This is the best and easiest-to-read blackjack guide online.
In this guide, you will learn how to play blackjack in a way that reduces the house edge.
In addition, you’ll find a list of the top 10 casino sites to play this game, along with seven of my very best gaming tips.
First of all, there are two different types of blackjack games that are offered online. You can play against a computer or against a real dealer.
Types of Online Blackjack in a Casino
At online casinos, you will find two main types of blackjack games. These are:
- RNG blackjack (it is played against software known as the Random Number Generator)
- Live blackjack (it is played live against a real human dealer).
Left: RNG Blackjack vs. Right: Live Blackjack
RNG BLACKJACK
This is an option given to a player when playing online blackjack. You play it on a virtual table against the Random Number Generator (RNG).
RNG online blackjack is free to play at almost every casino, even without creating an account. This is a great opportunity to get to know the game better before making a deposit.
Live BlackJack
Live online blackjack is an option that allows the player to take on a live dealer and play against them online from the comfort of their home.
This is an interesting way of playing where you can chat with the dealer and other players in real time.
Now that you know a little more about the types of blackjack, let’s move on and learn the essential rules that will reduce the house edge by a few percent.
How to Play Blackjack?
Blackjack is a game where you play against the house, not against other players.
The object of the game is to beat the dealer, which can be done in three different ways.
Here are the three most common ways and the results you can expect:
- If the value of the cards is higher than 21 to the dealer, it is considered a bust and you automatically win.
- Cards with a total value of 21 are called “blackjack,” and if you have that hand, you automatically win.
- If the dealer and player both get 21, the game is considered a draw. This means that the dealer and player(s) can withdraw their bets without losing any chips or money.
In order to win, you must first learn what the different concepts mean, the value of the cards, and what payouts the different bets give, and then put this knowledge together to understand how to play this game.
Player options
The game starts when a dealer deals the cards. We bet and followed the course of the game. In the text below, we explain which options we can choose from when we get the cards.
Hit: This happens when you or the dealer have been dealt two cards and you decide you want to be dealt another card to add up the total card value. You’re basically telling the dealer to give you another card.
Stand: This happens when you or the dealer decide that their total card value is already as high as they’d like, so you don’t want any more cards from the deck. Double Down: First of all, you only get one chance to double down during the game, and this is right after you’ve dealt your two cards. When you double, you actually double your bet, and now you can only get one card.
Split: This happens when you have two equal cards in hand and you want to split them and make two piles. For example, you have an ace and a seven in your hand. Splitting gives you two stacks-the one with the ace and the one with the seven. It’s like playing two rounds in one round.
Surrender: As it sounds, you don’t feel like you’re going to win, so you give up right away so that you can keep half the stake. (This is not recommended).
Insurance: The option to buy insurance is offered when the ace is the dealer’s first up card. (This is not recommended).
As insurance, we can split half of our original bet and bet that the dealer wins. If the dealer gets a blackjack, our insurance bet pays out 2:1, but our main bet is lost. We lose our insurance if the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack at the end of the hand.
To understand when to double down, ask for cards, or fold, you must first understand the value of the cards so that you can predict your hand.
Card Values in Blackjack
Card values in blackjack:
An explanation
Ace has a value of 1 or 11.
A lady and a foursome add up to 14.
An ace and a four add up to five or fifteen.
The colour of the cards does not matter.
Cards 2 through 10 are equal to the numerical value on the card.
A hand containing an ace changes its value and is called a “soft hand.”
Jack, Queen, and King cards have a value of 10 and are called face cards.
A hand that does not have an ace is called a “hard hand” because it has only one value.
Now that you know how and where to play blackjack, let’s take a look at how payouts work.
Blackjack Payouts
- When you get blackjack (21 by getting an ace and a 10), the payout is 3:1.
- If the dealer has 21 and you have 21, this is called a “push” or a “draw,” and no money is taken or given by either side.
- If the dealer busts or if you are closer to 21 than the dealer, you win.
- If you bust or have a lower total in your hand, the dealer wins and takes your bet.
Are there strategies that can increase the chances of winning?
Blackjack cheat sheet (player decision)
There are strategies and cheat sheets for blackjack that will increase your chances of winning the game.
These Blackjack cheat sheets or charts show
- your hand value
- The dealer’s card
- and each letter symbolises a game choice.
Let’s say you’re playing a single-deck blackjack with the dealer playing a soft 17.
Your card value is 15, and the dealer’s card value is 7. On a blackjack sheet, you are advised to choose H (Hit) (look at the picture).
Here you can see all the payment options during a blackjack game.
The Online Blackjack Strategy Calculator
The Blackjack Strategy Calculator, or Hand Blackjack Calculator, is a useful innovation that shows players their best move for a particular blackjack hand.
There are so many different blackjack strategy calculators online that players can use.
