Blackjack is one of the most popular and iconic table games. You can find it almost everywhere: in casinos and online. In the game, you play against the dealer and try to win money by getting as close to 21 as possible. You start with a hand of two cards, and you can choose to draw more cards. But be careful: if you go over 21, you lose. If you get closer to 21 than the dealer, you win and double your money.

One of the most well-known hands in this game is Blackjack, which means you immediately have 21. This happens when you get an ace (1 or 11) and a ten or face card (10). In this case, you instantly earn 1.5 times your bet.

Why is playing live blackjack so fun and exciting?

Back in the days, you needed to visit the casino if you wanted to play blackjack, but those days are over! For the past few years, it has been possible to play the best casino games from the comfort of your own home.

Simply turn on your desktop or unlock your smartphone or tablet and enjoy the excitement of the real casino. At most Canadian casinos, you will find a wide portfolio of slots games and table games. In addition to that, many casinos nowadays have a Live Casino section.

In the live casino, you can play classic games like roulette and blackjack while watching the game through an HD live video connection. When you play blackjack, for example, you will see a real dealer shuffle and deal the cards. They will even talk to you and ask if you want to buy another card.

Because of this, Live Blackjack is getting more and more popular. In addition to this, playing blackjack online has multiple benefits.

Benefits of playing Blackjack online

1. You won’t have to spend time and money to get to the casino.
2. Online you will enjoy more game types and betting options.
3. Live Blackjack is available around the clock (24/7).
4. At online casinos you will be able to pay with multiple reliable payment methods.
5. You can play from any device and from any place.
6. Sometimes you can play games in your own language and currencies.
7. Playing online is anonymous, nobody will know.
8. You can also learn and try out game for free!
9. There is always a seat available to play, especially with the NetEnt Common Draw Live Blackjack game.
10. At online casinos you will be able to claim generous welcome bonuses and registration offers.

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A game of Blackjack, how does that work?

Blackjack is a fairly easy card game which you can play in almost every online casino. The main goal of Blackjack is to get as close to 21, but don’t exceed it. When you do this better than the bank, you will double your money. On top of this you can hit a Blackjack which pays 2,5 times your bet. A typical round of Blackjack goes like this;

1. You can place your bet and maybe additional side bets. Later I will explain how side bets work.
2. The dealer will deal everyone two card, which is their starting hand.
3. The dealer will go ask every player if they want to stand or buy another card. In some cases you will also be able to double or split, I will explain this later.
4. After every player made their choice the dealer will play its cards. The dealer must stand at 17 and must draw to 16. When the dealer goes bust you win, when the dealer gets closer to 21 they win. When you both hit the same value it’s a push, you will get your bet back.
5. After the dealer played its hand it will pay everyone and collect the cards. Once done, a new round of Blackjack starts.

Playing Blackjack is based on luck, but it also involves some strategy. You need to know when to buy a card, when to stand and when to double. Later in this article I will share some of my personal tips while playing Live Blackjack.

Splitting

When you get a matching pair, you can decide to split them. For example, when you get two 8’s, you can split them into two different hands. It is not possible to split your hand when you get a 10 and a face card.

When you split, you will double your bet and play two separate hands. You can win both, lose both, or win one and lose one. In some cases, you can split aces, but you can only draw one card for each hand.

In most cases, it is also possible to split after a split when you get another matching card. Have a look at the game rules to be sure how the game works.

Doubling down

Live blackjack games also offer you the option to double your bet, called the “Double Down” bet. Most games allow you to double when you get a total of 10 or 11 with your first two cards.

After you double, you will only be able to draw one more card, so it has to be a high one. In the most perfect scenario, you will get 11, double, and hit a ten or a face card. In this case, you have 21 and doubled your stake. This can be a very rewarding strategy.

When you get a low card, you will need to hope the dealer goes bust.

Side bets – at more dynamics to the game

Some Blackjack games also offer you the chance to win more money by placing side bets. Side bets are additional bets next to your regular Blackjack bet. Most Blackjack games offer you the opportunity to place side bets from as low as $1. Below I will explain which side bets there are available and how they work.

Perfect pair

When you bet money on ‘’Perfect Pair’’ you will get paid when you get two of the same cards from the dealer. A perfect pair only pays when you get the pair during your first two cards. Depending one the colours you will get a fairly nice payout. It works like this;

• A Perfect Pair; Hit a pair of the same cards of the same suit. For example; Two Kings of Spade. This pair pays 25:1, a $2 bet for example pays $50.
• A Coloured Pair; Hit a pair of the same colour, but not of the same suit. For example; A Ten of Hearts and a Ten of Diamonds. This pays 12:1, bet $2 to win $24.
• A Mixed Pair; Hit a pair which is not the same suit and not the same colour. For example; A Queen of Spades and a Queen of Hearts. This pays 6:1, bet $2 to get a $12 return.

The chance of landing a pair isn’t really that big, but the returns can be pretty nice. I don’t really recommend using the side bet all the time, but it can be interesting when you are feeling lucky!

