How to Play One of the Most Popular Online Casino Games? A Guide to Blackjack Online

Blackjack has long been a mainstay of land-based casinos, and it has also become one of the most frequently played online casino games too.

Millions of online players enjoy this popular card game on a regular basis and there are plenty of top blackjack casinos to choose from. The difficulty comes down to deciding which is the best to play at and we can offer our help. We've got plenty of reviews as well as pages dedicated to providing you with useful tips and advice. But here on this page we'll be looking more specifically at the game. Keep reading and before you know it you'll be playing at a top black jack casino.

How to Play Online Blackjack

It might surprise you to know that blackjack is actually a very simple game to play. Of course, it will take a little longer to master but practice will most definitely help. The basic aim of the game is to get a hand of cards that combined are as close as possible to 21. If the combined total of the cards is more than 21 it's considered a bust. There are rules involved that you need to follow, and we'd advise you to play a few free games and get in some practice before playing for real money.

Sat around a blackjack casino table will be the dealer and a number of players. The dealer first deals two cards to every player, face up, and then deals their own cards, one that's face down and one face up. The face down card is known as the hole card. Players then look at their cards and take it in turns to decide whether they want to hit, stand, split or double down.

• Hit – want to be dealt another card
• Stand – want to stick with the two cards that have been dealt
• Split – want to turn the dealt hand into two and play them separately
• Double down – similar to splitting but only one more card will be dealt

To stay in the game the cards in a player’s hand have to total 21 or less. If they are more than the player has bust and is out of the game. Only when all the players have made their choices does the dealer reveal the hole card. For a player to win they will need to beat the dealer's hand.

These are the basic blackjack rules but there are a few additional ones you'll need to know in order to play the game most effectively. Many of the best blackjack casinos will offer something known as an insurance bet. It's offered if the dealer has an ace in their hand and allows players to stake half their original bet and bet that the dealer will have blackjack.

If the dealers hand totals 17 or better the rules say they have to stand. This is a way of standardizing dealer play and giving players a small advantage at the table. There is a little leeway, when it comes to this particular rule, at a number of top blackjack casinos, for example Ladbrokes. For example, if the hand includes a Ace it's called a soft ace and can be counted as a 1, with the dealer being able to take another card.

The Best Blackjack Casinos Will Offer a Number of Variants

Once you've tackled the problem of finding the best black jack casino, the next hurdle will be to pick a game. Blackjack can be played in a number of different ways and we're going to introduce the most popular.

Classic Blackjack

This a version of the game that can be played at all blackjack casinos. Up to 8 decks are used to play the game and the game follows much the same lines as we've just described.

Progressive Blackjack

This game plays much the same way as classic blackjack, but players get the chance to win an ever-increasing jackpot. On the whole, the rules tend to be the same, although you may find a few variations in respect of the cards being hit, split, doubled or stand.

European Blackjack

This games to involve just two decks of cards and they are dealt slightly differently. The dealer's hole card won't get dealt until all players have played their hands.

Pontoon

This is a twist on the traditional way of playing blackjack and is very similar to another version known as Spanish 21. And instead of calling hit, stand and blackjack, twist, stick and pontoon are called.

Spanish 21

This particular blackjack casino version of the game uses 6 or 8 decks. Cards with a value of 10 are removed from the packs so that there are only 48 cards in each deck. The reason this is done is that it increases the house edge. The dealer is allowed to look at the hole card and will win if it's a blackjack or 21. a tie will be the result if a player also has blackjack. Insurance and late surrender are permitted and it's also possible to double down after a surrender.

Live Dealer Blackjack

It's possible to enjoy the atmosphere and thrill of playing at a real live casino with live dealer blackjack. No need to worry about traveling long distances. Instead the dealer and the table come to you.

Best Blackjack Casinos

Betting Site	Deposit & Cashout Options	Bonus Amount	Required Deposit	Start Playing
Casino.com	Debit/Credit Card, Wire Transfer, Skrill, Ukash, Laser, ecoPayz	Up to $400 Welcome Bonus*	$20	Claim your bonus
ekbet	Debit/Credit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer, Paysafecard	$20 No Deposit*	$20	Claim your bonus
Jackpot City	Debit/Credit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Puggle Pay Ideal	Up To $1600 Bonus*	$10	Claim your bonus

What Are the Benefits of Playing Blackjack at an Online Casino?

The number one benefit is the same for all online casino games and is convenience. Not many players have a casino on their doorstep which means they'd have to travel considerable distances in order to enjoy their favorite games. Playing casino games can now be enjoyed using a desktop in your own home. Or with the help of a mobile device your favorite games can go with you wherever you go. Even the thrill and excitement of a live venue can be enjoyed with the advent of live dealer blackjack casino games. And it's not just blackjack you get to play, because there are plenty of alternatives. Why not give slots a try? Or spin the wheel and enjoy a game of roulette? Bingo, keno, craps, poker, baccarat and Sic Bo are just a few more examples.

When you play at a blackjack casino you'll be able to enjoy far more games per hour than in a land-based casino. If you happen to be using a mathematical strategy for your games this will increase your chance of winning. If you're playing more hands it stands to reason the chance of winning will be higher. Let's give you some figures so you can appreciate the difference. In a land-based casino you can expect to be sat at a table with 7 other players and on average there will be 52 hands per hour. On the other hand, play online and it's just you and the dealer. Which means there could be as many as 200 hands per hour.

One more advantage worth a mention is that you get the option of changing tables if you want to. It could be that your hands aren't working out and a change of table might make a difference. Playing online means you're not stuck at one table, or at one particular casino.

Top Tips to Help You Find the Best Blackjack Casinos

Now you've made it almost to the end of this online blackjack guide we've decided to finish up by sharing the features we look for in a top blackjack casino.