Online casino blackjack is as famous as poker! As the quintessential card game, it continuously evolves. Studios compete with each other to create versions where players can develop different strategies while keeping the core essence of the game intact.

It all starts with card distribution, and if luck is on your side, you might get a blackjack right away, meaning an Ace (which in this case counts as 11 points) and a card worth 10 points.

That's the beginning, the common foundation of all blackjack games. To this, you must add side bets and other peculiarities from the variants. All these elements add suspense and excitement.

Between the rules, the vocabulary, and the course of a game, blackjack follows certain codes to know in order to play without being at a loss.

Rules of blackjack

Playing online blackjack has only one goal: winning the game by obtaining a hand better than the dealer, also called the bank. This hand must be closest to the number 21 without ever exceeding it.

Numbered cards are worth their indicated value, face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10 points each, and an Ace can be worth 1 or 11 points, whichever is more advantageous for you. When you get an Ace and a 10-value card, you have a natural blackjack and you win.

Moreover, playing blackjack online is interesting because it's the game with the lowest house edge for the casino, even lower than for roulette, for example.

Vocabulary to know

If you're not yet accustomed to playing, you'll hear specific words at blackjack tables. A whole vocabulary that's important to know before diving into real money online blackjack.

• Bust: means that the total value of your cards exceeds 21 points
• Hit: to request an additional card from the dealer
• Blackjack insurance: betting option offered when the dealer's visible card is an Ace
• Blackjack: getting an Ace and a 10-point card in one go
• Double: doubling the initial bet in exchange for an additional card
• Single Hand: playing only one hand at a time
• Multi Hand: multi-hand game
• Stand: keeping your hand without receiving additional cards
• Split: splitting a pair of cards of the same value into two separate hands
• Hard: indicates a hand without an Ace
• Soft: refers to a hand where the Ace counts as 11 points
• Winning hand: to obtain it, you must not exceed 21 points
• Surrender: allows you to withdraw from the game after receiving the first 2 cards

Payout table

Betting is good, but betting and understanding how payouts work is even better. This table should serve as your guide to help you make strategic decisions based on your hand and the dealer's visible card. Here are some key points from the payout table for this truly exciting table game:

✔️ If you get a natural blackjack with your two cards, you win a payout of 3:2 or 6:5 depending on the variant, except when the dealer also gets a natural blackjack. In this case, it's a tie and you don't win anything, but your bet is returned to you.

✔️ If you get a hand close to 21 points and better than the dealer's, you win your bet and you're paid 1:1.

✔️ If your hand exceeds 21 points, you bust and lose your bet.

✔️ If the dealer exceeds 21 points, they bust and you win your bet 1:1.

✔️ With the insurance bet, you're paid 2:1 if the dealer gets a blackjack.

Course of an online blackjack game

An online blackjack game proceeds as follows:

• You place your initial bet.
• Then, two face-up cards are dealt to you.
• Two cards are dealt to the bank (dealer), one of which is face down.
• It's up to you to decide what to do with this hand.
• Four possibilities: either stand, hit for additional cards.
• Depending on the case, you can double, split, or take insurance if the dealer's visible card is an Ace.
• You win and the bank pays your bets.

At Jackpot Bob, we have brought together the best blackjack games with a variety of different variants:

♠️ Relax Gaming Blackjack: an exclusive classic version where the objective is to reach 21 points or get as close as possible without going over. In this game against the computer, you can bet on 3 hands at the same time. This Relax Gaming title is perfect for novice players who want to practice before playing real money online blackjack. In this case, click on Play Now, then on Demo Mode.

♠️ Caribbean Blackjack by Felt Gaming: a game to try for free, a fusion between blackjack and Caribbean Stud poker. You can win a €50,000 jackpot if you get a Royal Flush, which is an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of the same suit for the first 2 cards of your 2 hands and the dealer's card. In this version, betting on both hands is mandatory, as is the 5-card Bonus side bet. Betting on the Jackpot is optional.

♠️ Multi-Hand Blackjack by Gaming Corps: jazzy ambiance and art deco style for this exclusive version by Gaming Corps. In this blackjack game, you can play up to 3 hands at the same time. You have the option to represent your bet with a virtual arm appearing on the screen, which can be configured by clicking on the 3 bars in the top right corner. Otherwise, this variant pays blackjack 3:2 and insurance 2:1.

