Have a Blast! Play Online Blackjack at These Online Casinos:
Basic Online Blackjack Button Descriptions
European Versus American Blackjack Rules
Other Variations of Blackjack
Basic Online Blackjack Betting
Blackjack is one of the most popular of the gambling games played today both at "brick and mortar" and online casinos. Blackjack, also sometimes called twenty-one, is a fairly simple game which is one reason why so many people enjoy playing it. Many children learn this card game when they are young, not realizing it is actually a casino game.
The goal of the blackjack game is to beat the dealer by getting as close as possible to 21 points without going over 21. As you visit online casinos that offer blackjack and its varitions, you will find that some casinos offer live blackjack online where players interact with professional dealers via live stream, chatting with the dealers and commenting on your hands exactly as you would do if you were playing live at a regular casino.
LIVE DEALERS are available at some online casinos
If you have never played Blackjack, there are a few rules which are easy to understand. The score is calculated in a special fashion that is unique to Blackjack rules. Ace is considered either as a 1 or 11, the king, queen, and jack cards are all worth 10 and all the rest are their face value. The scoring is very simple and easy to remember. Unlike many casino games, the odds of winning at online blackjack or land based casino blackjack are not fixed in favor of the house. As the game progresses the cards in the deck or decks are depleted, thus changing the composition of the deck in relationship to the number of aces, face cards, and regular cards that are remaining. Although blackjack is simple, it does require skill of the part of the player, not just luck.
Since blackjack, whether it is regular or online blackjack, stands as the one casino game offering the players their best shot at winning, there has been a number of individuals throughout the game's history who spent their time figuring out how to gain advantages by using statistics theory and calculating methods in order to reduce blackjack's house edge. There are a wide variety of charts available online that explain the optimal play behind every hand that exists. In addition there are countless gambling advice books. Tips for blackjack variant games based on different rules are even available. Some folks believe that memorizing all these charts would be one easy way to become a better blackjack player. We suggest you do some research online about various blackjack strategy approaches. Some players are more motivated than others to go all in to become a better player. You can also consider playing some practice hands first to get a feel for the game.
Regarding online casinos, the house edge of a given blackjack variant is usually predetermined depending upon the software developer of the game. Although you may be thrilled to hit a perfect "21", most of the time players will get a 150% return on their bet – a solid 3:2 payout. With a 3:2 payout, the odds to win are 31.25% with the estimated house edge as 0.5%. Partly due to the gameplay specifics of the blackjack software, there’s an appreciable difference between land-based casino blackjack and online blackjack. For instance card counting is not an applicable strategy for online blackjack thanks to the random number generators that run the game and the fact that Web-based games shuffle after each round.
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Playing Online Blackjack
Blackjack is considered a game of quick decisions, although online blackjack games do allow players a little more time to make their moves. Nevertheless its important to understand the most important terms and basic rule of the game. Although there are a number of "21" variation games available to play online, standard online Blackjack begins with you placing your bet.
After bets are placed, two cards are dealt to every hand playing. The dealer gets two card, one dealt face up and one face down. Once the cards are dealt the action begins. Each person playing a hand takes turns in making decisions as to whether or not to request a “Hit”to get an additional card or to “Stand” indicating that a card need not be drawn. In the classic blackjack game played online you always get the first turn.
The automated dealer has to adhere to a strict set of simple rules. The typical blackjack table has a "stand on all 17" rule. It means that the dealer has to draw additional cards until his score reaches 17. Once the dealer reaches 17 or more he will “stand.” There are variations to this rule, but for most online blackjack games the "stand on all 17" rule is standard practice.
European Blackjack
Basic Online Blackjack Button descriptions
Everything you see on an online Blackjack table gives you information about that particular game. For instance: Look to see what the blackjack payout is. A table that pays Blackjack at 3-to-2 odds will make players more money than one that pays at 6-to-5. Always check the rules of the particular blackjack game you want to play rules before starting..
- - Deal- To start the game, click this button after you have placed your bet.
- - Hit- Click this button when you want to be dealt another card. A Player can hit as many times as they desire until the total of the cards equals or exceeds 21.
- - Stand- Click this button when you want to keep the hand dealt to you. This will automatically happen, if you hit 21 or double down.
- - Double- After being dealt the first two cards a Player can decide to double down. The bet on the hand is doubled and one additional card is dealt to the Player.
