Blackjack gambling rules and introduction
Welcome to the home of blackjack gambling, where you will find all of the resources to successfully play both online and offline variants of the game. Real money blackjack gambling is done at casinos right around the world and at the top casino sites, with digital variants of blackjack gaining in popularity all the time.
This page includes online blackjack gambling, blackjack at casinos and things like the standard rules, types of blackjack and heaps of links to further strategy and real money online blackjack information.
Blackjack gambling introduction
Blackjack, or 21 as it is commonly known, is the most popular casino game played against the banker. It is played legally in casinos and gambling houses in many Western, Asian and European countries.
The first known reference to 21 was in Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes’ book published in the 1500s, but it only became known as blackjack when the game became popular in America in the early 1900s.
Learn More: The best online blackjack sites
These days there are high-stakes blackjack gambling games played where USD $1 million might be wagered on a hand, while some land-based casinos in the USA, Australia and England might have tables for as little as $5 per hand or its equivalent.
While there are many games spawned from blackjack, some of them top-shelf, this article teaches you how to play Liberal Vegas, or standard rules.
Rules of blackjack
To win at blackjack you need to beat the dealer without going over 21. Often people play by the rule of getting as close to 21 as possible, without taking into consideration what card the dealer has; this is the ultimate rookie mistake.
The simple premise is you are given two cards, with an Ace-Jack hand being blackjack (21) and the best hand a player can get. When you get blackjack you are immediately paid out, before you see the dealer’s hole card. If the game continues past this stage, you are asked whether you want to hit or stand.
1 – You can play blackjack with anywhere between one and eight 52-card decks.
2 – Aces are worth one or 11 points, 2 to 9 are worth their face value, 10s and face cards are worth 10 points.
3 – A blackjack (Ace-10) is the highest hand in blackjack, outranking every other 21 combination. The total of your cards (as above) are what score you are on.
4 – Players will be asked to place bets. When this has concluded the dealer will give two cards to each player at the table. They will also give themselves two cards, one face up, the other face down (known as the hole card).
5 – If the dealer is showing an Ace, you will get the option to buy insurance. This bet is 2 to 1 and pays if the dealer’s hole card is worth 10. You are not forced to buy insurance in blackjack. Once insurance is offered the dealer will check their hole card to see if they have a blackjack. If they do, the game is over and all bets except insure bets lose. If the player also has blackjack it is a push.
The gameplay
The player to the dealer’s left is first in blackjack. After they have received their two cards, they have the option to:
Hit: Ask for another card or tap the table, as is custom in many parts of the world when you want another card. Players can request as many cards as they want, but will ‘bust’ if they go over 21.
Stand: The player opts for no more cards, settling for what they have.
Double: The player doubles their bet, but receives only one more card.
Split: When the player has two of any card of the same value, they may split them into two individual hands, including face cards. When Aces are split the player gets only one more card, while doubling after splitting is not allowed in some casinos. A player can only get 21, rather than blackjack, after splitting cards.
Surrender: The player forfeits half their stake after seeing the first two cards. You don’t find this rule in many casinos around the world.
After players have had their go, the dealer will turn their face-down card over. The dealer will always hit if they have 16 or less. If the dealer has an Ace and any number of other cards equalling 17 it is known as a soft 17. In some casinos there may be a rule that the dealer hits on soft 17.
Winning bets pay even money, while a blackjack pays 3 to 2. Some casinos have introduced a rule where it’s a push if the dealer scores 22. This is a rule which heavily increases the house edge and must be avoided at all costs.
Read more: Player options in blackjack
Blackjack rule variations
You will find there are many casino games which are an off-shoot of blackjack. Some French versions are even thought to be the original game. In land-based casinos around the world some of the more common blackjack variations include Liberal Vegas Rules (standard), Pontoon, Spanish 21, Atlantic City and Chinese Blackjack.
But the internet has spawned (at a guess) another 50 or 60 different games, with subtle rule variations, such as the dealer having both cards face down. You can play these games at online casinos or even on social media sites such as Facebook and Google Plus.
