Looking to learn more about how a game of online Blackjack works? Then you’re in the right place.
Blackjack – also known as 21 – is one of the most enduringly popular card games on offer in casinos today, both online and offline. For players who prefer to play Slots online or want to try their hand at online Blackjack, we’ve put together a rundown of everything you need to know before joining a game.
How Blackjack works
The aim of a game of Blackjack is simple – players want to have a hand value that’s closer to 21 than the dealer’s. But if their hand value ever goes over 21, then that means they’ve gone bust and are out of the game.
Each card counts for a set point value, from the numbered cards worth their face value to the Jack, Queen and King worth ten points. The one exception to the rule is the Ace, which can be worth either one or 11 depending on the value of the surrounding hand.
At the start of a game, each player at the table is dealt two cards – whether they are face up or face down depends on the variant of Blackjack being played. The dealer also receives two cards, but players only get to see one of those at this point in the game.
Once everyone has had a chance to look at their cards play will proceed around the table. Each player in turn has to decide on the actions they want to take, which include:
- Hitting – taking another card to increase the value of their hand
- Standing – leaving their hand as it stands and ending their turn
- Splitting – dividing their hand into two new hands which can be played separately (but they can only do this if their two initial cards were of the same value)
- Doubling down – doubling their wager to take only one additional card
After every player’s turn has finished – whether they stand or go bust – play moves to the dealer. They reveal their face-down card here, establishing the value of their initial hand.
If the dealer’s hand is worth less than 17, they must hit until they reach that value. If the dealer goes bust during that process than all remaining players receive a payout.
Otherwise, the dealer will compare their final hand value to that of each player and give payouts where necessary.
Things to know about playing Blackjack
One of the most important rules in Blackjack is to avoid just focusing on your own hand. It’s the dealer’s hand that’s the final determining factor, so pay attention to their face-up card when you’re deciding on your actions.
As long as your hand is worth more than the dealer’s that counts as a win, it doesn’t matter whether you have a hand value of 18 or 20.
Online Blackjack games utilise random number generators (RNG) to determine the outcome of their card draws, with the exception of live Blackjack. This means that the deck is effectively reshuffled after each card is drawn, increasing the element of randomness and making it impossible to predict what card may come next.
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When you’re looking at a game of online Blackjack check for any variations to the classic ruleset. Online casinos offer more varieties of Blackjack than ever before, so pay close attention to any differences in their gameplay or rules before you start a game.