- - Split- This button is used to split the first two cards dealt into two separate hands when they match. You can have up to three hands at one time except when you split two aces. Then, only one additional card can be dealt for each hand. A hand total of 21 after splitting aces is considered 21, not Blackjack.
- - Surrender- If a Player decides to surrender, they get 50% of the bet and the other half goes to the house.
- - Rebet- When a hand is complete, you have the option to re-bet the amount previously bet.
- - Insurance- If the Dealer is showing an ace, the Player is offered a supplemental (side) bet called insurance. If accepted by the player, a wager of exactly half of the original bet is placed on the table. If the Dealer has Blackjack, the house pays the Insurance bet 2 to 1. If the Dealer does not have Blackjack, the Player loses the insurance bet. The Player's initial bet is then settled by comparing his cards with the Dealer's. If the Dealer and the Player both have Blackjack, the game is pushed and the Player gets the amount won by taking even money insurance. However, if you’re playing with correct basic online blackjack strategy, you should never use insurance. The only time you should use insurance is if you’re card counting which is rarely effective in most online blackjack games.
Blackjack Card Values:
An Ace can have a value of 1 or 11, depending upon the game situation. A hand with an Ace can be either soft or hard. A hard hand is where an Ace is valued as 1, while a soft hand has an Ace which is valued as 11. The regular playing cards 2 to 10 bear their respective face value with all face cards such as the Jack, Queen, King, valued at 10. Scores are calculated by simply adding up the score of all cards that are in each hand.
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Available Blackjack games at Miami Club Casino
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Online European Versus American Blackjack Rules
Blackjack has many variations European Blackjack from RTG with its great sounds and graphics, nice features, and has good game speed. There are several differences between European Blackjack and American Blackjack.
1. Typically at the start of a blackjack game players are dealt 2 cards face up and the dealer gets one card dealt face down and the 2nd one face up. The dealer card that is faced down is referred to as the hole card. In European Blackjack the dealer’s hole card is not dealt out until the player makes their decision to either hit or stand, split, or double down.
2. In European blackjack, when a player has the chance to double down there are betting limitations. The Dealer button will only be available to clock on if you have a hand that has the total of 9, 1or 11.
3. When playing American Blackjack, the dealer must hit when they have a soft 17. In the RTG European Blackjack game the dealer will not hit on a soft 17, but instead they will stand. This gives players a few disadvantages, as splits and doubles can be lost if the dealer scores a natural blackjack.
Rules for RTG European Blackjack are:
European Blackjack RTP is 99.43%
Rules for RTG Standard American Blackjack- which allows players to play more than one hand :
American Blackjack RTP is 99.44%
- - Dealer stays on all 17s
- - Players can double down only on a hard 9-11
- - Players can only double down after split on a hard 9-11
- - Players can split up to three times, save for Aces
- - One card only on split Aces
- - Dealer hits on soft 17
- - Players can double down on any two cards
- - Players can double down on any split, save for Aces
- - Only one card dealt on aces
- - Split up to three times
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Other Variations of Blackjack from RTG
Perfect Pairs
This is an identical game to Standard Blackjack, except Perfect Pairs has a side bet and players can only play one hand.
Side bets and payouts are:
- - Suited Pair- 25-1
- - Same Colored Pair- 12-1
- - Different Colored Pair- 6-1
Face Up 21 is the name used by casinos with RealTime Gaming software
Face Up 21 is a variation of blackjack where all hands are dealt face up. In Face Up 21 the player cannot push: he or she must beat the dealer to win. However, the player does have an advantage. They will automatically win if they record a blackjack, even when the dealer also has a natural 21.
Double Exposure is the name used by casinos with Microgaming software
Double exposure is a blackjack variation in which both dealer cards are exposed. To compensate, there are other rule changes that favor the dealer, but the main rule change that evens out the odds is the fact that the dealer wins all tie hands (except for blackjack). In order to counteract this house edge and make money, players need to make sure that their strategy is airtight and beyond fault. The Microgaming version of Double Exposure, pays out 1:1 instead of the usual 3:2 that players would get on most of the other variants of 21. The payout schedule of the Microgaming version of Double Exposure Blackjack is simple to remember because wins pay out 1:1.
The usual rules are the same as blackjack plus may include but are not limited to the following:
- - Both dealer cards are exposed.