These calculators work by entering the value of the dealer’s first card and your two cards, and the calculator will show you the best possible move to make (stand, hit, split, double).
According to the ultimate blackjack strategy charts, your best possible next move is displayed every time you enter a particular hand sample.
The main advantage is that they are quick and easy to use.
It is much easier than a blackjack card with hundreds of numbers and combinations that can confuse you during the game as you look for the best hand combination.
Blackjack table
The blackjack game is played on a specially designed table in a semicircular shape.
The number of players at the blackjack table ranges from five to seven or even twelve seats.
The most common is the five- and seven-seat blackjack tables, with a separate square or circle for each player.
Once seated, you must place your bet in the betting circle or box in front of you.
Only chips in the betting box are considered a bet for the upcoming hand.
In the middle of the table it usually writes the most important rules regarding the payout and the dealer’s playing style.
When it comes to a blackjack table, there are a few important things new players need to understand, including:
The best position at the blackjack table, according to most experienced players, is the last to act.At the full blackjack table, the best position is the seat furthest to the left when facing the dealer. This is also known as the third base position.
Most blackjack tables require a minimum buy-in amount of NZD5 or NZD10. Lately, there are many tables with a buy-in of NZD25. But when it comes to online casinos, players can find tables from NZD0.10 to NZD25.
There are many great locations where you can buy cheap blackjack tables, in many varieties. Some of the best sites where you can check the prices and quality of tables are: www.tcsjohnhuxley.com, www.casinosupply.com, or www.americangamingsupply.com. Before you start playing online, I think you should learn a few things about how online casinos work.
It’s good to know about online blackjack games.
Online blackjack games work the same way as their offline counterparts. What differs and what we think you should know as a player are the following:
In online casinos, you cannot count cards when playing blackjack. This is because the casino uses a new virtual deck of cards with every game round.
The online version offers more variants of the game than land-based casinos. This means that some online blackjack games may have their own rules that the classic game does not follow. For example, there is a version where the dealer is always on soft 17.
At an online casino, you can always click on the info icon during the game and get all the information about the game, such as the RTP, game rules, card values, and other essentials.
7 great game tips that work online.
The best game tips
Beginner strategies, guidelines and/or hints for beginners.
1. Understand the game’s fundamental rules:
Learn the basic rules of the game so you don’t make unnecessary beginner mistakes.
When Should You Split:
Most experts agree that we should always split if we have an ace or an 8 in hand.
3. When Should You Stand?
You must always stay if you have 17 or higher values on your cards.
4. When should you always draw a new card?
You must always get a new card if you have an 8 or lower.
Find out how much you can win on different bets:
In the “Payouts” section, we look at how much profit a winning hand generates. Find out how much you can win depending on the bets you place.
6. When should I turn in my work?
Folding is not often a good choice, but there are several scenarios where you simply assume that the chance of winning is too small. In these cases, it may be wise to stop and keep half of the money. We’ll go over all of these scenarios further down the page.
7. What is insurance in blackjack and why should you never use it?
The casino offers insurance when it has an ace in hand. The insurance costs half of your original bet. To take advantage of this, the casino must get a 10 and win. You will then get half of the money back. As you can probably understand, this is an attractive offer that should be avoided as the odds of winning and the profit are quite small.
How do I start?
How do I get started and how long does it take before I can start playing?
- The first thing you need to do is choose a casino. Visit the website and click “Register.”
- Enter your information, such as your name, address, email, and other things that the casino needs.
- Once you have completed the registration form, the casino will send you an email. Open it and click on the verification link.
- Your account has been activated and you can now visit the casino and start playing.
- However, you are not quite ready to start playing yet! First you need to login and make your first deposit.
- Please note that different payment methods have different withdrawal times. If you want to get your winnings paid out quickly, then you need to choose a fast payment method from the start.
- Go to the live casino, select a blackjack game, and click play.
How much money can I wager?
How much we can bet per hand varies from casino to casino, but the most common bets are:
NZ$/stake
NZ $5 dollars/bet
NZ$25 dollars/bet
VIP NZ $100/bet
Players can get higher limits.
But… what if I don’t want to play in the live casino? Well, then you can choose from several RNG blackjack games.
Popular RNG Blackjack Varieties
Online casinos offer different types of RNG blackjack games. Given the large number of casino game developers, it is not surprising to see so many different varieties of this popular game.
Below, we have listed the two most popular online blackjack game types that you can play against the RNG.
European BlackJack
European Blackjack is played with two, four, or even six decks. It is considered to be one of the most played games in land-based casinos across Europe.
The dealer is always on soft 17 and draws on 16. Surrendering is never allowed.
BLACKJACKET ATLANTIC CITY
This card game is popular in all US mainland casinos as well as online. Surrender is allowed.