How to spot favourable rules
There are plenty of rules variations that may affect your odds of winning. The single most important variation to consider from one casino to another is the number of decks employed. The rule of thumb is the fewer decks the better. The use of four decks reduces your odds by 0.54% compared to a one deck game.
Another rule is the policy concerning dealer hands of soft 17. The most common rule is that the dealer stands on all 17s (including soft hands) which is good from the player’s point of view. Casinos that allow their dealers to hit on soft 17 hurt your chances of winning by 0.2% compared to those who don’t.
Some casinos allow the player to double down after splitting a pair. That rule improves your odds by 0.1% (it’s not much, but still…
Blackjack variants
Blackjack is a popular card game with many different variations, each with its own set of rules and strategies. Here are some of the most common blackjack variants:
- Classic Blackjack: Also known as “21,” this is the traditional version of the game. The goal is to beat the dealer by having a hand value of 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over.
- Spanish 21: In this variation, all 10s are removed from the deck, making it more difficult for players to achieve a hand of 21. Spanish 21 also includes a number of bonus payouts for certain hands.
- Blackjack Switch: In this blackjack variant, each player is dealt two hands, and they are allowed to change the second card of each hand to create better hands. Black Switch is also often available at online gambling sites.
- Pontoon: This is a British variant of blackjack that has different terminology and hand rankings. The goal is still to achieve a hand value of 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over.
- Vegas Downtown Blackjack: This variation is played with two decks, and players can split their hands up to three times, creating four separate hands.
- Super Fun 21: This is a fast-paced version of blackjack that includes a number of bonus payouts for certain hands.
- Double Attack Blackjack: In this variation, players have the option to increase their bet after the dealer reveals their up card.
These are just a few examples of the many blackjack variants that exist. Each variation has its own unique rules and strategies, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the rules of each game before you play.
Best blackjack gambling online in 2023
If there is an online casino without blackjack available we have not found it. There are literally thousands of online casinos, which makes it tough for players to choose where they should play.
Firstly you need to consider how you are accessing the casino, meaning are you on a PC, a Mac, smartphone, television or even a tablet? Once you have made this decision you need to find a casino catering for you and your currency. For instance, US players might be limited as to what casinos they can play at, as are many players in Asian countries.
The biggest online games provider is Microgaming, who have been around for more than 20 years and power some of the biggest casino brands in the world. If you choose to play at a Microgaming casino you will have the option of downloading a software package, or playing at their instant-play casino, if you are playing on PC or Mac. MG casinos usually have a standard mobile website which is frequently updated with games.
Other casinos use software providers such as BetSoft, Playtech, NetEntertainment and Betfors with hundreds of different random number-generated and live dealer blackjack titles available for players worldwide.
Often a casino will give you a set amount of time to trial their product before you are forced to play for real money. Some casinos even waive the set time and allow you to play for as long as you want.
Be aware that when you are playing online there are many different versions of blackjack available, with varying rules, which can greatly increase the casino’s advantage over you. But if you are smart and do your research you can find games with the most advantageous house edge advantage for players.
Top Blackjack gambling sites
There are many blackjack gambling sites online in 2020, with what is available to you depending on where you are in the world. For instance, the United Kingdom has a heavily regulated gambling industry and there are many legal online blackjack sites you can play at.
Other countries like Australia, China and many states in the USA have outlawed online gambling, which is not to say you can’t do it. Rather you are forced to play at blackjack gambling sites that may have a license from somewhere like Curacao or Costa Rica.
Card counting in blackjack
Card counting isn’t really a topic for beginners, but here is some basic information about card counting anyway. It may help you decide if card counting is something you should try or not.
Playing basic strategy correctly is often enough to get a close to even game, however to achieve a long term advantage for the player, card counting techniques must be used. There is no point in trying to learn how to count cards without first knowing the basic strategy correctly, so make sure you first know the basics before attempting to learn advanced techniques.
