When it comes to classic casino games, one in particular stands out as being a bit different from the rest. This game is not based on pure luck, and players need to actually think hard and come up with a strategy in order to win. We are talking, of course, about blackjack – one of the favourite card games of many people across the world.
Playing online blackjack with real money can be really rewarding, provided that you know what you are doing. In this article, we will give you the rundown on everything that is important about this great game, and help you find the best online casino to play at.
The Rules of Blackjack
Blackjack is a game played with 1 – 8 standard decks of cards. The dealer deals two face-up cards to each player, then deals himself one face-up card and one face-down card. The objective of the game is to have a better combination than the dealer. Each card type has a value in points – you need to collect more than the dealer’s total, without exceeding 21. Aces count as either 1 or 11, face cards count as 10, and all other cards have value equal to their number. If you are lucky enough to get an Ace and any 10-valued card, you have a blackjack – the strongest possible combination in the game.
Upon receiving your cards, you must choose what action to attempt, in order to get as close to 21 as possible. The options are the following:
- You can Stand and pass your turn to the dealer if you are satisfied with your total score
- If you want another card from the dealer, you can choose to Hit
- There is always the option to give up and reclaim half of your bet by announcing a Fold
- You can Split your two cards into two separate hands and have the dealer hit them
- You can Double Down by doubling your current bet and taking one last card from the dealer
- If you suspect that the dealer has a blackjack, you can use Insurance by starting a separate bet that you win if you turn out to be right
Keep in mind that different blackjack games might utilise different rules, especially when it comes to actions such as Split, Double, and Insurance. Make sure you familiarise yourself with the rules of the particular game before playing it with real money. If you are playing a game with many restrictions, know that the house edge is a bit higher than it should be – which means that you will probably win less in the long run.
Side Bets
Side bets are extra wagers that you can place outside of the main game. They might or might not be available in the game you are playing, so make sure you check out for them, too. Although there are many types of side bets, a few of them are quite common, and you will probably encounter them while playing.
21+3 is a side bet that concerns your opening hand and the dealer’s face-up card. You can bet on whether those three cards will form one of the combinations in poker – Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, etc. As you can probably figure out yourself, the chances of those combinations happening is not really big, which means that if they do happen, you can win a great amount of money.
Perfect Pairs is another quite famous side bet. It involves betting on whether the two opening cards of a player (or the dealer) have something in common – like colour, suit, etc. If you guess right, you win – and if the two cards turn out to be identical, you can win a sum equal to 25 times your wager!
The Hi/Lo side bet gives you the opportunity to bet on whether your opening hand will value less than 13, more than 13, or exactly 13. If you get it right, you win.
The Bet Behind side bet is heavily featured in many live dealer casinos. It basically allows you to place bets on other players’ hands and win if they win. This can come in pretty handy, especially if you stumble across a player on a winning streak, or someone who really knows what they’re doing.
Top Developers of Blackjack Games
The market for online casino games is dynamic and constantly growing. There are many software companies that specialise in creating such products, and as a result, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of blackjack games out there. Let’s take a look at some of the leading developers in the field.
NetEnt are renowned for producing casino games of exceptional quality. Their catalogue features plenty of blackjack games, most of which are perfectly standard. There are, however, some interesting variation thrown in the mix, like Single Deck Blackjack, Pontoon, and Double Exposure. Each title is absolutely spectacular when it comes to visuals and gameplay.
Playtech are currently the most famous developers in the field, and they keep on refreshing their catalogue with more than 50 games a year. They have created many fan-favourite blackjack games, like 21 Duel, Multi-Hand Blackjack, Double Attack, and Blackjack Surrender. Playtech also holds the rights to the game Blackjack Switch, which is quickly becoming popular among players.
Microgaming have been around long enough to amass a truly enormous catalogue of games. Of course, there are many blackjack titles in there, both old-school and new. What is particularly exciting about Microgaming is their live casino, and especially its Playboy-themed part. There, you can enjoy your favourite game while playing with attractive dealers dressed as Playboy bunnies.
Top Blackjack Casinos in the UK
Blackjack games are available at every one of our top 10 best UK casinos. However, when it comes to quantity and quality of available games, some operators stand out from the others. Below, you can see the top casinos for blackjack enthusiasts.
Leo Vegas is one of the best casinos out there, and features more than 15 different blackjack games. Many of them feature a variety of side bets, and there are spinoff games like Single Deck and Double Exposure. On top of all that, Leo Vegas sports the best mobile app of all online casinos, so you can enjoy your favourite games while on the go.
Betway has one of the biggest game libraries in the business – there are over 500 games in it! Among them are more than 30 blackjack variations, with many different rules and side bets. On top of that, the live dealer games at Betway are one of the best we’ve ever come across. They are powered by impeccable Evolution Gaming software, and have outstanding audio/video quality.
32Red is an award-winning casino that continues to evolve and impress with its great game selection and enticing bonus offers. There are over 25 blackjack games in their library, most of which are developed by Microgaming. We were really pleased with the variety and quality of the titles. 32Red’s live casino is not that impressive, but at least it features Playboy themed blackjack tables, once again courtesy of Microgaming.
Tips & Strategies
As we already mentioned, blackjack is one of the few casino games that are not about pure luck, and allow players to devise and use a strategy to help them win. However, it is important to remember that there is no way to reduce the house edge to zero – it’s just how the game is designed. Even if you come up with a perfect strategy, the casino will always have a slight advantage over you.
In blackjack, it is essential to know what actions are advisable in different situations. You can find plenty of information on that online – there are detailed charts that explain the recommended moves for any given situation. Of course, those are not guaranteed to always work, but they will give you a pretty good idea about the kind of logic you should implement in your own strategies.
You have probably heard of ‘card counting’, and that it’s extremely useful for blackjack. That is true, and if you want to give it a try, there is a whole lot of information on the Internet. Just remember to use the method only on live dealer games – RNG games automatically shuffle the whole deck after every round, making card counting impossible.
Start Playing Blackjack Today!
We love blackjack because it’s not yet another game of chance. Yes, luck does play some part in it, but in the end it all comes down to the choices you make while playing the game. So, if you are ready to step in and start playing real money blackjack, pick one of our recommended casino and register.
In our humble opinion, the best way to experience online blackjack is by playing live dealer games. Thanks to the modern software and the talent of the developers, you can really experience that genuine casino atmosphere while resting in the comfort of your own home. Give it a try today!