♠️ Multi-Hand Perfect Pairs Blackjack by Gaming Corps: Multi-Hand means you can play up to 3 hands at the same time. But this version has an additional feature: the ability to bet on a Perfect Pairs side bet. The first 2 cards of a hand must form either a pair of two identical cards in value and color, a pair of the same color, or a mixed pair. Try it for free on Jackpot Bob.

♠️ First Person Blackjack by Evolution: First Person Blackjack revolutionizes RNG blackjack games by offering an immersive live experience in a studio with refined decor. Featuring a lively 3D environment and an interface that makes gameplay as close as possible to that of a real casino. You'll find the usual bets including insurance and two additional bets like Perfect Pairs or 21+3. It's a multi-hand game, allowing you to bet on 1 to 5 hands at the same time. However, there's no demo mode as it's real money blackjack only.

♠️ Double Exposure Multi-Hand Blackjack by Play'n GO: the most notable feature of this game is that both dealer cards are exposed from the start, hence the name Double Exposure. This gives you a significant advantage, allowing for more informed decisions by knowing the dealer's complete hand. In exchange for this benefit, a natural blackjack pays 1:1 instead of 3:2. The dealer wins in case of a tie, except in the case of a natural blackjack.

♠️ European Blackjack by Betsoft: a variant played with 6 decks of cards, allowing you to bet on up to 3 hands at the same time. Some specific rules to note include the prohibition of splitting a pair more than once. Additionally, you can only double down on totals from 9 to 11. Another requirement is that the dealer must draw a card at 16 and stand at 17, which is often the case in blackjack games.

To play online blackjack effectively, it's important to master the rules and some tips revealed below by the Jackpot Bob team.

The blackjack chart

Blackjack chart or basic strategy, two different terms to describe the same thing. It's a tool to help you make the most advantageous decisions during the game. Depending on your hand's configuration, it indicates the best possible action: whether to hit, stand, double down, split, or surrender.

This chart doesn't guarantee a win, but it's designed to increase your chances by playing strategically. The only way to play effectively is to learn it by heart!

Learning to Count Cards

As a preamble, it's not illegal to count cards in blackjack, however, you must use your brain and not any device if you're playing at a table with a dealer.

This technique improves your chances of winning as it involves tracking the cards that have been dealt to determine which ones remain in the shoe. This allows you to adjust your bets and strategies accordingly.

What's the most effective method for counting cards in blackjack? There are two concepts called Running Count and True Count:

🟣 Running Count: this is a real-time tracking of the ratio of high/low cards played by assigning values. For example, low cards (2-6) are generally valued at +1, neutral cards (7-9) are valued at 0, and high cards (10, Ace) are valued at -1.

🟣 True Count: involves adjusting the Running Count based on the number of decks remaining for a more accurate measure. A high True Count means there are proportionally more favorable cards for the player remaining in the shoe, which may justify increasing the bet.

Blackjack Insurance

This is an optional bet that allows you to insure yourself if the dealer's visible card is an Ace. If the dealer's second card is a 10 or another face card, they get a blackjack. You lose your initial bet, but you win the insurance bet. If the dealer doesn't get a blackjack, you lose the insurance bet and the game continues normally.

✔️ Jackpot Bob's Advice: don't take insurance systematically, but consider this option for specific situations, especially if you also have a blackjack or in certain card counting strategies.

Making a choice among all the online blackjack options can be complicated. Our team provides you with criteria to evaluate to find the games that suit you best:

🟣 Know the rules: make sure to master the specific rules of the table. While the basic game is the common foundation, some options might confuse you. Read the explanations provided by Jackpot Bob, they are written for you and help you better understand the specifics of the version you are connected to.

🟣 Consider betting limits: choose a table that fits your budget. Tables with low limits starting at €1 are ideal for beginners or those who want to play longer with a limited budget. If you prefer RNG games in free mode, you can play as much as you like without spending a dime.

🟣 Define the atmosphere: the decor, the music, the presence or absence of a dealer, other players, can influence your game. This is an important factor to consider if you are prone to stress. In this case, prefer RNG games based on software that guarantees fairness and random outcomes of rounds.

By following these tips, you increase your chances of finding your ideal online blackjack table!

Can you play online blackjack without money?

Yes! Just click on Demo Mode when available. Free modes are perfect for practice.

What are the best game developers for Blackjack?

The top studios are Gaming Corps, Play’n GO, Betsoft, Relax Gaming, Felt Gaming, Evolution, and Pragmatic Play for live dealer games.

What is the best variant of online blackjack?

Form your own opinion by trying out games such as free blackjack. However, Caribbean Blackjack is often mentioned by players. This variant combines elements of both blackjack and poker.