What is Blackjack All About?

Blackjack is a hugely popular online casino game in New Zealand. It requires an element of luck, but knowledge and skill also play a significant part. The aim of blackjack is to get as close to the number 21 as possible, without going over. If the dealer’s number is over 21, or you get closer to 21 than the dealer, you win real money – it’s that easy!

If you want to play blackjack at an online casino, Best Online Casino Reviews will give you all the tools you need to master one of the best games in the world.

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In this guide, we’re going to show you how to play online blackjack. We’ll provide the best tips and strategies to give you an edge against the house and boost your chances of making a profit from playing blackjack. We’ll also explain the differences between the different types of blackjack and explain the key rules of the game.

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Blackjack Game Rules

Blackjack Card Games

Learning the rules of the classic version of the game is a great starting point if you’re planning on playing online blackjack. From there you can familiarise yourself with the other variants.

The main aim of classic blackjack is for the player to make a hand whose point total is closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand without busting.

The player places his/her bets before the dealer’s hands out two cards face up – one to the player and one to him/herself. Another round of cards is then dealt face up to the player, but the dealer takes his/her second card face down.

If your initial two cards are an ace and a 10 (or a picture card) it gives you a total of 21 – this is known as blackjack. You automatically win unless the dealer has the same score. If you don’t have 21 you have a number of decisions you can make:

  • Hit: Request another card. You can ask to hit until you decide to stand or bust
  • Stand: Take no additional cards. The dealer then plays their hand
  • Double Down: Double the amount of your bet plus an extra card plus stand
  • Split: If you have two cards of the same value, you can split them into two separate hands. The second bet is the same as the original – effectively this doubles your wager
  • Surrender: You can surrender half your stake if you think you could lose the hand
  • Insurance: If the dealer’s face card is an ace, you can take insurance – this is a bet that is half the value of the original. You are essentially betting on the dealer getting blackjack

The dealer automatically wins if you bust, surrender, or if their total hand value is closest to 21. The dealer must take the following actions if he/she:

  • Has a total of 16 or less, he/she must hit
  • Has a total of 18 or more, he/she must stand
  • Has a hard 17, he/she must stand
  • Has a soft 17, he/she must hit

How to play like a professional?

Best Game Tips

As with any online casino game, it is important to do your homework before parting with real money on a real money casino. Understanding basic strategy, table selection, and table limits is a great place to start.

Hone your craft by using the no deposit tables to iron out any weaknesses in your game and you’ll boost your chances of making a profit from online blackjack in the future. If you want to play like a professional, use the following tips:

Learn Basic Strategy

Basic Strategy is the first thing you need to learn before you can start winning real money at blackjack. It applies certain questions to answer when playing a hand including:

  • Can I/should I surrender?
  • Can I/should I split
  • Can I/should I double
  • Should I hit or should I stand?

Understanding the situations where you should apply one of the above criteria will improve your play and help to reduce the number of mistakes you make.

Set an affordable bankroll

If you have NZD50 to spend at an online casino it makes no sense to play at a table where you could lose it all in one hand. Set a bankroll that means you never bet more than 5% of your cash on any hand. The more hands you are able to play, the more likely your returns will match the expected payout of the game.

Double Down

Doubling down allows players to increase the wager on certain hands where the odds favor them. Players can double down when they are dealt a pair of cards of the same rank. Always double when you have an ace. Double when you have 10s and the dealer is showing a 9 or less. Double with 9s. Double with 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17 when the dealer is holding a 4, 5, or 6.

Splitting Pairs

Double your bet by splitting pairs, but only do this when it is in your favor to do so. Never split a pair of face cards, 10s or 5s. Always split aces. Split 7s or 8s if the dealer is showing a card equal to or lesser than your card, but never when they are holding a 9, 10, face card, or ace. Splits 2s and 3s, but only when the dealer is showing 4, 5, or 6.

How to win at Blackjack – Best Strategies

The house always has an edge when you’re playing online blackjack, but follow these simple tips to improve your chances of winning:

  • Learn basic strategy
  • Play free tables to get to grips with the game
  • Find tables where you can’t blow your bankroll in one hand
  • Choose a table that offers the double down option
  • Play at tables where the dealer stands on soft 17
  • Stand when you have a hand that could bust against a dealer’s card
  • Always split eights and aces
  • Double down with any ace against the dealer’s six
  • Never gamble more than you can afford to lose

Online Blackjack Payout

Much of blackjack’s popularity is based around the fact that it is the casino game that has the lowest house edge. The ability to reduce this down to as low as 0.5% means it is possible to show a healthy profit from blackjack if you play your cards right.

Always check out the odds at an online blackjack table before placing a bet. Most operators offer odds of 3/2, but some have started to pay at 6/5, meaning they hold a greater advantage over the player.

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Online Blackjack Glossary

We’ve complied a handy list of blackjack terminology to help your understanding of the game:

  • Bankroll: The amount of money the player has to spend in a session
  • Bet: The amount wagered on a hand
  • Bust: When the player or dealer has cards totalling above 21
  • Dealer: The person who deals the cards at the table
  • Double Down: Player can choose to double the original bet.
  • Edge: The advantage a casino has over the player
  • Face Card: Jack, Queen or King (value 10)
  • Hit: Ask for another card after the original hand has been dealt
  • House: The casino
  • Soft Total: A player’s blackjack hand where the ace is worth 11
  • Stand: Player chooses not to receive any more cards
  • Surrender: Player gives up a hand and loses half the bet

Interesting Facts About Online Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular games at online casinos in New Zealand. Here are a few interesting facts about the game:

  • Approximately 150 countries around the world have casinos that offer the game
  • The Spanish author of ‘Don Quixote’, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote about blackjack in a short story in the early 1600s
  • The proper name of the game is “21” – “blackjack” came into fashion during the 1920s
  • The Blackjack Hall of Fame is located at the Barona Casino in San Diego, California
  • Napoleon Bonaparte was a big fan of blackjack, often playing the game after he was exiled
  • Card counting isn’t illegal, but casinos regularly ban players who are found doing it

You now have all the information you need to make win real money playing online blackjack. Keep following Best-online-casino-reviews.com to find out all you need to know about the best online casinos.