Online Blackjack

Online Blackjack is a game that’s attracting an increasing number of online casino players – delivering a dynamic gaming experience with skill based playability and key features that respond to a player’s luck and ability to analyse the pack. With a growing number of casino gamers aspiring to have fun while simultaneously challenging the casino’s success, blackjack is set to become the hottest game of 2008....

The basics of online blackjack couldn’t be much simpler – build a hand with a value of 21 or lower and enter a hand showdown with the dealer – whoever has the higher value combo wins. At the start of every round, both the player and the dealer are dealt a hidden card and one face up. The gamer is required to ‘Stand’ to face the dealer or to ‘Hit’ and draw another card. The key to the game is building a hand as close to 21 (Blackjack) – without exceeding 21 and going bust. Blackjacks are formed with an Ace and a 10 value card, and payout at 3:2 (bets are voided if both the player and the dealer hit blackjack).

The dealer acts in virtually the same basic way as the players, however they are usually forced to Hit a soft 17 – in other words they must Hit with a hand value less than 16 and Stand with a value of 17 or more.

Whatever you current gaming level or whether you have casual or professional gambling aspirations – the three key features of online blackjack are what makes the game fun, exhilarating and potentially profitable....

Double-down for 100% more winnings

The double-down blackjack bet is the method that can make the dealer wish you’d never logged-on to the casino – instantly doubling you original stake and potential payout.

The good news is that the double-down can be applied with pure luck or cold handed skill, allowing high-level gamers to take advantage of their hot hands – after all, the key to success is to maximise you winnings and minimise the damage when the dealer is threatening to clean you out.

The double-down wager can be placed once you’ve been dealt 2 cards. Following the decision to make the bet, you’re then forced to drawn another card and Stand for a showdown with the dealer. The key for making the double-down really pay is to analyse when you have a high chance of forming a high value hand which will beat the dealer. Players choosing to double-down are faced with the risk of going bust, receiving a card with a lower than anticipated value or under-estimating the dealer’s hand. For casual gamers, the double-down can be down to luck and instinct, while skilled card counters may use the bet with lethal efficiency.

Splitting for double the payout

Split bets are the method of turning a pair of cards (excluding Aces) into two separate hands and wagers. Once the Split has been selected, the gamer is left with two separate hands and two corresponding bets. The blackjack round then continues, giving the gamer the opportunity of striking two winning hands. Because the Split also elicits the potential of two losing hands, skilled players are able to analyse the pack to decide whether the chances of two winning hands are high or low. However, many casual gamers make use of splits and it’s usually unfortunate to lose both hands after Splitting.

Make the dealer cry with the insurance bet

Everyone knows that insurance companies hate to pay out – and taking insurance against the dealer forming a blackjack will equally infuriating for them – the good news is they’ll be forced to instantly pay-out! Essentially, the insurance bet is the method of insuring yourself against the dealer when they are dealt an Ace (and therefore could form a blackjack with a 10 Value card). Once you select insurance, you’ll be paid at odds of 2:1 if the dealer has a 10, although the stake is lost in all other circumstances. Many gamers ignore the insurance bet, however if you’re skilled enough to know the probability of the dealer hitting a 10 is high, the bet can be used to protect your bank – for serious gamers, what’s better, losing at 3:2 or losing your stake?

For anyone wanting to get a genuine long-term edge over the casino, it’s essential to start using skill in your gaming. While some card counting techniques are very advanced, even low level gamers can start implementing simple techniques, such as casual pack analysis. Essentially, the moment you start observing the cards dealt and making reasoned decisions, you’re already on the way to playing with skill.