Online Blackjack

Although there are numerous races (competitions) to partake in as a gambler, the race to the "21" in Blackjack ranks as one of the most exhilarating. Blackjack ranks as one of the most favored table games amongst Indian gamblers due to its simplicity. While you'd need to employ several techniques and strategies to beat the dealer, Blackjack is also dependent on luck.

Although Blackjack might seem a tad easy on the surface, you'd still need to understand the inner workings of this exciting game to score winnings at your favorite casino site. 

How to Play Blackjack

It doesn't matter if you're playing your favorite Blackjack variant at an online casino or a land-based venue, the "modus operandi" of playing Blackjack remains the same.

The only difference between these gameplay routes is the presence of an RNG on the latter rather than a real-world Blackjack dealer. If you're playing at an online Blackjack site and crave the human connection, you can access an actual croupier (albeit through your device's screen) via Live Blackjack.

With these distinctions highlighted, let's dive into the inner workings of one of the most engaging card games in the iGaming scene.

The Basics

The main objective of online Blackjack is to reach the "21" first before the dealer. However, note that you'll lose to the dealer if your cards' total exceeds "21" or if the croupier reaches "21" before you.

Moving on, one thing you should note is that online Blackjack gameplay is between you and the dealer. Although you might be cajoled to think other players' activities can make or mar your Blackjack adventure as a stint progresses like other table games like Poker, that's totally untrue.

Card Values in Online Blackjack

Online Blackjack features a 52-card deck. Here's how they're valued:

• Jacks, Kings, and Queens: 10 Points
• Aces: 1 or 11 (the Aces value during an online Blackjack stint depends on the variation that aids a winning hand the most)
• Other Cards (2 - 10): Denote their face value in points (i.e., getting a 9 translates to 9 points; landing a 5 counts as 5 points)

Online Blackjack Betting

Now that you've gotten a hold of the basics and card values inherent in online Blackjack, the next thing you'd want to consider is how to place bets. 

Since you'll be playing at an Indian-themed casino site, all you need to do is deposit into your account via your preferred payment method, head to the Blackjack lobby, launch your preferred title, and place a bet that suits your gaming bankroll.

Once you set your wager, the online Blackjack dealer issues two face-up cards to you. Note that the croupier also deals two cards to themselves; however, one card is face-up while the other stays face-down. 

At this juncture, the online Blackjack betting round starts and you can spearhead your charge to the "21" through the following routes:

• Stand: You can stand if the cards dealt to you have reasonable value. Standing means staying your ground and not drawing another card from the deck. Once you stand, the dealer plays next.
• Hit: If you feel the cards at your disposal aren't good enough to reach the "21" without hassles, you can hit. Simply put, a hit means requesting for another card to augment the iterations in your possession. You're not restricted to one card and as long as you don't exceed the "21," you should be fine. You'd need to "stand" at the juncture you deem fit.
• Double Down: If your total card value is advantageous and you'd like to cement a prospective win, you can double down — double your initial bet and receive one card from the dealer. 
• Split: If the dealer issues 2 cards of the same value (a pair) to you, there's an option to place an additional wager to facilitate the splitting of these two cards. Each card will rank as a unique first card in the two subsequent hands. Although the Jack and King cards might come off as distinct, you can split them since they denote the same value. 
• Surrender: Do you think the cards dealt to you aren't good enough to give you the online Blackjack win you crave? If yes, you can surrender. Facilitating this motion during gameplay will see you give up your cards for 50% of your original wager. 

The aforementioned are the routes by which you can make a Blackjack hand that edges you closer to the "21." Note that getting cards that exceed this number will result in a Bust — losing the betting round on that specific online Blackjack stint. 

However, if you reach the "21" before the dealer does, you'll win the bet and receive a payout. Now, the onus is on you to prompt another online Blackjack betting session or go away with your wins and live to fight another DAY!

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Blackjack Rule Variations

We've taken a look at how you can play online Blackjack and what hands you can make to prompt a card value that sums up to "21." However, just like other card games, Blackjack has different inner workings. 

