack is a quick game where you bet on beating the dealer by having a better hand than them. Whoever gets their card value closer to 21 without going over, will win.

1. Place your bet and wait for the cards to be dealt
2. The dealer gets 2 cards, one is face up, whereas you get 2 cards
3. You can decide to hit (get a new card) or stand (not get an additional card)
4. Split or double your card (depending on house rules and your cards)
5. Option of insurance or double money (depending on house rules and your cards)
6. After all the players completed their round the dealer reveals his second card
7. Dealer has to hit until his card value reaches 17
8. It is determined if you or the dealer won the game
9. Place your next bet

Blackjack is not a very complicated game, however, depending on what hand you draw and what the dealer’s face-up card is, you will have several options to choose from. You can hit or stand and with a certain hand value you can double, split, surrender, take insurance or place side bets. Some of these depend on the casino, so read the rules before starting the game.

Blackjack is a game of skill and luck and if players play perfect strategy the house edge can be reduced to a very low figure. For this reason, often casinos won’t count your game of blackjack (or other low house edge games like video poker) towards your wagering of the bonus.

You might find some casinos where it counts as 10% or even 50% towards wagering but this is not guaranteed. If we spot good offers we will list them for you here.

Since blackjack is played with a certain number of decks, it comes down to simple probability calculations to figure out what your chances are when you draw a new card. The lower your initial card value the less likely it is that you will bust if you get an extra card. We will now explain what those probability figures look like.

Probability to bust on an extra card

You want your card value to be as close to 21 as possible. Depending on your initial hand you can ask for one extra card at a time. The higher the initial value of your two cards, the more likely it is that you will bust with an extra card.

If your card value is 11 or lower then it is impossible to bust, however, if your hand value is 21 then it is 100% sure that you will bust. In the table below, you can check what probability you have to bust if you hit an extra card with the listed hand values.

The dealer's probability to bust

The probability for the dealer to bust with an extra card depends on the rules of the game you are playing. In some casinos, the dealer has to stand on soft 17, while elsewhere he has to hit. The weakest hand the dealer can have is a 6, in which case his probability to bust would be 42 or 44%.

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  Don't Split a Pair of 5s or 10s

  It isn't a good move to split the 5s. It's smart to hold onto the tens and combine them to boost your winning possibilities.
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  Double Down on a Hard 11

  Participants will always win more if they double down on hard 11 against any dealer. This rule's only exception is the multi-deck game that requires the dealer to stand on soft 17.
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  Stand on Hard 16 Against a Croupier’s 10 Upcard

  Although this technique is effective, players can improve their gaming effectiveness by considering whether their 16 is a 16 multi-card. In this case, the optimal approach is to stand against the croupier's 10 upcard.
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  Double Down on 8 Against Croupier’s 5 or 6 Upcard in Single Deck

  In a double-and multi-deck game, guidelines specify that players aren't allowed to double down with a two-card 8. This rule is different in a single deck game.
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  Split a Pair of 8s and Aces

  Always split a pair of 8 and aces regardless of what the croupier's upcard is. This can help you reduce your losses.
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  Hit a Hard 12 Against the Croupier’s 2 or 3 Upcard

  Although this technique could be one of the riskiest, it's also a tactical one. If you hit in this situation, it will reward you in the long run.
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  Hit Ace-7 (soft 18) When the Croupier's Upcard Is 9, 10, or Ace

  If a gamer holds A-7 against the dealer's upcard of Ace, 10, or 9, it makes you an underdog. Nevertheless, when you draw a small card (e.g., 2, 3, or Ace), you should have a hand higher than 18. This will increase your chances of winning.

You will come across many blackjack variants in online casinos. The rules slightly differ giving you better or worse odds. Here, we will explain the main types.

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  European Blackjack

  European blackjack follows similar rules to the original game, however, it has a few of its own rules, such as:

  • If the dealer gets a blackjack it beats any other 21-value hand
  • Players can only split once
  • Players can only double down on hands with a value of 9, 10, or 11
  • Initially, the dealer only gets one card
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  Progressive Blackjack

  Progressive blackjack games offer a jackpot to be won.

  • The jackpot is linked to a progressive network
  • Every player who plays that particular game contributes to the pot by placing a certain side bet
  • It depends on the game what the side bet is – e.g. a specific hand of 7s
• 

  American Blackjack

  American blackjack is a more aggressive type of game in a way that it offers more options for placing higher bets. In this version,

  • Players can double down on any total
  • Players can also double down after splitting
  • The dealer gets two cards initially, and one is face down
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  Live Dealer Blackjack

  When you play at a live casino,

  • The dealer will deal you the cards instead of the computer
  • You can choose between several types of blackjack games such as European, American, or Progressive games
  • You can’t play live dealer blackjack for free
  • You will see the min and max limits, usually before you enter the room

Online Blackjack: RTP & House Edge

Blackjack offers some of the lowest house edge figures, however, there are slight variations with different types of the game.