Most people think that card counting means that you have to memorize every card as it’s played. Fortunately, there is a much simpler way. It requires no memorization at all, just some very simple arithmetic. The key is to assign a plus or minus value to each card in the deck, then to total these values as each card is dealt. All the cards from the 2s to the 6s hurt your chances of winning. It’s to your advantage to have those cards removed. For that reason, you will assign a +1 value to each of these cards and add +1 to your count each time one of these cards goes out of play by being dealt to someone’s hand.
The tens and aces are the cards most favorable to the player. Each time one is removed, your chances of winning the next hand suffer. Therefore, you will assign every 10 and Ace a -1 value and add -1 to your count each time one of those cards is dealt. The remaining cards, 7s, 8s, and 9s, have so little impact on your chances of winning that we will assign them a value of zero. The point values you have to remember for this count system are as follows:
| CARD | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCORE | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
Through the game, you keep a running computation of each card as it is dealt. Your count begins at zero before any cards have been dealt from the deck or shoe.
You must re-calculate your running count when playing in a multiple-deck game. You keep a running count just like in a single-deck game, however before deciding how much to bet on a hand you must first convert the running count into a true count. You do this by dividing the count by the approximate number of decks still un-dealt. You can either look at the shoe and estimate about how many decks are left in it, or you could look at the discard rack to get an idea of how many decks that are left in the shoe. The total you arrive at is your true count.
Your disadvantage is usually about 0.5% at the start of a new shoe, and your odds improve with about 0.5% for each true count. For example, your advantage would be about 1.0% with a true count of +3.
Blackjack history
Blackjack, also known as 21, is a popular casino card game that has been played for centuries. Here is a brief overview of the history of blackjack:
- The exact origins of blackjack are unclear, but the game is believed to have originated in France in the 1700s, where it was known as “Vingt-et-Un” (meaning “21” in French).
- The game quickly spread throughout Europe and became popular in casinos in the United States in the 1800s.
- The modern version of blackjack that is played today was developed in the United States in the early 1900s, with rules that included the “hole card” and the “blackjack” hand (an Ace and a 10-value card).
- During the mid-20th century, blackjack became increasingly popular, with the introduction of new variations and strategies for players.
- Today, blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world, with variations played in casinos and online gaming sites around the globe. It continues to evolve with new rules, strategies, and technologies, and remains a favorite among gamblers and casual players alike.
Best movies about blackjack
Blackjack is often portrayed in Hollywood films, with the general theme usually being a card counter attempting to rip off the casino. Card movies are incredibly popular and the team here at the World Gambling List has a few favourites. Here are our top moves about blackjack:
21: 21 is based on a true story about five MIT students who learn card counting off a cunning mentor, before winning millions of dollars in Las Vegas casinos. There is no denying the brilliance of the real life MIT students but the movie portrays winning as far easier than it actually is. Having said that, this is a great film and definitely one of our favourites.
Rain Man: Rain Man got the nod as the most popular blackjack movie from the WGL team. It was released in 1988 and features Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman as two brothers. Hoffman is autistic but has a brilliant memory and, in turn, turns out to be brilliant at blackjack. This movie is another which has used blackjack as a theme in what is an engrossing story-line.
The Hangover: This movie was filmed in 2009 and, while not purely about blackjack, it does feature a revved-up Zach Galifianakis killing it on the blackjack tables of Las Vegas. We really can’t link it back to blackjack any more than that, but watch this movie.
The Cooler: Before William H Macy played the iconic Frank Gallagher in Shameless, he was the star of The Cooler, playing the equally as unlucky Bernie Lootz. The premise of this movie is Lootz is employed by a casino to pass on his bad luck to winning players, by sitting at their tables. But things begin to turn for Lootz when he meets waitress Natalie Belisario, played by the beautiful Maria Bello. This movie features plenty of blackjack and is one our all-time favourites about gambling in general.
Croupier” (1998) – Clive Owen stars in this British film about a struggling writer who takes a job as a casino dealer and becomes entangled in a dangerous scheme. Lead character, Jack Manfred, meets a South African lady who has a big plan to defraud the house, however things don’t go quite as planned.
The Gambler (2014) – Mark Wahlberg plays a literature professor with a serious gambling addiction in this thriller that features several intense blackjack scenes.
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