Blackjack is one of the world’s most popular casino games. This extensive guide tells you everything you need to know about how to play blackjack online.
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What is online blackjack?
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world, with some people playing it as a hobby and others playing for money. The goal of blackjack is to get as close to 21 points without going over. If you go over 21 points, then you bust, which means that your hand goes back to 0 and you lose all the chips or cash that have been wagered on this round.
To win, your hand must beat the dealer’s total, or the dealer needs to bust.
The game of blackjack has been around since the early 1700s, and it has a long history that is full of twists and turns. The term “blackjack” was first used in 1821 to describe a hand with an ace plus any ten-valued card (possible because more than one such combination can be dealt at once). If you do have an ace and a ten, you have blackjack, which is an unbeatable hand that pays out 3:2.
Remember that tens, jacks, queens and kings are all valued at ten.
Doubling down and splitting
Blackjack is a game that is played by many people all over the world. It’s easy to learn, and most of us have had some experience with it in our lifetimes (tip: play with a live dealer online to get the ultimate experience). One thing that may not be as well known about this popular card game is how to double down.
If you have a promising hand and the dealer looks weak, you can double down rather than just take another card. This means you double your initial wager and take another card – the idea being you now have twice as much to win.
You can also split your hand if you have a pair. However, there are some good strategy points. Never split tens since you already likely have a winning hand, so why risk it? Always split aces, nines and eights.
Claiming an online blackjack bonus
One of the benefits of the online blackjack casinos that we recommend on this page is that they offer bonuses to new players. Check out what our sites are offering right now – it’s likely to be a deposit bonus, where your initial deposit is matched, and it might include some free spins on the slots, too.
You will still get promotions and offers even after you sign up – online casinos are super competitive and want to keep their players happy.
Blackjack safety and security
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission licenses all the sites we recommend. That means they must comply with strict regulations, including protecting the games’ integrity, your funds and your personal data. You can trust the sites on this page.
Blackjack tips
Print off a blackjack hand chart from the internet – this will give you the optimum play in any given situation, no matter what your two starting cards are in relation to the dealer’s upcard.
The sensible approach is always to be more aggressive when the dealer looks weak – doubling down where you can and standing on even weak holdings because it’s likely the dealer will bust. If the dealer looks strong, perhaps with a ten or ace as the upcard, then don’t double down and take an extra card to try and get your total closer to 21.
