Step into any prime casino, like Las Vegas or Atlantic City, and you will find many blackjack tables, including high-roller tables on the pit floor.
Blackjack, originally known by its French name, Ving-et-Un, was a part of the American casino experience well before Nevada legalized casinos in the early 1930s.
Glamorized by Hollywood and the game of choice of high-profile tournaments, Blackjack continues to reach new heights in the era of thriving American online casinos.
The Allure of Online Blackjack
With the rise of mobile apps and 3 billion Android users, having access to Blackjack has never been better. Without traveling to a casino that might not even be within your radius, you can enjoy the thrills and elegance of this time game in today’s live dealer mode.
In 2019, Evolution Gaming broke new ground by revolutionizing the live dealer process. Through 4k streaming resolution, right on your living room sofa, you can interact and match with wits with a professional dealer to get to 21.
Blackjack, particularly American Blackjack, has one of the most user-friendly RTPs compared to other table games. American Blackjack might have an RTP of 99% or higher depending on the online casino.
It also helps that many online casinos have frequent bonuses and promotions, including Blackjack. Blackjack wagers, win or lose, count towards the casino’s VIP club, featuring rewards and benefits and the chance to redeem comp points into cash.
Blackjack Basics for Beginners
Blackjack is a straightforward card game. The dealer deals two cards, and the dealer deals themselves two cards, but with one card face up, known as the upcard. The goal is for the players and the dealer to get to 21 or as close as possible to it. This is where Blackjack’s strategy comes into play.
If your first two cards don’t result in a natural blackjack hand, you can choose to hit, meaning draw a third card or stand with your first two cards. However, unlike baccarat, you can go bust. This means that if you draw a third card and go over 21, you automatically lose.
The dealer must stand if the dealer has a soft 17, meaning an Ace and a six. Otherwise, the dealer can hit. To count blackjack cards, Aces count as either eleven or a point, depending on the other cards.
Tens, Jacks, Queens and Kings, all count for ten. The cards two through nine carry their straight-up value.
While Blackjack doesn’t have intricate strategies like roulette’s Martingale and Reverse Paroli, it’s common for players to split tens into two separate hands. By splitting tens, you reduce the risk of going bust and create two potential winning hands.
Some online blackjack games support the 21+3 side bet, which allows you to play a regular blackjack hand and three-card poker at the same time.
Blackjack: A Current Phenomenon
As online casinos progress and the rise of social casinos, blackjack players have a new avenue to enjoy 21. Social casinos let players, including blackjack players, play for free and with their peers, thanks to gold coins.
As prominent game developers like IGT and Evolution Gaming continue improving game technology, look for new blackjack variants and a new way to fall in love with classic Blackjack.
Given the varying regulations on gambling establishments globally, please comply with local laws when indulging in the pleasure of gambling.