Blackjack Online

History of Blackjack

You’re well on your way to becoming a successful Blackjack player. But what’s the history of blackjack? How did this game come to be?

Blackjack has a long and storied history. It is thought to have originated in the French casinos during the 1700s. The game was called “vingt-et-un,” which translates to “twenty-one.” It quickly became popular in the United States, where it was known as “pontoon.” The game is thought to have originated in France, although there is some evidence that it may have originated in Italy. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, with the Ace counting as 1, the 2 through 9 counting as their face value, and the 10, Jack, Queen, and King each counting as 10.

How to Play Blackjack

Blackjack’s allure lies in the fact that it’s a simple game to grasp as all a player needs to do to beat the dealer is getting as close to 21 as possible. Players can play blackjack for as little as C$1 or as high as C$2,000 and generally, players are awarded some power for that commitment. For one, players can decide amongst themselves whether or not the value of the Ace card is 1 or 11 though face cards are 10 while the pip value of other cards are used.

Blackjack is a game of chance, but there are some basic strategies that can be followed in order to improve your chances of winning. One of the most important things to remember is to always try to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. If you have a hand that is close to 21, you want to try and get as close to 21 as possible without going over. This is called ‘busting’ and means you automatically lose the hand.

If you are dealt an Ace and a 10-value card (known as a “blackjack”), you automatically win unless the dealer also has a blackjack, in which case it’s a push (a tie). If you’re dealt a blackjack, you have the option to surrender, in which case you give up half your bet and the hand is over. If you choose to stay in the hand, you will need to match the dealer’s bet in order to continue. If you don’t have enough money to match the dealer’s bet, you will need to fold and give up your hand. If you choose to stay in the hand, you are essentially saying that you believe you have a good chance of winning.

The Facets of Blackjack

These are the terminologies used in blackjack so make sure to read them all because they’re the ones that’ll give you an insight into how blackjack works. Sounds good? Learn more further down.

The Card Deck

The standard 52-card pack is used to play blackjack but usually, multiple card decks are shuffled and used together to play blackjack. The most popular is the six-deck game because it’s played with 312 cards.

The Shoe

This is a box where four or more decks of cards are kept and dealt from a shoe. The shoe allows the dealer to remove one card at a time and definitely, the cards are face-down.

The Shuffle and the Cut

The dealer starts shuffling the decks of cards and after they’ve been properly mixed, a player starts the game by cutting. Cutting basically refers to using the plastic card to signify when you’ll need to re-shuffle the cards.

The Deal

The deal refers to the dealer giving each player and themselves one face-up card after players have made their wagers. This process is repeated once more though this time around, the dealer gives themselves a face-down card instead.

The Naturals

The natural is the Ace and ten cards which combined, is equal to 21 or blackjack. Funny thing about a natural is that it can come in three ways. The first scenario is getting a natural and the dealer getting none, in which case the dealer pays the player one and a half times their bet. For the second scenario, the dealer has a natural so they collect the bets of all players who don’t have a natural. Finally, if both the dealer and a player have a natural, this is called a stand-off so your chips will be returned.

The Play

The player to the left goes first and must decide whether to stand or hit. To stand means to hold your ground by not requesting for another card while a hit means being dealt another card by the dealer. So, depending on how close you’re to 21, you can stand or hit though, if it goes bust (cards‘ are more than 21), you would have forfeited your wins.

The Soft Hand

A soft hand refers to a two-card combo of an ace and a card other than ten. Because players can count the ace as an 11 or one, they can decide to draw or hold. A soft 18 is an ace and a seven and the total can be an 18 or 8 though players can still draw more cards for a better hand. This is because players can still count the ace as a one so an additional card may lead to a better hand.

The Dealer’s Role

Once every player has been served, the dealer’s face-down card is turned up and if their total is 17 or more, they stand while they take a card if the total is under 16. Also, dealers must count aces as 11’s. These rules are rigid and the dealer can’t, let’s say, take another card if their hand totals 18. On the other hand, players aren’t restricted by such rules.

Splitting Pairs

If your first two cards have the same denomination such as two Queens or two sixes, you can consider each as a separate hand. So, the rules state that you must bet an equal amount of cash on both hands. You always start by playing the left hand whereby you’ll stand or hit once or twice and following that, you play the cards by your right. With a pair of aces, you’ll be given a card for each ace and won’t be able to draw again.

Doubling Down

When your first two cards total 9, 10, or 11, the blackjack player is allowed to double their bets. When it’s your turn, you have to place a bet equal to your original wager amount after which you’re handed a face-down card which is only turned up at the end of the hand. Remember that dealers aren’t allowed to double down.

