Online Casino Blackjack Games

Blackjack is a great game to play at an online casino. It is just like the real thing that is so popular at land based casinos. With online blackjack being so simple to play all you need is a good standard strategy and by not straying from this you can get some great winnings. Of course, the cards can be unkind but if you have a budget and do not go over this any losses will be controlled.

There are a few different varieties of blackjack that can be played online. There is of course the standard Blackjack where you place a bet and try and get 21 with 2 or more cards. If you get blackjack (a total of 21 in 2 cards) you get paid 3 to 2, so a $5 bet would give you $12.50. If you dont get 21 but end up on a high number that beats the dealer (or the dealer goes bust) you will double your money.

Other varieties of online blackjack are as follows:

Blackjack Surrender -The rules follow standard blackjack rules. After you have been dealt your 2 cards you get an extra option. In addition to “Hit”, “Stand”, “Double” or “Split” you also have the chance to “Surrender”. If you feel that your cards give you little chance of winning you can throw them away and get half your bet back.
Blackjack Switch - This variation give you 2 hands that you play in turn. The basic rules are the same in that you need to get closer to 21 than the dealer without going bust. but in switch you have 2 hands to choose from. Before the first “hit” you may swap the top cards of your hands to give you a better opportunity. There is also a Supermatch bet, this is a side bet on the 4 cards that you are initially dealt. If you get a pair or above you will win the side bet.
21 Duel Blackjack - In this game you place an ante and are dealt 1 card face up and 1 card face down, and 2 communty cards - You do not see any of the dealers cards but you know that one of the community cards will be used in the dealers hand. At this stage you have the option to fold or pick 1 of the two community cards to go with your own card. This community card and your card then becomes your 2 card blackjack hand and you have the chance to “Stand” or “Hit”. On a hit your other dealt card is turned over and you with either bust or have a total on which you must stick. You hope that the dealer busts or does not get a total higher than yours. The dealer must reach a total of 13 to qualify.

Pontoon - Pontoon is very similar, however you dont get to see the dealers first card. You must make a decision based on your 2 cards only on whether to Hit or Stand. The rules are also slightly different regarding the dealers cards. In pontoon the dealer must hit on 16 and soft 17, but stand on a hard 17.

In normal blackjack the dealer will draw (hit) to 16 and stand on all 17´s.  A soft 17 is when the dealers hand totalling 17 contains an ace that is used as an 11 (therefore it could also be used as a 1) - i.e. A-6 is a soft 17, whereas a hard 17 is where there are no aces i.e. 9-8 or aces being used as a 1 i.e. 9-7-A.

Blackjack Strategy

The basic strategy of blackjack is quite straightforward… depending what cards you are dealt and what the visible dealer card is you should follow certain rules to decide whether to Hit, Stand, Double or Split. These rules wont always win the hand because you never know how the cards will fall, but based on probability they give the best liklihood for winning the hand. The standard blackjack strategy is shown above.