Online Blackjack

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Ah, Blackjack, the classic game of 21... Of all the casino games in Vegas, there's just nothing that really compares to the debonair ambiance of the Blackjack card table; the most widely played casino game in all the world. Player versus dealer in a swift, fierce battle to achieve perfection, the ultimate hand of 21.

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Evolution of Blackjack

There are no records to identify the true origins of the Blackjack game, though we do know it was mentioned in a book by Miguel de Cervantes, famed author of Don Quixote, around the year 1601. He wrote of a game where the cards were to total up to 21 without going over, Aces are valued at 1 or 11, highest hand wins, and no tens were used in the deck. This form of Blackjack is known today as Spanish 21.

The name Blackjack didn't take effect until 21 made its way over to the United States. It was not the most popular game, so casinos offered extra incentives to play. One such incentive was a 10:1 payout for being dealt the Ace of Spades, and any black Jack (Club or Spades), hence then name “Black Jack”. The name stuck, and that was that.

How to Play Blackjack

Blackjack is a simple game, pitting dealer against player. The official Blackjack rules are easy to learn and just as easy to remember. There can be 5 players at a single table, but none competing against each other, only the dealer, or “house”. Each player is dealt a single card face up, followed by the dealer receiving a single card face down. Players are then given one more card, also face up, while the dealer takes his second card face up as well. Players then decide whether to:

• Hit: Take another card.
• Stand: Keep their current hand (no more cards).
• Double: Take one, and only one, more card, whilst doubling their original bet size.
• Split: Split a pair (ex. 9-9 or K-K), creating two hands, each containing one of the original paired cards. Player must place another bet on the new hand, equal to the original bet.

The player can Hit as many times as he wishes, provided he does not exceed a total hand value of 21.

The dealer must follow strict rules, enforced by the house, when playing his hand. If the dealer's hand is 16 or below, he must Hit. If his hand is 17 or above, he must Stand. According to most casino rules, if the dealer has a “Soft 17”, meaning his hand involves an Ace valued as 11, he must Hit.

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Other Blackjack Rules

There are few more Blackjack rules that appear in some land-based an online casinos. We'll go over these now.

• Insurance: If the dealer's face up card is an Ace, the player may be asked if he wants to buy Insurance. The price of insurance is generally ½ the original bet size. If the dealer has Blackjack (which is probable enough at nearly a one-in-three chance), the player wins the insurance bet, paying 2 to 1, but loses the original bet (he breaks even). If not, the player loses the insurance bet and the hand continues as usual.
• Surrender: The player is allowed to surrender his hand before taking a Hit, losing only half of his bet. The player must wait until the dealer has checked his own hand for Blackjack, which would result in an instant loss for the player.
• Push: If the dealer and player tie with the exact same hand value, it is a push and no one wins. The player's bet is returned. This is the most common casino Blackjack rule.
• Dealer Wins Tie: If a casino does not use the Push rule, the dealer will win in the case of a tie. This is a very strong disadvantage for the player. Avoid playing by this rule when possible.

Blackjack Payouts

The most common payout schedule for Blackjack is:

• Player wins without Blackjack: 1:1
• Player wins with Blackjack: 3:2
• Dealer wins: Player loses amount wagered

Some casinos, however, change the payout rules for the player when he has been dealt Blackjack. Be sure to check the pay table for these pay outs, as they increase the house edge and lower the player's odds of walking away with a profit.

• Player wins with Blackjack: 6:5
• Player wins with Blackjack: 1:1

Another payout rule you may encounter is called the “Six Card Charlie”, where a player automatically wins for taking 6 cards without busting.

Blackjack Card Counting

Blackjack card counting systems have used for years now. Casinos have increased the number of decks being used to 2, 4, 6 or even 8, but this does not eliminate the player's advantage for counting cards. Blackjack card counting systems range from basic, where the player only keeps track of three groups of cards, to extremely advanced, involving side counts of Aces, face cards and 10s.

Note that card counting is futile in online casino Blackjack as the deck is reshuffled with each new hand. Instead to waste time you are better of reading our tips for Blackjack to make the house's edge as small as possible.

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• Blackjack Rules
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  • Double Down in Blackjack
  • Insurance in Blackjack

• Blackjack Strategy
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• Blackjack Rules
• Blackjack Card Values
• Blackjack Tips
• Blackjack Strategy
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