Insurance

If the dealer’s face-up card is an ace, players can make a side bet called the insurance that the dealer’s face-down card is a ten-card making the dealer’s cards a blackjack. This side bet is only up to half of your original bet. If the face-down card turns out to be a ten-card, players who made the side bet will be given double their side bet amount. If there are not multiple ten-cards mixed in with the deck of cards, then the insurance side bet isnt a good bet.

Settlement

A bet can’t be collected back so if a player goes bust, their entire bets are lost and this fact doesn’t change even if the dealer goes bust as well. So, the dealer pays the players that stood the player’s bet if the dealer’s hands pass the 21 mark. If the dealer’s hands are 21 or less, the dealer pays the bets of the player with the highest hand and collects the bets of any player with a lower hand total.

There are different online casinos out there for blackjack but choosing the best one for yourself is tricky because a lot of casino sites fall short of their promises. To help the process of picking a spot to play blackjack easier, we’ve listed the best online casinos for blackjack and broke down how we chose them. Check them out below.

Energy Casino

Energy casino is backed by NetEnt and Microgaming, offering e-wallets, bank wire transfer, and credit/debit card options. This one of the best online casinos for blackjack because it’s backed by both the UKGC and MGA with information protected courtesy of 128-bit SSL encryption software. There are standard and live blackjack versions available including games like Vegas Blackjack Strip, Vegas Downtown Blackjack, Atlantic City Blackjack, Speed Blackjack, Infinite Blackjack, and Lightning Blackjack.

Pros

• Has a live chat feature
• Plethora of blackjack games are available for both high rollers and otherwise
• Proven fair by eCogra
• This is an instant-play site so no need to download any software

Cons

• Fees apply to the phone support

Casumo Casino

Casumo is full of different blackjack titles including the European, Classic, and Switch versions making this one of the best casinos for blackjack online. The tables vary by bet limits (minimum bet as little as C$1), languages, and more so players will have the chance to vary the experience. You should know that Casumo Casino features more live casino games than table games.

Pros

• Withdrawals are always processed within 72 hours
• Different blackjack variants are available
• The live chat feature is available 24/7
• The online casino has been proven fair by TST
• It is backed by the MGA, UKGC, and SGA

Cons

• There’s no phone support

Casombie Casino

Casombie feature different blackjack titles such as 21 Burn Blackjack, 3D Blackjack, American Blackjack, Back Blackjack, European Blackjack, and Blackjack Neo. Bet limits start from as little as C$0.5 while the maximum bet can be as high as $1,500 on certain VIP blackjack tables. Combined, these features make Casombie casino of the best for playing blackjack online.

Pros

• The games are mobile friendly
• It features plenty of payment methods including e-wallets
• The live chat is available 24/7
• Great support from industry-leading software providers

Cons

• Casombie casino doesn’t offer any sports betting menu
• Their casino bonuses have high playthrough requirements

Woo Casino

Woo Casino is home to blackjack tables including many versions classic blackjack, speed blackjack, blackjack VIP, and American blackjack. Bets start from as little as C$1 though they can get as high as C$1,500 if you play at the VIP tables. We think this is one of the best online casinos for blackjack because other types of games are also offered including video slots, jackpots, and bingo.

Pros

• This casino is home to top iGaming software providers including NetEnt and Evolution Gaming
• Live chat is also available so you can get answers in a jiffy
• The mobile friendly design makes navigating the game library easier
• Diverse selection of regular and live blackjack games
• The online casino supports familiae payment options including BTC and LTC

Cons

• The video poker selection is pretty limited

Yoju Casino

Yoju casino is a great spot for blackjack players because they can cash out up to C$15,000 per month. There are different blackjack games available including Blackjack 48, 49, and 50, Blackjack Gold, Blackjack Classic, and Blackjack VIP. Each game has its own betting limits though bets generally start from C$1. Also, Yoju offers more live blackjack games than regular blackjack so you won’t be able to vary your demo experience much as live blackjack games are only available for real money plays.

Pros

• Supports games from more than 45 iGaming software providers
• The live chat is open 24/7 so players can get their answers within minutes
• There are multiple payment methods being offered including e-wallets and card options
• Aside from a varied blackjack menu, big jackpots from Playtech are also available
• It is licensed and secured courtesy of 128-bit SSL encryption

Cons

• A Curacao license still can’t stand up to a MGA or UKGC license

Picking out an online casino that’s best for playing blackjack should be based on its services and credibility. This isn’t hard if you know what to look for. In our case, the factors we considered were game variety, bonus playthrough, licensing, great customer support, and familiar payment methods. Take a look at them in detail below.

Game Variety

Look out for a well-rounded game library that contains video slots, jackpots, table/card and live games, scratch cards, bingo, and the likes. In short, if the site niches itself to a single game genre, you’ll be missing out.