The dealer is also on soft 17. It is played with eight decks of cards, and the game is popular for its low house edge.
So this is our blackjack guide. What do you think? Feel free to rate our information so we can get better. Let us know what tips you use, what games you prefer, or ask a question about something we missed here.
Tips for casinos in New Zealand
In addition to mastering the blackjack game to optimize your winning chances, you can also opt for online casinos with better conditions.
At New Zealand CasinosTM, we have created top lists of the very best casinos in various categories.
For example, just as you learned how to play the game of blackjack, you can learn how to take advantage of casino bonuses and use them when you play blackjack to get more money to play with.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blackjack
Do Blackjack Dealers Count Cards?
No, blackjack dealers are not required to count cards. They are paid by the hour with the primary job of following the game procedure, not trying to determine if someone will win or lose.
However, if you are a card counting blackjack player, it is not the dealer’s job to determine whether you use that method.
There are employees in the casinos who watch the game at every table. When it comes to online blackjack, card counting for both the player and the dealer is impossible.
In online blackjack, the deck changes after each hand.
What is the best strategy for playing blackjack online?
The best blackjack strategy for a novice player would be to use a blackjack strategy chart.
There are many different blackjack strategy charts on the internet. Your job is to choose the one that best suits your playing style.
If you pick one, your best bet is to play a few rounds for free and see if it works for you.
Many professional blackjack players will agree that using basic strategy to win at blackjack is not enough.
Knowing the strategy won’t hurt you, but if you were successful at the blackjack table, it would be best to learn to count cards and approach deviations.
What could happen if the casino catches me counting cards online?
Those players who know how to count cards in blackjack are not welcome at the casino.
If you play for a lot of money and win, you will become suspicious of employees and they will watch your game.
If they find that you are counting cards, they will kick you off the table, talk to you and set a limit on your bets.
If you disagree, the staff will kick you out of the casino and confiscate your winnings.
So if you plan on counting cards, bet less and play discreetly.
Can I split twice at blackjack?
If you’ve chosen to play regular standard blackjack, the rules state that you can split the hand up to three times, meaning you play 4 hands in one hand.
Take, for example, the hand where you have J and 10, and you choose to split.
After that, you have two hands at the table to play: the 10 and the J.
If the next card drawn is a 10, you have the right to repeat the split.
Before you start playing, check the game rules to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Can the blackjack dealer split?
No, blackjack dealers never split, double, or give up.
When the dealer busts, the hands of all the remaining players at the table win.
If a dealer is on a soft 17 or 18, all remaining bets win if the value of the hand is higher than the dealer’s.
If the player’s hand value is less than the dealer’s, the dealer wins.
What is a “soft 17” in blackjack?
An ace can be 11 or 1, depending on the situation, and the soft 17 is where the dealer has an ace and a 6 (A/6).
That’s a “soft 17,” because it could be 17 or 7. So if the dealer hits that and gets anything higher than a 4, they wouldn’t bust because the ace would be calculated as 1 and not 11.
Can I count cards in online blackjack?
In land-based casinos, some players know how to count cards and make money from them, but this is not the case in online casinos.
When playing against RNG, there is no way to count cards as the deck changes after each hand.
There is a way to count cards in live casinos where the dealer deals the cards, but you have to be an expert to do this.
How many decks do casinos use in online blackjack?
In most cases, online blackjack casinos use eight, six, four, or two decks of cards and shuffle them after the half hand is dealt.
What is the probability of winning?
Card value: 20. 92% chance of winning.
Card value 19 85% chance of winning
Card value 18 77% chance of winning
Card value: 17 (69% chance of winning)
Card value: 16 (62% chance of winning)
Card value 15 58% chance of winning
14 – 56% chance of winning based on card value
Card value: 13 (39% chance of winning)
Card value: 12 (31% chance to win)
Card value 11 0% chance to win
What is the history of blackjack?
The game dates back to the early 17th century, where we find the first written indication of this in the book Rinconete and Cortadillo, written by Miguel de Cervantes.
Cervantes is the author of the famous book Don Quixote and is known as a gambler.
Rinconete and Cortadillo are two cheaters from Seville who earn their living by cheating in the game “Ventiuna” (in Spanish “21”).
The book says that the object of the game is to reach the sum of cards equal to 21, but not to exceed that sum.
It is also written that the ace in the game is worth 1 or 11.
The storey was written around 1601. The game later ended up in France and, after a while, also in the US. In the beginning, casinos offered bonuses to entice players to play.
Today, this card game has many different types and is one of the most popular casino games in the world.
The first blackjack table in New Zealand was at the Christchurch casino.
The Christchurch Casino was the first mainland casino in New Zealand, opening in 1994.
Today it has 36 gaming tables with the most popular casino games, including standard, plus, and $2 blackjack.