Online Blackjack Games
are played every day
by people from all
over the world.
Whether you would like
to play blackjack for
real money, or if you
are just looking for
some free blackjack
games to practice your
skills, we'll show you
where to play.
Download any of the
online casinos to the
right to get started
right away.
Blackjack is the classic card
game that almost everyone
feels like they have a chance
at winning. The idea of simply
having to get twenty-one
points out of your cards,
makes many a gambler feel that
they can win the deceptively
complex game. What many don’t
realize is that it is a game
based on strategy, as well as
luck.
Blackjack, also
known as “21,” Vingt-et-un
(which is simply 21 in
French), or Pontoon, is a card
game based on the idea that
you must get no more than 21
points when playing it from
the numbers and faces on your
cards. You simply want to hit
the magic number, or stay
underneath of it, for once you
go over, or “go bust,” the
dealer wins.
The first
reference of blackjack is in a
book dated between 1601 and
1602. The game had been played
at a much earlier date due to
references within the text,
but this is the first written
account of the game. Blackjack
grew in popularity from there,
with references of the game in
France and Spain in the early
17th century. When first
introduced in the states it
was not well received. By
offering various payouts to
their gamblers, gambling
houses were able to entice
them to give the game a try.
Blackjack is a delicate
balance where one must look at
the cards on the table and
figure out what his chances
are of winning the hand, or at
least getting a number higher
than the dealer’s without
going over. Once you go over,
even if the dealer busts as
well, you lose your money.
This is where the idea of
“counting cards” comes in.
Some swear that it is possible
to count the number of cards
that have been used to a
degree of probability that you
can determine what your next
hand will be. Obviously this
is frowned upon by the
casinos.
When playing
blackjack, the face cards are
worth 10 points each, and the
number cards are worth their
face value. However, the Ace
can be either a 1 or an 11
depending on your other cards.
When it is being used as an 11
it is called a “soft hand” for
it can change to a one if the
cards dealt would bust the
player, at which point it
would revert back.
Each
player at the table is playing
their own game of blackjack
with the dealer. It is
possible for the dealer to win
and lose at the same time.
Perhaps you are playing with
five people at the table. One
of them gets 16, one gets 23,
one gets 21, one gets 30 and
one gets 10. If the dealer
gets 15 there will be two
winners and that would be the
person who had 21 and the
person who had 16. However,
let’s say the dealer busts –
now everyone wins except for
the one who had 23 and the one
who had 30 – for even if the
dealer busts, if you have
busted as well you both lose.
Now let’s say he gets 21 –
everyone loses except for the
person with the 21 – in that
case he has tied with the
dealer and it is called a
“push” and no one wins.
The amount that you can
bet on blackjack varies per
table and per casino. The
amount is clearly posted on
the table so you know what you
are playing with when you sit
down. After the initial bets
are placed, the dealer will
pass out the cards from
anywhere from one deck of
cards on up. The dealer gives
two cards to each player
including himself and then
turns one of his cards face
up. In American blackjack
there is also the issue of
insurance. If the dealer’s
face up card is an ace, or any
one of the ten value cards,
the dealer asks the players if
they want insurance. This
means that should the dealer
already have blackjack you
will not lose your initial
bet. If you have anything
other than blackjack you will
lose your bet. As a general
rule you should never take
insurance. Most of the time
the dealer does not have
blackjack, and insurance is a
sucker's bet for the most
part. An experienced blackjack
player will only take
insurance under the most
favorable conditions, which
are not the norm, so unless
you're counting cards and know
the count, don't take
insurance.
There
are several options open to
the blackjack player upon
receiving his cards.
Blackjack Moves:
Hit: which means take
another card, usually shown by
player hitting table with
finger.
Stay
(or) Stand: Which
means he will not take any
more cards. This is also known
as stick or stand, and is
usually shown by player moving
hand horizontally.
Double Down: They will
increase their bet and take
one more card. They can go as
high as double their original
bet, which is usually
standard. They can go less,
but that is called “double
down for less” and is not
usually allowed in the
casinos. It is shown by
placing additional chips next
to the original bet and making
the one finger sign.
Split: Means they will double
the bet and make each card be
the first card in a new hand.
Both cards must have same rank
for this to occur, and is
shown by placing additional
chips next to the original bet
and making one finger sign.
Surrender: this is when
you forfeit half of the amount
of money that you have bet and
you give up your hand. This is
a rare one as many casinos do
not allow this move.
What is interesting is that
most casinos require the hand
signals so that there is no
confusion as to what it is
they want the dealer to do.
Once everyone has made their
choice, the dealer flips over
their cards and if you have
won they will pay you out at
1:1.
Play Blackjack Online:
There are several thousand casinos in operation today where you can play 21 for a chance to win real money. If you would like to play online blackjack games, we suggest you visit any of the casinos at the top of this page.