Bonus Playthrough

Naturally, you’ll discover bonuses but the playthrough requirements is more important because it determines whether or not you can win the bonus. A playthrough requirement higher than 40 times is generally frowned upon but obviously, the lower the better.

Licensing and Security

Good licenses that you can keep an eye out for are ones from the UK, Malta, Sweden, Curacao, and Kahnawake just to name a few. There should also be encryption software installed and preferably, the 128-bit variant at the least.

Customer Support

The customer support shouldn’t only have a live chat feature but also another fast and readily-available alternative in case the chat support agents are busy. Alternatives can be email or phone support.

Familiar Payment Methods

Look out for options like MasterCard, Maestro, Visa, Interac, and even cryptocurrencies. A casino that fits your needs won’t require you to create a new payment account before being able to fund your casino account.

Wondering about the types of blackjack you can look forward to playing at a casino? Take a look at some popular versions of the game further down.

• Classic Blackjack follows the original principles of the game whereby the player and the dealer will be given two cards, one face up and the other face down.
• European Blackjack is the most popular blackjack version out there because of how the cards are dealt. Players are dealt two face-up cards while the dealer will have a face up and face down card each.
• Progressive Blackjack follows the principles of European blackjack whereby the player’s cards both face up. The twist is that you can bet on a progressive jackpot slot to get a bigger win.
• Blackjack Switch deals each player four cards to switch between when forming winning hands. This version of blackjack also follows the same rules of classic blackjack and it has a 50:50 payout.
• Spanish 21 Blackjack plays like classic blackjack but pick out pairs of card three times. Doubling is also supported even after splitting pairs.

Playing blackjack online is a great way to enjoy the world-famous card game in the comfort of your own home. With fast access and relatively low limits, online blackjack can be quite exciting. It's quick to learn and good for honing basic strategies related to counting cards. With luck and skill, some of that sweet winnings might just end up in your pocket.

1. Choose an online blackjack table.

   When you log in to an online casino, you will be able to choose from a variety of blackjack tables. Make sure to choose a table with betting limits that fit your budget.

2. Place your bet.

   Once you have chosen a table, it is time to place your bet. You will be able to see the minimum and maximum bet amounts for each table. Make sure to choose an amount that you are comfortable with.

3. Wait for the dealer to deal the cards.

   The dealer will then deal two cards to each player and two cards to themselves. One of the dealer's cards will be face up and the other will be face down.

4. Look at your cards and decide what to do.

   You will then need to look at your cards and decide whether to hit, stand, double down, or split. If you are not sure what to do, you can always ask the dealer for help.

5. The dealer will then play their hand.

   Once all players have made their decisions, the dealer will then play their hand according to blackjack rules. If the dealer busts, all players who are still in the game will win their bets.

1. The first blackjack casinos were established in the 1700s in France.
2. Blackjack casinos typically offer a variety of blackjack games, including classic blackjack, Spanish 21, and Pontoon.
3. Most blackjack casinos use a standard 52-card deck, but some may use additional decks or special rules to increase the house edge.
4. Blackjack casinos usually have a dress code that requires players to dress formally.
5. Most blackjack casinos require players to purchase chips from the casino in order to play.
6. Blackjack casinos typically have a minimum bet requirement in order to play.
7. Most blackjack casinos offer a variety of side bets, such as insurance and progressive jackpots.
8. Blackjack casinos typically offer a variety of promotions and bonuses, such as cashback and reload bonuses.
9. Most blackjack casinos have a VIP program that offers exclusive benefits to loyal players.

1. The probability of being dealt a blackjack is 4.83%
2. The probability of winning a blackjack hand is 49.32%
3. The probability of losing a blackjack hand is 44.85%
4. The probability of pushing (neither winning nor losing) a blackjack hand is 5.81%
5. The house edge in blackjack is generally around 0.5%
6. Blackjack is the most popular casino table game in the United States
7. In a standard game of blackjack, there are a total of 52 cards
8. The average blackjack player plays at about a 200$ bet per hand
9. Blackjack is a game with one of the lowest house edges of any casino game
10. The basic strategy for blackjack has a house edge of 0.5%

Blackjack is fun, simple to understand, and has an excellent payout so it’s considered by many to be the gateway game into the world of casinos. Luckily, it’s unlike other casino games that relies on a degree of randomness because there are techniques like card counting for beating the dealer. From beginners to pro-level players, blackjack is a game that appeals to a wide audience.

The casinoforcanada.com team aims to provide high quality information. To ensure this, reliable and high-quality information sources are always used. The following sources are used in this article:

• Blackjack (Wikipedia)

The article complies with all the editorial principles of casinoforcanada.com. In case of inaccuracies, contact the casinoforcanada.com team using the following contact form. We will be glad to hear from you!