How to Play Blackjack at an Online Casino in 2024

Blackjack is a very special game and definitely iconic when it comes to both physical and virtual casinos. Even people who are not interested in games of chance can recognize this game since they have seen it portrayed so often in movies and other media as well. People who are not exactly new to blackjack will assert that it is one of the most enjoyable types of casino games that one can play, and can even be the most profitable if played well and one has a certain amount of luck. However, those who are new to blackjack might feel a bit intimidated about learning to play, but they really do not have to be. Keep reading to learn everything that you need to know about playing blackjack at a casino in 2024 and get the most out of your experience.

A Quick History of Blackjack

No one is 100% certain about the origins of blackjack. There is a theory about the Romans playing a similar game with wooden blocks instead of cards but experts tend to agree that it was invented in France around the year 1700 or so. The original French version of this game was called "Vingt-et-Un" which means "Twenty-one." Eventually, this exciting new game made its way to New Orleans and then out into other parts of the United States, slowly evolving into the game we know and love today.

Modern-day blackjack is much different than the original version seen in French casinos in the 1700s and even the one found in New Orleans casinos about a century later. In fact, this popular game was not even known as "blackjack" until the 1930s when gambling operators in Nevada began to offer players a 10 to 1 payout for a hand with the Ace of Spades and a black Jack. The name "blackjack" was born and was here to stay! This game has a very unique history that merits an entire book, but let's go on to the rules so that you learn how to play blackjack at a casino properly.

The Basics of Blackjack

There are currently more blackjack versions being played in gambling establishments than ever before. We believe that true beginners should start playing classic blackjack and only move on to other versions of this game once they are comfortable with it, but that is entirely up to you, of course. Classic blackjack is played with one deck made up of a total of 52 cards which are divided into four different suits: Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, and Clubs. The suits do not matter here as they do with poker; instead, it is the rank of the cards that will matter during play. For example, a 3 is of a much lower rank than a Queen regardless of the suit. It should be noted that most casinos use multiple decks and may employ different rules in order to combat card counting and for other reasons.

Of course, the main objective in blackjack is to beat the dealer by having a higher ranking hand without going over 21. You do not necessarily have to get 21, just have a higher hand than the dealer. Going over 21 means that you "bust" and lose your bet. Once you choose a blackjack game to play at either a physical or online casino, your first move will be to place money in the betting circle. You and other players will then be dealt 2 cards facing up and the dealer gets 2 cards as well with one of those facing down. At this point, you will have several options:

• Hit: Choosing to hit means that you will be dealt another card. This is usually the best option if the total of your cards sums up to about 14 or less, although that number depends on who you ask or the strategy you follow. The danger of hitting as your total goes up is that it becomes more likely to go over 21. For example, while hitting on 14 can lead to going over 21, it is less likely than hitting on 17.
• Stand: When a player stands, he or she is basically refusing a third card because the total score is good enough. You might have 16, for instance, and decide to stand since the probability of going over 21 at that point is high.
• Double: Doubling means that your bet will be doubled and that you will take just one more card for a total of three.
• Surrender: Surrendering is pretty straightforward; the player chooses to surrender the hand since he or she does not feel confident about winning.
• Split: Players who get a hand that is made up of similar ranking cards, such as two 8s, can have them "split" into two separate hands. This can be quite advantageous and lead to bigger winnings but the risk is increased as well.
• Bust: As we have mentioned, going over 21 means that you "bust" and lose your bet, meaning that players have to be careful about their options. Using basic strategy can help a great deal when it comes to knowing when to either stand or hit and that in itself can increase your chances of winning.

Keep in mind that the rules may be a bit different at some gambling establishments and will certainly be different for different versions of blackjack. Learning how to play blackjack at a casino is an ongoing process if you keep trying different types of blackjack which we think is a good thing since this will allow you to get to know first-hand which one is right for you.

Basic Blackjack Strategy

Once people start to learn how to play casino blackjack, they soon realize that there is an infinite number of strategies out there for this game and no shortage of people willing to take your money to teach them to you! We suggest proceeding with caution. How good a blackjack strategy happens to be, depends on various factors but, at the end of the day, this is a game of chance, and losing is always a possibility. Having said that, following "basic blackjack strategy" can be beneficial; just don't consider it to be 100% perfect or foolproof.

Basic blackjack strategy is principally a set of guidelines that aim to enhance players' odds of winning. These guidelines are usually presented in a table chart form and tell players when they should hit, stand, split, and so on based on what cards he or she has. A table chart form is visually appealing to people who want to focus on basic strategy and can help you memorize certain tactics. There is only one way to see for yourself whether this will be helpful to you or not and that is to use it while playing blackjack.

Is Blackjack the Right Game for You?

We believe that casino games should be about having fun, but a bit of profit while having a great time is not a bad thing either! We certainly recommend trying blackjack if you have never done so before and that means that you should employ our advice here about how to play blackjack at a casino, but you might also want to try other casino games to see which ones you enjoy the most. However, it should be noted that one of the best things about blackjack is that no other game even comes close to it in terms of odds.

Getting to know how to play online blackjack at a casino is going to provide you with better possibilities of winning than people who choose to play other casino games since this particular choice has a house edge as low as 0.5% with basic strategy. This is one of the reasons that lead so many people to play blackjack not just for fun but as a means of making money professionally. Again, losing is always a possibility and luck is involved since this is a game of chance, but there is simply no other casino game with better odds for Australian players and that is a fact that we love about blackjack.