- - Dealer wins on all ties,except on a natural blackjack.
- - Player blackjack pays even money
- - Player may split only once.
- - A dealer can either hit or stand on a soft 17.
- - A player may choose whether to double after a split or not.
- - A player may split once or more than once (this rule is subject to terms and conditions).
Match Play 21
Match Play 21 is Realtime Gaming’s version of Spanish 21. Like Spanish 21 thereare no 10s in the deck, but there are jacks, queens, and kings which gives players an advantage. Match play 21 is played with 2-6 decks. The game starts with all players making their wagers, and then being dealt their cards. Once the cards are dealt the action will begin.
Rules for RTG Standard American Blackjack:
- - Dealer hits soft 17.
- - Dealer peeks for blackjack with ace or ten showing.
- - Players can double after splitting.
- - Players can split (up to) 3 times to make 4 hands.
- - Players can draw to split aces.
- - Players can re-split aces.
- - Players are allowed to surrender.
- - Players cannot re-double.
- - Players can surrender after doubling down.
- - Blackjack pays 3:2.
- - Insurance pays 2:1
Pontoon
Pontoon is a blackjack variation in which both dealer cards are dealt face down. Players are playing "blind". To compensate for this, players are paid 2-1 for an Ace-10 blackjack. The game also includes a five card trick, which is a five card hand that does not exceed 21. Another specific rule is that whenever there is a tie, instead of resulting in a push, the game will be won by the dealer. Likewise when both the dealer and the player have hands, comprised of 5 cards, the dealer wins. The game is available online both with 8 decks and 2 decks. Each deck is comprised of the standard 52 playing cards. The RTP for RTG’s Pontoon is estimated to be 99.62%. Pontoon's different rules makes the game more exciting.
Rules for RTG Pontoon:
-
- Dealer hits soft 17
This rule actually works in favor of the house as hitting soft 17 increases the house edge slightly and players have fewer chances to beat the dealer - - Double down on 2, 3, or 4 cards
- - Double downs less than 15 must still be hit on.
- - Hit after double down
- - Split pairs up to three times (save for Aces)
- - Double down after split
- - Dealer wins all ties
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Basic Online Blackjack Betting
- - Click on a chip to place a bet.
- - Additional clicks on the chip interface will add to your wager.
- - If you change your mind, to remove a bet, click on the chip in the betting circle.
- - The minimum amount to bet is usually $1, while the maximum is $500
Once you have started an online blackjack game and have been dealt your first two cards, you can make various choices as how you want to proceed. You can immediately “Surrender” which allows you to withdraw from the game. In most card games it is called “folding.” It will cost you half of your initial bet. A “fold” may be an “early surrender” which occurs before the dealer checks his cards or it can be a “late surrender” after the dealer checks for blackjack. “Surrender” or “folding” can only be played just after the cards are dealt and before any other choices are made.
If you stay in the game you now can decide to get a “hit” or to “stand.” You are also able to split your hand and play them independently if the two cards are the same. When you split a pair of cards, you must place a bet on the newly split hand that equals the bet on the old hand. Depending upon the house rules you may be able to double down after a split or split multiple times. One caveat to be aware of is if you split two aces you are only entitled to one additional draw for each ace. Also it is not considered a “natural” if you draw a ten for one of the aces. You may also choose to declare a “double” which is adding an additional bet that is equal to your original bet wagered when you ask for a “hit.”
However, when doubling your bet, you are only entitled to only one more additional card. Another option is “Insurance.” The insurance offer occurs when the dealer has an ace. As a player you can choose the “Insurance” and bet up to half of your original bet against the dealer's blackjack. The dealer will check for blackjack (21). If the dealer has blackjack, you will obviously lose your original bet. However, your insurance bet will be paid out at double odds effectively covering the original bet. Unfortunately if the dealer does not have blackjack (21), you, the player, will lose both your bets!
Online Blackjack Winnings
The Player wins when he holds a score that is 21 or less, but greater than the Dealer’s final total. Fortunately, online blackjack does not have a complicated payout system. When your hand wins, you are paid 1 to 1. In the case where you opted for “Insurance” and the dealer had a “natural,” you are paid 2 to 1. If you have a natural hand where your first two cards equal 21, you are paid 3 to 1. The exception to this rule is when the dealer also has a natural hand. In this case it is considered a tie and your bet is returned.