Blackjack

Developed sometime before the year 1600, blackjack has become the most popular casino game in the United States, and a favorite around the world. Blackjack has gained an enthusiastic following thanks to the exciting mix of strategy and luck it takes to play the game well. Players can learn a near-perfect strategy pretty easily, and card counting can even give the player an advantage, but even the best player needs a little luck to beat the dealer. With one of the lowest house edges in all of casino games, it’s no wonder that blackjack has become a popular game in online casinos as well.

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Popular Blackjack Variations

It’s no surprise that an ancient game like blackjack has spawned a lot of variations. Many alternative versions of blackjack exist, such as Blackjack Switch, Spanish 21 and Chinese Blackjack.

Blackjack Card Values

The object of blackjack is to make a hand as close to 21 as possible without going over. Get closer than the dealer without busting by going over 21, and you win! All of the numbered cards (2 through 9) count as the number printed on the card. All tens and face cards count as ten. Finally, aces can count as either 11, or – if an 11 would put the player over 21 – as one. A hand using an ace as 11 is known as a soft hand, since it is impossible to bust with it (the worst that can happen is the 11 becoming a 1), while all other hands are called “hard” hands.

Blackjack Terms

Stand: If a player doesn’t want to take any more cards, they can stand, meaning they are done playing their hand and will keep the score that they have.

Hit: If a player wants an additional card to try to improve their hand, they can hit, after which the dealer will deal out one more card to the player.

Split: If the player starts with a pair (two cards of the same rank), they have the option to split those two cards into two separate hands, each of which will play separately. This is known as splitting.

Double Down: The double down is an option for the player only after they look at their first two cards. If they wish to double down, they can double their bet in exchange for one more card, after which they’re no longer allowed to make any decisions and must stand.

Blackjack is just as popular in the online casino world as it is in live casinos. If you’re looking for somewhere to play blackjack online, see our picks for the best online casinos for blackjack players below.