Whether you're playing at a land-based or online casino, you'll notice a signage indicating the rules applying to Blackjack gameplay. Taking a peek at these regulations is vital to ensure a smooth sailing gambling adventure as they dictate the speed of play, payouts, and advantage the casino has over players. 

Here are 4 notable Blackjack rule variations to note: 

#1 Blackjack Payouts

Standard Blackjack games pay out 3:2. However, players will get 1.5x their initial wagers if they reach "21" before the dealer. However, if you don't make the "21" but have a higher card value than the dealer after the Blackjack stint, regular titles will pay out 1:1.

#2 Value of Decks Featured During Gameplay

Typically, the two main alternatives you'll encounter during your Blackjack sessions are single-deck Blackjack and multi-deck Blackjack. Note that the house edge is usually lower on the former and thus, they're not popular at most casinos. 

Why?

Card counters take advantage of the single-deck Blackjack games as they feature just 52 cards, allowing them to know when to hit and call. This act saw numerous land-based casinos lose money and it's no surprise that most establishments steer clear of this format.

However, on multi-deck online Blackjack, the house edge increases to suit the number of decks inherent during gameplay.

#3 Dealer's Soft 17

The dealer's Soft 17 comes to the fore if your hand fields a 17 and one Ace. When a Soft 17 crops up, you have two options — hit or stand. 

However, if a dealer gets a Soft 17, they're usually only permitted to stand (note that some online Blackjack variants might require they only "hit"). When either of these scenarios occurs, the house edge is increased by 0.2%. Although this might seem insignificant, it adds that subtle boost to your winning values.

#4 The Dealer Peek

This action occurs when the dealer looks for a Blackjack (when cards sum up to 21) when their face-up card denotes an Ace or 10. 

Once discovered, that round ends immediately. 

Although you can opt to double or split when the dealer has an Ace or 10 as their up facing card, note that your bets are basically redundant if the dealer has a Blackjack.

The dealer peek comes in handy to prevent players from making bets that'll fall through. This scenario reduces the online Blackjack title's house edge by 0.1%.

Best Strategies and Tips to Play Online Blackjack

Although it might seem as though Blackjack is a game of pure luck, it's pertinent to note that strategies are instrumental during gameplay. However, with numerous variations available, you might find it a tad daunting to select the alternative that suits your wagering adventure to the “T.”

In this segment, we'll deliver some insight into the basic strategies you can adopt to increase your chances of making decent to colossal wins on your favorite online Blackjack alternatives.

We've highlighted certain scenarios bound to crop up in online Blackjack and what you should do when they come to the fore. Notable mentions include:

Surrender

• If you have a Hard 16, you can surrender. However, never surrender a pair of eights if the dealer has an Ace, 9, or 10.
• When the dealer has a 10, you can surrender your hard 15 against it.

Split

• Always split eights and Aces.
• Never split 5's or 10's in your possession.
• If the croupier has a 4, 5, 6, or 7, split your 2's and 3's.
• When the dealer's hand fields 3, 4, 5, or 6, split the 6's at your disposal.
• If the dealer has a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or 9 and doesn't have a 7 in the mix, it'll be best to split your 9's.

Double 

• If the croupier has cards from 3 to 6, double your hard 9's.
• If the dealer has a 10 or Ace, double the hard 10 at hand.
• If the croupier's hand wields a 5 or 6, double your soft 13 or 14.
• If the dealer has a 4 or 6, double your soft 15 or 16.
• If the dealer has 3 or 6, double your soft 17 or 18.

Hit or Stand

• If your hand denotes a hard 11, hit.
• If the croupier has a 4, 5, or 6, and you have a hard 12, stand. However, hit if you don't have a hard 12.
• If you've got a hard 17 or higher, stand on that hand.
• If you got a soft 18, it'll be in your best interests to stand. Conversely, you'd want to hit if the croupier has an Ace, 9, or 10.
• Stand if your hand features a Soft 19 or higher.

NOTE: Besides the aforementioned basic strategy, you can adopt tips like memorizing the rankings of cards and sticking to your favorite variation when playing online Blackjack. Also, remember the importance of Responsible Gambling as online Blackjack gameplay can get addictive real QUICK!