Blackjack Games

If you compare all games against each other, blackjack is the casino game with by far the best chance of winning. Not only because the house edge is always already low, but also because good players can force the luck.

Additional advantage once you have mastered blackjack? You can literally go into an online casino at any time. After all, all casinos offer mobile blackjack, with different versions to choose from as well.

Ready to step into the irresistible world of blackjack? Below, you can read about the best online casinos to play at, the types of online blackjack available and the bonuses that allow you to sit at a blackjack table with more chips.

What is online blackjack?

As mentioned, there are many different versions, but at its core, the basic premise of online blackjack is always the same. The basics are easy to learn, but to really get the hang of it, you obviously have to be prepared to invest time and effort.

But that can absolutely pay off, so you know what you’re doing it for. In the meantime, you always play with the same goal: to beat the dealer by having a higher hand with a score as close to 21 as possible. You also win if the dealer has 22 points or more, while you don’t lose yourself.

You play blackjack with one to six sets of cards with no jokers. The dealer gives each player two cards that are face-up in front of everyone, and he also gives himself two cards, one of which is face-up. The cards 2-10 have their own value of points while jack, queen and king are worth 10 points and the ace 1 or 11 – whichever suits you best.

Online blackjack variants

Online and Mobile blackjack comes in different variants. We take you through the most common online blackjack variants:

Classic Blackjack

The standard variant, which is also by far the most commonly played online. Here, you sit at a table with up to seven players and follow the classic game rules against the dealer.

Multi-Hand Blackjack

If you are a strong online blackjack player and you might find it a bit boring to play with only one hand, you can try Multi-Hand Blackjack. Here you play yourself with multiple hands simultaneously against the dealer for possibly different bets, so in effect you are a kind of blackjack octopus with your tentacles all over the table.

European Blackjack

European Blackjack is basically standard online blackjack in the – as the name suggests – European way. This means that the dealer is not allowed to look at his close card until all players have finished playing and must pass on both a hard 17 and a soft 17 (ace-six).

In American versions, the dealer immediately checks for blackjack, so you lose right away.

Progressive Blackjack

In this variant, you play according to the normal rules, but you can also place a side bet on getting one or more aces in your own hand. Here, the payout depends on the number of Aces and the card type. You also have a chance to win a progressive jackpot.

Blackjack Switch

In Blackjack Switch, you are dealt two hands. You are allowed to swap the second card of each hand to achieve a better outcome. This advantage for the player is made up for the casino because you draw if the dealer has 22 points.

Caribbean 21 Blackjack

Another type with extra game rules is Caribbean 21 Blackjack, where you have a lot of room to make the game more interesting. For instance, if you have two or more cards, you can double even if you have doubled before. There is also the rule that an ace is always worth 1 point and that you always win in a so-called Caribbean 21 card game, or an ace with two cards worth ten points each.

Spanish 21 (Pontoon) Blackjack

In this online blackjack variant, the biggest difference from traditional blackjack is that the dealer wins on a tie.

Other major differences are that the dealer has two closed cards. You yourself automatically win if you have five cards and have not yet busted.

Vegas Strip Blackjack

Vegas Strip Blackjack is actually a counterpart to European Blackjack, as here the dealer must check if he has a blackjack on an ace shown (called the face card).

The dealer must also always pass on 17, hard or soft. Players are allowed to split up to three times and double those hands as well.

Atlantic City Blackjack

Almost the same as standard blackjack (with the obligatory check for a blackjack by the dealer), but here there is the option for a so-called ‘late surrender’. Players can give up in advance on a bad hand and lose only half of their bet before the dealer continues playing his hand.

Super Fun 21

In Super Fun 21, a player always wins if he has a total of 20 points with six cards, the player is also allowed to split a hand up to four times and a player’s blackjack is always worth more than a dealer’s blackjack.

Live blackjack

If you choose a blackjack table at an online casino where a live dealer is present, this is called live blackjack. Often, live blackjack involves playing the standard variant, but you can also find tables with other variants such as one-to-many versions, where all players play with the same cards.