21 + 3 Side Bet

One other possible side bet is the ‘’21 + 3 Side Bet’’. When you place money on this side bet you are betting on getting a winning combination with your first two cards and the first card of the dealer. You can win money by hitting one of the following Poker combinations;

• Suited Trips; This is the hardest and most valuable side bet, Suited Trips. You win this when you get a combination of three of the same cards of the same suit. For example; Three Aces of Spades. This pay 1:100, bet $2 to get $200 in return for example.
• Straight Flush; A Straight Flush is also very hard to get. To get this combination you will need to get three connecting cards of the same suit. For example a 4, 5 and 6 of Hearts. This pays 1:40, bet $2 to get $80 in return.
• Three of a Kind; Get three of the same cards but not of the same suit. For example; Get three Jacks of different suits. This pays 1:30, bet $2 to win $60.
• Straight; Get three cards in numerical sequence but not of the same suit. For example; Get a 10, Jack and Queen. This pays 1:10, bet $2 to win $20.
• Flush; Get three cards of the same suit. For example; A 4, 8 and Ace of Hearts. This pays 1:5, bet $2 to get $10 in return.

Most of the combinations of this side bet are hard to get, and because of that I don’t think placing side bets on the long run is profitable. Because of this I recommend using this side bet when you are feeling really lucky or when you want to raise the excitement.

Winning money with Blackjack

Blackjack can be a pretty lucrative game when you are on a lucky streak, but you can also quickly lose a lot of money. When you win a hand, you will get a return of 1:1. This means you will get your bet back plus your bet as profit. For example, when you bet $20 and win, you will get $20 x 2 = $40.

When the dealer gets closer to 21, you will lose and get no return. If you get the same value as the dealer and you bet $20, you will get your $20 back.

When you get lucky and have a blackjack, you will win 3:2. This means you will get your money back plus 1.5 times your bet as profit. For example, when you bet $20 and get a blackjack, you will get $20 + 1.5 x $20 ($30) = $50.

If the dealer draws an ace as the first card, you can also decide to buy insurance. This is an additional bet that allows you to break even if the dealer gets a blackjack. It works like this: when you bet $20 and the dealer draws an ace, you can get insurance for half of your bet ($10). If the dealer gets the blackjack, you will get your insurance bet x2 (1:2). This means your $10 insurance bet will earn you $20, which was your original stake. If the dealer doesn’t get blackjack and you lose, you will lose $30 instead of $20.

Blackjack strategy – use the cheat sheat

When you are playing blackjack, you can use blackjack strategies to increase your odds. There are multiple blackjack strategies based on math that tell you when to hit, stand, split, double down, and surrender.

One of the most popular and well-known strategies is the “Basic Strategy.” The basic strategy is a large chart that tells you what to do in each situation. When you memorize this chart, you will always have the best chance of winning money.

Below, you can see the chart and some important rules.

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Blackjack decision making process

Use the following questions in order to decide when to do what;

1. Can I surrender and should I surrender? When you are playing on a table which allows you to surrender you should first decide if this is smart to do. Use the chart to decide if this is a mathematical good decision or not. If you cannot surrender or it is not a smart decision then you can continue to the next step.
2. Can I split, and do I want to split? When you get a pair your secondly need to decide if you want to split. Is it a good decisions according to the chart? Then split! Is it not a good idea to split? Then continue to the next question.
3. Can I double, or do I want to double? After step 2 you will need to figure out if you can double, and If you should do that. When you get a total of 11 you should always double. Check the chart for any of the other situations.
4. Should I hit, or should I stand? After taking no or one of the following actions you should decide if you want to hit or stand. Using the chart and some basic rules you can decide what’s best to do.

Most important rules while playing the basic strategy

• Never take Insurance while playing Blackjack!
• Never go for ‘’Even Money’’ while hitting a Blackjack.
• Never split 5’s. In no situation!
• Memorize this chart but make adjustments according to the situation.
• Using the chart allow is not enough! You will also need to use other strategies and methods to increase your odds. All with all you will need to count cards, use deviations, use true count conversions and other betting strategies in order to increase your odds of winning.
• When possible, surrender 16 when the dealer has an 9, 10 or Ace.
• When possible, surrender 15 against a dealers 10. Otherwise don’t surrender.
• Always split Aces, never split Tens.
• Always split 8’s.
• Always stand when you have 17 or more.
• Always hit when you get an 8.
• Always double when you get 11.

My personal Blackjack tips

Although Blackjack is a game of luck there are some tips and strategies which you can use to increase your chance of winnings. These tips help you decide when to buy a card, and when to stand. Below I will share some of my personal Blackjack tips.

• Statistically it is not in your favour to take an insurance when the dealer hits an Ace.
• When you get two tens or faces it is best to stand. Splitting two tens is statistically not the best options.
• Never split 5’s.
• If you get two Aces, always split and double your bet in order to land a 10.
• Double down when you hit 10 or 11. It gives you 20 or 21 when hitting an Ace or Face.
• Never stand below 12. Always take another card.
• Stand in most case of a hard 17 of more.
• Never get emotional, stick to your game plan.

Do you have other personal tips? Then leave them in a comment!

