We could say that the casino world is divided into 3 camps: roulette fans, those who love slots and – a last one – those who love strategy and want to look more sophisticated sitting on the Blackjack table.
All casinos that are mentioned on our pages offer different variations of online blackjack. In their first steps there were only a few virtual tables from the very basic versions, but these days, every online casino has hundreds of blackjack variations. Which we will go through separately in the next paragraph. For the time being, we have prepared for you a list of the best online casinos to play blackjack.
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Proponents of the latter often claim that blackjack is the king of the casino because, unlike the other two, it also requires some serious decision making and perhaps strategy on behalf of the players. Which is not entirely false to suggest and is also the reason why we will analyze below the rules and aspects of the game and the ways one can improve their chances of winning in blackjack.
Our analysis is multi-layered. We run through several parameters of the game such as:
Then, after you have delved into all the above, we will look at the best casinos to play for free at the virtual tables or for real money at the live dealers tables. We are lucky because we live in the era where technology allows us to play blackjack on the internet with top sound and image quality, even with Live Dealers who speak players’ native languages.
Many sit down at the table playing blackjack just for fun. If you belong to them then maybe this paragraph is not for you. But if you have taken the game seriously then it would be good to take a look below. Since we will look at techniques and strategies to play and improve your chances.
Before you sit at the table, you should know that the main objective of Blackjack is summarized in the following bullets:
While there may be differences between some blackjack variants, the basic values and ranking of the cards remain the same.
In some countries, parts of the population learn from an early age a game similar to blackjack, called “21”. And there is often a misconception about the value of cards in blackjack when compared with the value of cards in 21. To avoid such misunderstandings, players need to take into account that:
At this point, it is worth emphasizing that unlike many traditional games that belong to the wider Blackjack family (e.g. “21” and “31”), 4, 5 and 6 are NOT removed from the blackjack decks. They are part of the game with their face value and so are figures, which – however – all count as “10”
The double value of the Ace is what gives blackjack that lil extra something and makes the game way more exciting. Depending on the cards dealt every time (less or more than 10), the Ace counts as 1 or 11. In most cases, the dealer will automatically adjust your hand to the value that gives you a better position versus the house.
However, in most occasions the player will need to make some decision, often encouraged or discouraged by the dealer himself (especially in land-based casinos). Hands that have an ace are called “soft” and have a dual value. For example, 6 and Ace is 7 and Soft 17, 8 and Ace is 9 and Soft 19 and so on.
Although thousands of books and articles have been written about the game, we will try to summarise the tips and tricks of Blackjack in a few crucial points:
It is indeed possible. And we have seen it happen with our own eyes. However, it can only work under certain conditions. More specifically:
If all of the above is true, then read a guide to Blackjack Card Counting and give it your go. It’s difficult, it takes patience, but it will pay off.
If you are lost in the thousands of analyses of blackjack strategies that you will find on the internet and in books, we help you by summarising the ones that are really worth it:
If you decide to delve into the world of blackjack, then references to the so-called basic strategy (or Perfect Strategy) will be quite frequent. This is probably the most basic tool of the experienced player in his attempt to improve his chances against the casino.
In essence, it is a list of predetermined decisions that the player must make based on the cards in front of him and the cards that the dealer has. This list is based 100% on the mathematics of the game. And it is so widespread that in many land-based casinos, there is a printed board on the table for players to consult while playing.
But be careful! The Basic Blackjack Strategy applies to the basic version of the game and Multi-Hand Blackjack. It will not help you in all aspects of other variations, such as the multidimensional versions available on Live Casinos. This is a necessary note to keep in mind before playing.
Double up your bet after each losing hand. Once you’ve won, go back to your original bet.
Exactly what its name suggests. If you win, double your bet until you lose a hand and return to your original stake.
The list of different tactics that players use in their quest to win the casino is truly endless. You may see names like D’Alembert, Fibonacci, Halves, Dozens and many more. They all have their pitfalls so dig deeper more before you try them.