Online blackjack for beginners

Blackjack tips for beginners. As mentioned earlier, the aim of online blackjack is to beat the dealer, which can be done in two possible ways. The way you influence yourself is the most important: getting as close or exactly to 21 with your cards without going over. If you have a higher score than the dealer, you win back your bet twice.

The second way is to hope that the dealer himself goes above 21 (bust), while you yourself do not. The dealer comes last and takes a card or passes according to predetermined rules.

The very best, of course, is if your first two cards immediately give you 21, or blackjack. At that point, it makes little difference what the dealer has. Of course, we have elaborated on the full rules of online blackjack for you a little further.

So the basics of the game are pretty simple, but with all the variations and combination possibilities of yourself and the dealer, it’s all about how you know how to use the best strategy. And that every new round. With the right strategy, you know when to take an extra card, when to split and when to double your bet.

There are different methods, mathematical calculations and more even for this. Casino Meesters tells you all about the best strategies for online blackjack – so you can take your place at the blackjack table prepared. And continuously stay in control of your own game, maximising your chances of winning.

Blackjack history

Blackjack has a long history dating back several centuries, with a Spanish variant first described in the early 17th century by Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes. By 1770-180, it had spread to France and Britain where it was known as Vingt-Un (French for 21) and Twenty-One respectively.

Once the game had crossed over to the United States in the early 19th century, it was increasingly played in conjunction with gambling and slowly grew into the blackjack game we know today.

The name blackjack was probably given to the game by prospectors in the US in the late 19th century. And in 1956, the game was first looked at mathematically and statistically, which led to a more targeted search for the best ways to win the game.

Blackjack Dealer Rules

Blackjack rules are known to many players, but not every player knows the blackjack dealer rules. Quite weird if you think about it. Knowing what your opponent can and can’t do is a crucial part of the game. This is why we have dedicated this article to explicitly tell you the rules that a Blackjack dealer has to go by.

Reading this will be your insurance of not getting unpleasantly surprised by some rule you didn’t know about. Of course we have the disclaimer that blackjack rules might vary from one game to another. Without further ado, here is what you should expect from a Blackjack dealer:

The basic blackjack dealer rules

When the game starts, the dealer deals from left to right. Starting with the player on the far left. Then the dealer deals one card to each player in that order, followed by a down card to the dealer himself (or herself).

This process is repeated, only this time around the dealer hands himself an up card for everyone to see. The cards have to be displayed diagonally so that both the dealer and players can accurately read the cards. Usually this is portrayed automatically by the computer when played online.

Dealing an Ace

If the dealer deals himself an Ace (the up card), you should be given the option for an insurance. This insurance bet is a 2-to-1 bet that the dealer has Blackjack. Note that these insurance bets are usually not worth the odds.

Playing a round of cards

The dealer starts with the player left of him. The hand should be played completely before moving on. The player should be given the option to hit, stand, double down or surrender. If a player calls for a hit and they go over 21, the player is busted and their money is collected before moving to the next player.

Once hit, the player can no longer be offered a split or double down. If the player hits again, the dealer hands him another card. If he stands, the dealer moves to the next player.

A player can also double down, in which case the dealer gives them one more card. The player then must choose to stand. The card should be dealt sideways. The player should now play a second bet behind their original bet.

When the player surrenders, he forfeits the game but gets to keep half his bet. The cards should remain on the table for the duration of the game. The dealer can’t use these cards.

When splitting, some dealers (games or casinos) allow further plays while others don’t. Be aware of the rules in advance.

Playing the dealer hand

Are the players finished? Then it is up to the dealer to show his down card. This is the most important step of the blackjack dealer rules. The cards have to be put to the right as the dealer will make a new ‘pile’ of cards that is clearly separated.

The dealer will now hit cards until he hits at least a total of 17. There is no choice here. As long as the total is below 17 the dealer hits, once above he stands.

Finishing up

There is much done automatically when playing online. Blackjack dealer rules are a bit more complicated when facing a live dealer. There can be small details that influence the game, so always pay attention.

Details such as the dealer collecting the cards after a game with one single sweep from left to right and discarding those cards. Having players bet in front of a hand. Paying out bets when the cards are still on the table, one by one, from left to right. The order that the hand was played.

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