Online Blackjack: Step By Step Guide For Beginners

Online blackjack is among the most popular casino games ever to grace land-based and internet venues. If you explore why this casino title is so popular, its straightforward nature is at the top of the list.

Compared to online slots, blackjack has a more extensive learning curve, but it’s not complicated. It typically takes completely inexperienced players a few minutes to grasp the gameplay. Additionally, memorizing the rules is just as effortless.

You also don’t need to worry about numerous different bets, and most of the decisions you have to make are relatively simple. When learning this game correctly, the best strategy is to start with the basics, move on to the rules, and read a step-by-step guide.

The gist of this game is to understand how to behave and make decisions based on the different scenarios and circumstances you can experience. We’ve covered all of this information in detail below, so let’s begin.

Online Blackjack: The Fundamentals

This game uses cards, and the players compete against the dealer instead of each other like in poker. The standard setup involves using one or several card decks and a specially designed table with between five and seven betting spots. Players need to choose how much they will stake before a round begins. Each active betting spot on the table will receive two cards from the dealer, and the dealer will also deal two cards to themselves (one exposed).

The game will take place with each player at the table taking action clockwise, with punters either keeping their existing cards or taking additional cards. The game rules allow players to take other cards until their hand value is 21 or more.

However, if an additional card increases the hand value over 21, the player loses their stake and goes “bust.” The dealer plays their hand after all players have completed their action. But, the dealer must also take additional cards until their hand is worth at least 17. Alternatively, they also go bust.

Note that choosing where you play this game will affect the available variants. Some of the venues that have the best offers for blackjack players will offer special treats and benefits. Free cash and other casino perks are always a wise choice to boost your bankroll, but note each operator’s terms and conditions before signing up.

Online Blackjack Card Values & Bets

Various cards in the deck assume different values in this game. For example, an ace card can have a value of either 1 or 11, cards between 2 and 10 have their face values. Additionally, the jack, queen, and king cards have a value of 10, and the suits are irrelevant.

Keep in mind that there is no more action once the dealer goes bust or reaches a hand value of 17. When this happens, settling bets is the only remaining step in the game.

Bet Payouts

If a player has a higher valued hand than the dealer and avoids going bust, they win an amount equal to their stake. Simultaneously, they also win an amount equivalent to their stake if the dealer goes bust, but the player doesn’t.

When a player gets a blackjack (any card valued at ten and an ace), and the dealer doesn’t get a blackjack, the player receives a 3:2 payout. However, if a player goes bust, they also lose their stake regardless of the dealer’s hand. Simultaneously, if a player’s hand is lower than the dealer’s hand value, they also lose their stake.

Conversely, having the same hand value as the dealer results in the player receiving their stake back, which also happens if both the player and the dealer get blackjack (21 hand values). After settling all of the bets, the round is over, and a new game can begin.

Blackjack Step-By-Step Game Example

We’ve outlined a game example below to help you excel in online blackjack as soon as possible. The stages will include:

• Starting a hand
• The deal
• Hitting or standing
• Insurance
• Splitting
• Doubling
• Surrendering
• Dealer options.

Starting A Hand

When the hand begins, players need to place their chosen stake in available betting spots. Remember that there is a minimum and maximum stake at all blackjack tables. Therefore, the amount you choose to wager must fall within those limits.

The Deal

After you place your stake in online blackjack, you’ll receive two cards from the dealer. Both of these cards will be face-up, but only one of the dealer’s two cards will also be face-up. If you receive an ace as one of your cards, you’ll be able to choose whether to value this card as a one or an 11. If your other card is a 7, you’d have the choice between valuing your hand as 8 or 18.

Hitting Or Standing

Once you receive your hand, the next step in the process is deciding how to act. Hitting or standing are the two standard options, and standing means you won’t receive any more cards. In this case, you’ll need to wait and see what happens with the dealer’s hand.

On the other hand, hitting means you’ll receive another card. You have the option of continuously choosing to hit until you either go bust or reach 21. Going bust means you’ll lose your stake.

Insurance

In cases where the dealer has an as their exposed card, you’ll be able to opt for insurance against the dealer getting a blackjack. However, you’ll need to “pay” for this bet with half your original bet. If the dealer lands a blackjack, this bet will pay at 2:1, but you lose if they don’t get blackjack.

Splitting

Online blackjack also allows splitting, which is helpful if you receive two cards of the same value. You can split these cards into two hands, but going down this route will cost you more chips. Each card will continue to form a new hand and receive an additional card. You can use these two hands as usual, one with your initial stake and the other with the additional one.

Doubling

There are situations where you can double your stake after receiving the initial two cards. The precise moment when you can double depend on the rules of the blackjack variant you’re playing. You receive one additional card when you double, and you must stick no matter the extra card’s value.

Surrendering

Some online blackjack variants allow players to surrender after receiving their initial two cards. You forfeit half your initial stake when you surrender and also stop participating in the round. Despite sounding counterproductive, under the right circumstances, surrendering is the sensible thing to do.

One example is a situation where you have 16, and the dealer shows a 10. Under these circumstances, your chances of winning the hand are below 50%. Therefore, surrendering in such a situation would save you money in the long run despite the initial loss.

Dealer Options

The dealer’s options are limited once the play gets around to them. The dealer doesn’t have the chance to surrender, double, or split, meaning they can only stand or hit. In other words, the dealer has to follow fixed rules and doesn’t get to make decisions. Claiming casino bonuses is a particularly effective way of boosting your bankroll enough to gain such an advantage over the dealer when playing blackjack online.

If they have 17 or above, they must stand. Conversely, if the dealer has 16 or below, they must hit. Alternatively, going bust means that all of the players still in the online blackjack round win, and the house ultimately loses.