If it’s a casino game that you should play for free, then this is definitely blackjack. As it is perhaps the game that requires more than any other the combination of knowledge of blackjack rules and execution of a strategy that improves the player’s chances.
Free blackjack has specific advantages, as it helps you:
The only downside is that there are no live dealer tables where you can play for play money. The tests you will have to do to find out will be on tables of what we call virtual tables. But which exist in many variations, just like roulette, baccarat and Caribbean poker (or casino poker).
In the past, you would only find classic blackjack and perhaps single-deck blackjack. Now, however, for the sake of variety and differentiation for players, companies offer several variants. Let’s look at the most important ones together.
The classic blackjack is one in which the dealer will draw an obvious card for himself and will not make a move to take second until the player’s turn is over. It is the version of blackjack on which most strategies are set.
We see it a lot in online casinos. The dealer immediately draws a second card for him and, before playing with the players at the table, checks whether he has blackjack himself. However, it has become popular outside of America, but it keeps its original name.
We see it mainly when we play online casinos. At many tables, the casino keeps a portion of each bet to create a jackpot, just like in slots. A lucky winner will get the amount at random, or if they hold a difficult combination of cards (e.g., a five-card hand before the dealer busts).
A version that allows a player to play on multiple boxes at the same time. It takes place in land-based casinos when there are not many people at the table. And extensively on the internet, as it is probably the favourite game of professional and smart punters.
A favourite of hardcore gamblers. Of those who wish to bet on each hand and the possibility of being dealt a pair of the same cards? The odds are not in their favour, but winning can pay their stake many times over.
A version that you will only find online. This is a Live Dealer table, renowned for the best graphics and gameplay in the online casino market. It is favoured by those who want to go to a land-based establishment but can’t be bothered to do so.
At the end of this extended blackjack analysis, it’s important to note that there are dozens more variations. Usually, every region of the world has its own favourite games that would take us whole pages to analyse. The variations of blackjack listed above are the most important and popular in Europe and will likely be found on most tables.
Now, if you come across any other game, especially one with multipliers or lots of side bets, the good advice is to generally avoid them. Their maths are rarely in the players’ favour. But again, Blackjack and casino games are usually meant for entertainment. If your main reason for visiting an online casino or a brick-and-mortar venue is having a good time, feel free to try any blackjack game you find.
There is more than one reason why blackjack has remained one of the most popular casino games for centuries. It is aimed at a specific audience who want a mix of luck and strategic decision-making, not just watching a ball or a slot machine spin.
In our analysis, we tried to explain the basic rules of each blackjack game, as well as strategies that, if applied correctly, will give you a better chance against the Dealer. You have to remember, though, that even with the perfect strategy at tables like Single Deck Blackjack, you will still have a slight disadvantage.
It is important to be well aware of all of the above. The combination of knowledge of odds, side bets, bankroll management, doubling down techniques and perfect blackjack strategy is what will get you closer to winning nights. After that, you will be ready to choose one of the hundreds of versions available online. But none will favour you more than Single Deck Blackjack. This has remained the favourite publication of professionals for decades.
Every casino in our list has been tested for licence, live-dealer tables and payout speed.
Blackjack is the game with the best chance of winning for the player. In some versions, the casino’s edge is only 0.2%. But this requires that the player follows the steps of the basic blackjack strategy and does not take random decisions.
In theory you are not doing anything illegal if you count cards. However, if the dealer notices this, its possible they ask you to leave the table. That is why experienced players who follow this approach are very careful and wont exercise it anywhere.
Most players these days will play on multi-hand blackjack tables. This version allows for more action at the same time. Despite this, there are some popular blackjack games at online casinos, such as Immersive Blackjack, Lightning Blackjack, Quantum Blackjack, and more.
Knowing the value of the cards and the blackjack strategies we mentioned above can help level the field against the dealer. But this assumes you are playing at a casino that follows the game’s math. Either a land-based casino or a legal internet site. All casinos you will find on our pages adhere to these conditions.
It’s a set of actions and decisions on the table based on the game’s math. If you follow these faithfully, you will be able to play blackjack with the minimum possible margin for the dealer and the house.
