Gamblers Guide to Playing Blackjack Online
When playing blackjack online, the computer is the dealer. The Blackjack dealer and the player are each deal two cards at the beginning of the game. As you play blackjack online, you and the dealer are each trying to amass enough cards to equal 21 in value, without going over. If you get a total value that is higher than the dealer's but less than 21, you win the game.
Blackjack cards hold the value that is listed on the face of the card, with the exception of the kings, queens and jacks, which are each worth ten points. Aces, on the other hand are worth either one or 11 based on the needs of the player, according to most blackjack rules. You don't need to state which value the ace because it's always assumed to be worth whichever value makes the best hand. If you and the Blackjack dealer have equally valued hands, it is called a "push," and you get your money back. In the case of a hand worth over 21 points, you lose, even if the dealer also loses.
Online Blackjack is played using eight card decks, each with 52 cards. After each Blackjack game is over, the used cards are shuffled back into the deck. The value of each Blackjack hand is the summation of the individual cards' values. A hand containing a Jack, 5, and 3 has a value of 18.
Each Online Blackjack hand is started by placing a bet on the table. Then you get two cards facing up. The Online Blackjack dealer gets one card facing up and one card facing down. After you are dealt the two cards you can do the following:
Hit - or request another card. This can be done as many times as you like, but if your total goes over 21, you will lose the hand.
Stand - or request not to receive any more cards. The Blackjack hand will be judged against the dealers' as it is.
Split - If you have two of the same Blackjack cards, a split button will appear. You can split your Blackjack cards into two hands and play each hand separately. Your original bet will be duplicated for the new hand. Each hand will be played out as usual except when splitting aces, where only one additional card per hand is dealt. The split option can only be used once per hand, so you can't split part of a split hand. Any winning 21 obtained after splitting a pair is paid 1-to-1 by the online casino.
Double Down - If you select the double down feature of the internet casino, there are two things that will happen. You will get one more card, your Blackjack turn will end, and your bet will be doubled.
Insurance - Whenever the dealer's upward facing card is an ace, you have the option to take insurance. If you don't wish to take insurance, you simply click on the pass button to proceed with the rest of the blackjack online game. If you believe that the dealer's face-down is worth 10 you can place a side bet of half the original wager as insurance.
If you win the Blackjack hand, you will get double your wager back. An online blackjack hand that consists of an ace and any ten value card is called a natural 21, or a natural Blackjack, except with a split. If you win with a natural Blackjack, you will be paid off at 3-to-2, so you get your wager back plus a 150 percent profit.
