Online blackjack aims to beat the dealer by having a hand total that is closer to 21 than the dealer's hand, without going over 21. Here is a guide to the basic rules:
A Guide To Basic Rules of Online Blackjack
- Card Values: Cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value. Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10, and Aces can be worth either 1 or 11, depending on which value benefits the hand more.
- Gameplay: Each player is dealt two cards, usually face up. The dealer also receives two cards, typically with one face up (the "upcard") and one face down (the "hole card").
- Player Decisions: After the initial deal, players can choose to "Hit" (take another card) or "Stand" (keep their current hand). Players can also "Double Down" (double their bet and receive one more card), "Split" (if they have a pair, they can split them into two separate hands), or in some cases, "Surrender" (give up half their bet and end the hand).
- Dealer Play: The dealer will play according to set rules, usually standing on all 17s (hard and soft).
- Winning: If your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer's, you win. If you get a "Blackjack" (an Ace and a 10-value card as your first two cards), you typically win 1.5 times your bet, unless the dealer also has Blackjack, which results in a push (tie).
- Payouts: Regular wins pay 1:1, Blackjack wins usually pay 3:2, and insurance bets (offered when the dealer's upcard is an Ace) pay 2:1
How to play your hand with online blackjack
Playing your hand in online blackjack involves making decisions based on the cards you have and the dealer's upcard. Here are some general guidelines:
- When to Hit: If the total value of your hand is 11 or lower, you should always hit. This is because the probability of getting a card that will make your total greater than 21 is low. If you have a hand value of 12-16, the decision to hit or stand can be more complex and depends on the dealer's upcard. If the dealer's upcard is 7 or higher, it's generally recommended to hit
- When to Stand: If your hand has a value of 17 or more, it is usually best to stand. This is because the risk of busting (going over 21) is high. However, if you have a "soft" 17 (a hand that includes an Ace counting as 11), some strategies suggest hitting, as the Ace can then count as 1 if you go over 21
- When to Double Down: Doubling down means you double your bet and receive one more card. This is typically done when your hand total is 9, 10, or 11, and you believe that you have a good chance of hitting 20 or 21 with one more card
- When to Split: If you have a pair, you can choose to split them into two separate hands. Generally, always split Aces and 8s. Never split 5s or 10s. For other pairs, the decision to split depends on the dealer's upcard
- When to Surrender: Some games offer the option to surrender. This means you give up half your bet and end the hand immediately. This is typically done when you have a weak hand (like 15 or 16) and the dealer's upcard is a 10 or Ace
Finding the best site to Play Blackjack Online
Online sites are everywhere and the best one for you is really contingent upon a handful of vectors. Some of the bigger websites have more players and therefore have the most number of games running at any given time. On the other hand, some of the smaller websites might have more aggressive sign-up bonuses which you may or may not prefer. Some of the websites offer different variants of card games and others are limited. You have to decide what you want for your online website and, after a bit of research just go for it. You can try blackjack with online bonuses.
Almost every website you find will offer a sign-up bonus in order to entice new players. Typically, the websites will match whatever amount of money you deposit by a certain percentage, and if you’re lucky that percentage is 100%. So, for example, if you deposit $200 on the website the match bonus is 100%, and they will give you 200 extra dollars in your account after that first deposit which means you now have to play a certain number of games but you have $400 with which to do it. There are of course plenty of other sign-up bonuses that websites offer such as free games or massive bonuses that are unlocked the more you play different hands. Other third-party websites might provide special perks like tickets to online tournaments. So do some preliminary research and find out what you prefer.
Making deposits and withdrawals for your online site
Actually getting money on your website's account is pretty simple today. Depending on where you live you might have a wider array of options for deposits such as online checks, credit cards, bank transfers, and third-party websites like PayPal. Most of the top online casinos for Aussies allow you to make withdrawals using the same number of options. If you use third-party systems like PayPal you can often diminish the number of fees and the amount of those fees each time you complete a transaction which can help you to keep more of your winnings in your pocket.
Loyalty programs
When you play online at our approved online sites you have the option of earning points the more often you play. Unlike traditional casinos, when you play online you get frequent player points almost every time you open a table and these points will eventually add up and allow you to redeem them for cash or prizes. Most of the time these frequent player points can be used for perks like cash in your account, free merchandise, or entry into tournaments. The value of these points should not be underestimated. Don’t let them just sit in your account. There are plenty of valuable rewards waiting for you as long as you remain cognizant of how many points you have and use them to your advantage.