A Guide to Online Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the oldest casino games, and also one of the most widely played. Believed to have originated in the early 1600s, Blackjack is also known simply as ‘21’. Today you can enjoy Blackjack at a number of online casinos, experiencing the thrill that has made the game so popular in land casinos around the world.
Online casinos in Canada offer a number of themes and variations on the original game, and many casinos will even offer multiple games from a single site.
Learning about Online Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games because the rules are incredibly easy to understand, even for beginners to card games.
Blackjack is a simple game where the aim is to beat the dealer on card value, up to a maximum of 21. Go over 21, and you bust out, get 21 with two cards, and you score a ‘Blackjack’. Because of its simplicity, games last only a few minutes, so you can enjoy many thrilling rounds of Blackjack even if you only have a little bit of time to spare.
A typical online game will range from 1 to 7 players, not including the dealer. Blackjack can be played with a single deck of 52 cards, however both online and traditional casinos use up to 8 decks of cards in a single game. This offers more variation and frequency on the cards that can be dealt.
The game begins with the virtual dealer placing cards in front of each player in the face up position. There’s no bluffing in Blackjack, you can see exactly what every other player has. The game is purely about beating the dealer.
Card Values
Cards 2 – 9 are counted at face value, as is the 10. The King, Queen and Jack are also worth 10. The most valuable card in Blackjack is the Ace. This can be counted as either a 1 or 11 depending on what your current score is.
As an example, if you were dealt a Queen and an Ace as your first two cards, this would mean you immediately score Blackjack with 21 points. However, let’s say that you had drawn a Queen, 8, and then an Ace. In this case your Ace would be valued at 1, giving you a total score of 19. This is because valuing the Ace at 11 would cause you to exceed 21 and go bust.
Placing Wagers on Blackjack
Of course the thrill of online casino games is owed mostly to the fact that you can bet and win real money. Player’s place their Blackjack bets before the game begins. The dealer deals himself two cards, one of which is face down. He then deals each player their two face up cards. After every player has their first two cards, the dealer reveals his second card. If he has Blackjack, the house wins, regardless of whether any of the players have Blackjack.
If the dealer has not made Blackjack, players choose to hit by taking another card, or stand by staying on their current total. The dealer must also hit, and is forced to stand on a score of 17. If you beat the dealer without going bust, then you will take a return on your bet, the same goes for players at the same table who are able to do the same.
Playing Online Blackjack
The rules of online Blackjack and Blackjack in a conventional casino are exactly the same. The differences come in the bets that can be placed. With most ranked games, the minimum bet and payout percentage will vary. This allows for players of all skill levels to enjoy Blackjack without taking too much risk.
Microgaming and Playtech are the leading casino software developers, and they provide software to the majority of the online casinos. They create fair and balanced games with beautiful graphics, realistic sound effects, and lifelike randomization. You can have just as much fun playing online Blackjack as you would in a regular casino, and you won’t even have to leave your home!
If you’re new to Blackjack you can try a play for free version online. The leading online casinos offer these free games for new players to hone their skills. After learning the game you will find that Blackjack is one of the most entertaining and rewarding games available at any online casino in Canada.