History of Blackjack

There is no known origin of blackjack but a popular theory states that it evolved from a French game. A French game called Vingt-et-un which after its translated means twenty-one. It was popular during the 18th century. It’s believed to have gained popularity from Chemin de Fer and French Ferme. These were dealer-led card games popular within France.

The game entered the USA in the 18th century when French colonists arrived. The initial name given was 21 but would later change and rebranded and called Blackjack. This is due to players needing a hand with an ace of spades and a blackjack to get bonus payouts. A player could actually have a hand with a jack of spades with an ace or a jack of clubs with an ace. The payout for players started at 10 to 1 but was later replaced with something favourable to the house. It was later replaced with a flat rate of 3 to 2 to a player with any ace having a +10-value combination.

How to Play Blackjack

To start a game a dealer will shuffle cards of more than one pack. After the shuffle, the dealer will select a random player to cut the deck of cards. Cutting a deck is dividing a deck of cards into either two or even smaller stacks. This will make it difficult to beat a dealer and limits any card counters.

When the game starts a dealer will hand out two cards players on the table and then he also hands two to himself. Players get their cards faced up for everyone to see while for the dealer they have one face down and one face up.

The aim of the game is not to exceed 21 by beating the dealer’s hand. So, players have 5 options they can choose from as their next step. The first option is they can either take a Stand which means they don’t take another card from the dealer. Hit is the second option where a player can take another card. The next option is a Surrender in which the house will take half the bet and return the other half to the player. A player’s other option would be to Double down, and this option increases an initial bet by 100%. The last option Split states if players first two cards of a hand have the same value, they can split them into two hands.

A dealer is the last person that can handle their cards. A dealer must take a card when they are on 16 or less and stand if they are on 17 through to 21. They only way a player can win is when their hand has a total higher than the dealers. If the player does not exceed 21 or, the player has cards totaling 21 or less when the dealer has exceeded 21. This results in the player winning. When the dealer exceeds 21 it is also known as a bust.

Blackjack Rules

Blackjack rules differ from one casino to another. The rules do not have a unified system. But the main elements are similar such as basing the counting of all blackjack cards on their face value.

Cards that have numbers 2 through to 10 have their face value assigned to them. This means 2 of spade/2 or hearts value is 2 or 3 of diamonds/3 of spades value is still 3, and so on. The picture/face cards (Jack, King, Queen) count as 10 while the Aces can count as 1 or 11. This decision is upon the player to specify the value of the Ace based on whether their hand exceeds 21 or not. The aces value can change as cards get added to their hand. This very reason is what makes the card of Ace important in a game of blackjack.

A blackjack table has a dispenser that stores the cards with multiple decks called a shoe. Nowadays most casinos use the shoe which holds up to 6 decks in one shoe.

The table comprises of a semi-circle that contains a square box showing the spot for betting. This spot is where players cards or chips get placed. Players have the option to play on multiple boxes provided the table has a minimum.

During the game as an etiquette, players are not allowed to directly hand money over to the dealer. The player needs to place the money onto the table. Once the dealer has dealt the cards or chips players must refrain from touching them. A player should resist holding their cards with both hands.

Blackjack Variations

Face Up 21

With this game, a player’s cards are dealt face up. This is an advantage to the player as they can make decisions pretty early in the game. The catch is if a player is to surrender ahead of
time this could result in them being on the wrong side of the house edge.

Pontoon

The rules of the game have similarities to the American Blackjack with a few differences. In Pontoon cards are both required to appear face down. Players get a pay 2 to 1 than the usual 3 to 2 payout. With Pontoon players do not need to learn any new point values, since the card’s worth its face value.

One thing players should note is a tie counts as a loss to a player. When playing Pontoon players should remember not to use “hit” but to use “twist” instead. If players have a great strategy, they stand the chance of getting higher returns. These can be in an approximation of
94.64%.

Pontoon features make for an exciting game as the rules vary and also widely spread.

Multi-hand

A player is not limited in this game as they can play more than one hand at one go. The available spaces on the table will determine the number of hands a player can play. This results in a fast-paced game enjoyable game.

Perfect Pairs

Perfect pairs has a minor deviation from the original game (Blackjack). The slight change appears in the rules of play and in the appearance of the game. At the start of each hand,
Perfect pairs give players an extra side bet. This becomes a players wager on the bases that their first 2 cards will have the same value. If a players hit results in cards being of the same unit they stand a chance receiving a pay out of 30 to 1 or better.

Play Blackjack Online

Blackjack is a card game known worldwide. It is one of the most popular games in casinos all over. When you play Blackjack online you have two ways in which you can play it. There is the classic online blackjack (also known as RNG blackjack) or Live Blackjack.

Live Blackjack as the name suggests is a game played live with other online players and real dealers. So, when playing this game, you get the same thrills as you would on a casino floor. There is a variety of live tables that are open 24/7. All live Blackjack games offer players an immersive and enjoyable experience. The games cater to every kind of player with new creative ways on a broad of various tables.

Players can play the classic online blackjack which has evolved using 3D graphics. The modern version has a realistic feel to it giving players the feel of a real casino experience. Classic blackjack allows you to play without any pressure. You can set your pace giving you time to strategize and experiment on the game.

Players have the opportunity to practice their blackjack strategies by using free versions. Many players do this test themselves before venturing into real money games. There are players who enjoy blackjack for entertainment purposes and play free versions. The fact that they do not have to register online, make a deposit makes it appealing to them. By using free online blackjack games, they avoid handing over personal details.

Because of interest in free games, developers have released various blackjack apps. Some of these which allow players to enjoy the games that enable friends to play each other, all for free.

The increased interest in free games is due to the fact that players avoid signing up or paying a deposit. Not sharing their personal data makes it easy to play and enjoy the game. Players have a variety of choices with over 60 free games to choose from. They can access exclusive titles without risking their real money. The games have different ratings based on the reviews team guaranteeing quality titles.

Free Blackjack Strategy

The biggest advantage players get from playing free games is the opportunity to test strategies. With over 60 games players have no risk of losing any money and can prepare themselves for real money games.

The Best Starting Hands

Having a sound idea on what most players consider a good hand below are three top hands to give you an idea:

1. Traditional 21 – An Ace with any value 10 or less becomes an instant winner in all in blackjack variations.

1. Hard 20 – Cards containing two 10 values give a player a total of 20. Most players in most variations would keep such value cards than to split them.

1. Soft 18 – This can be a combination of an Ace and 7 which gives a player loads of playing options depending on the variant. They can use it to their advantage by using different strategies.

Does Card Counting Work for Free Blackjack?

Card counting does not work with online free blackjack games. It, unfortunately, won’t work for most blackjack games found online.

The random number generators (RNG) is always shuffling the deck.

When playing online via a video with a live dealer, is where players have the opportunity to count cards. Regrettably, it does not have a free version.

How Do I Get Started With Real Money Blackjack?

It is important before you start to ensure you are playing on a trusted and reputable online casino. If you feel unclear it is best to check our top-rated casino sites.

When you get onto the right site, have a read on promotions, bonuses. But in particular, give a good look at any welcome bonuses that are available to new players. This helps you take your real money further.

Finally, you would want to verify what payment options are being offered on the casino site. This will make sure your preferred method is available to you. After this, you would be ready to play for real money and enjoy the experience.

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