Good to know

One important thing to know is that 21 isn’t always a Blackjack. During most games 21 is only a Blackjack when you get them straight away (Ace + 10 / Face). When you get for example two Aces, and you split them, you will not get a Blackjack payout when you hit a Ten or Face. This will just be a 21, and pay 1:1. In some casinos you will even lose with 21 when the dealer has a natural Blackjack. Always pay attention to the casino rules and table rules before starting a game. It is very important to know when you get a Blackjack payout, and when not!

Table full? Bet behind!

When all seats of a Blackjack table are taken you can also decide to place bets on one of the other players. We call this the ‘’Bet behind’’ option. In this way you can still play although all seats are taken. When you want to do this we recommend having a look at players betting styles first. Do you like how one of the players plays its cards? Then place bets on that players!

Blackjack terminology

While playing Blackjack you might come across word that you don’t recognise. To help you understand the game we have set up a small Blackjack dictionary. In our dictionary you will find many words which are related to the game of Blackjack. Do you find any more words you don’t know? Please let us know by sending us a message!

• 21 + 3 Bet; An additional bet which pays when you get one out of five Poker combinations.
• 21; Blackjack is also known as the game ‘’21’’, which refers to the total amount of point you want to get.
• Anchorman; This is the player which sits most right of the dealer. This player will be able to draw the last cards of the table.
• Back Counting; A player who counts cards but isn’t active in the game. This player is waiting for an opportunity to join the game.
• Betting Limits; Every table has a minimum bet and a maximum bet. Most Blackjack games start at $10 per hand. Some go up to $10.000 or more per hand.
• Blackjack; When you get a total of 21 within your first two cards. This happens when you hit an Ace and a 10 or Face.
• Burning Cards; During some games the dealer will discard some of the first cards of a new deck right away, this is called burning cards.
• Buy In; Referred to the amount of chips a player buys after joining a table. This online happens in real life casinos and not online.
• Chip; A plastic disk which represents a certain amount of money. You can use chips to place bets on the table.
• Counting cards; Players who are able to count cards can accurately memorize which cards have been played. This can help the player figure out which cards are still left in the Shoe. Using this information the player can make better choices. Although counting cards is legal most casinos will remove you from the table when they notice it.
• Dealer; The dealer is responsible for dealing the cards and switching the Shoe.
• Dealing; This is the act of serving the players new cards.
• Double After Split (DAS); Some games allow you to double after splitting a pair.
• Double Down; When you double down you will double your bet and you can only get one more card. This is a useful strategy when you have a total of 10 or 11 with your first two cards.
• Double Exposure; A different variety of the game of Blackjack.
• Early Surrender; In some Blackjack games you can surrender. In this case you will fold your hand and get back half your stake. This is really useful when the dealers has an Ace.
• Even Money; During some Blackjack types the dealer can offer you Even Money when you hit a Blackjack and the dealer as has an Ace. In this card you will not get a Blackjack payout but a regular 1:1 payout.
• Face; A Face card is a Jack, Queen or King. All these cards represent the value 10.
• Going bust; This happens when you exceed the total amount of 21.
• Grinder; A player who only plays small bets.
• Hard hand; A hand which can only represent one value. For example; Jack + 7 = 17.
• High Roller; Someone who places high bets on the table.
• Hit; You will ask the dealer to draw you another card.
• Hole card; This is the dealers card that is upside down (the hidden card).
• House Percentage; This refers to the advantage the casino has over you in a particular game.
• House; When someone refers to ‘’the House’’ they mean the casino.
• Insurance; When the dealer hit an Ace as Up Card you can get insurance. This is an additional bet which you can use to win money when the dealer has a Blackjack. Insurance pays 2:1, which is designed to get you total bet back when you win.
• Late Surrender; When this rule is active you can surrender before taking any cards.
• Natural Blackjack; Two card that equal 21 is called a natural 21.
• Pair; Getting two of the same cards in your starting hand. For example; Two 8’s of Hearts and Spades.
• Perfect Pair; An additional bet which pays when you get a (Perfect) Pair.
• Pontoon; Back in the days the game of Blackjack was referred to as ‘’Pontoon’’.
• Push; A push occurs when you and the dealer tie. For example; You both get 18, you will get your bet back.
• Return to Player (RTP); The percentage of all the bets which will go back to the players.
• Shoe; The shoe is the box where the dealer gets the cards from.
• Shuffle; The process of mixing cards is called shuffling.
• Side bet; Additional bets which you can place next to your regular bet.
• Single Deck; Using only one pack of cards in a Blackjack game.
• Soft hand; A hand which can represent two value. For example; Ace + 5 = 6 or 16.
• Spanish 21; A different variety of the game of Blackjack.
• Splitting; When you have a pair you can split your hand into two separate hands.
• Stand; When you don’t want to buy any more cards you will need to stand.
• Suited Cards; When you get cards of the same suit. For example 8 and 10 of Hearts.
• Super 7’s; A different variety of the game of Blackjack.
• Surrender Anytime; When this rule is active you can even surrender after drawing one or more cards.
• Twenty One; Sometimes Blackjack is also referred to as Twenty One.
• Up card; This is the dealers card you can see straight after dealing.