Online Blackjack – A Guide for 2018

Posted by Harry Kane on Tuesday, January 16, 2018

While the online gambling market has continued to enjoy exponential growth for more than a decade now, it’s fair to say that not all games have experienced the same rate of expansion.

More specifically, we’ve seen online slots evolve to the point where they now dominate the virtual gaming realm. Since 2010, slot games have reported an activity increase of 328%, while it’s thought that this diverse niche now accounts for around 80% of all online casino revenues. In contrast, card games such as poker have enjoyed growth of just 26% during the same period, while this is expected to decline further in the near-term.

Beyond this, table games have maintained a staid but consistent rate of growth during the last seven years, with activity levels having increased by around 52% during this time. This underlines the timeless appeal of games such as blackjack, while reaffirming how successfully they have been replicated and diversified online.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the game of blackjack, while sharing a guide on how you can become a successful player in the virtual space.

A Brief History of Blackjack and its Transition Online

For many, the true origin of blackjack has remained the subject of debate. There is still no clear consensus, although many agree that the game probably originated in France at the turn of the 18th century. Back then, it took the form of a game called Vingt-et-Un, which translates into English as ‘twenty-one’.

Derived from several of the card games that were popular in France and Western Europe during this time, another version of Blackjack was prevalent in Spain during the 18th century. This was called ‘One and Thirty’, while the game had a basic premise which required players to reach 31 with a minimum of three cards.

These variations became immensely popular over the course of the 100 years or more, eventually spreading to North America after a large number of French colonists chose to settle in the United States. It was here that the classic iterations of Blackjack became universally played and practices across the globe, as North Americans refined their own, unique version where only the dealer was permitted to double.

Similarly, the American version of the game introduced a betting round between each playing card being dealt, and this has become widely popular in the UK and across the globe.

The advent of online gambling has enabled blackjack to diversify further, as numerous iterations have emerged during the last 20 years or so. Based on the classic gaming patterns initially established in Europe and the U.S., these games combine serious and interactive elements that create variable experiences for players. The increasingly diverse range of available games has certainly helped Blackjack to make a successful transition online, while appealing to both casual and serious gamblers alike.

Basic Blackjack Strategy – The Key Rules to Remember

Given that almost all iterations of online blackjack are based on classic iterations, it stands to reason that a number of classic strategies are applicable in the virtual world. It’s important that you’re able to use these to form a viable foundation of knowledge, as otherwise you’ll find it exceptionally difficult to enjoy success at an online casino.

In more specific terms, this knowledge ensures that you know how to play against dealers and the hand that you are up against at any given time. Similarly, you’ll be able to understand which move to make in real-time, regardless of the hand you’ve been dealt and the underlying rules of your chosen Blackjack variation.

At the heart of this is knowing when to hit and when to stand as a player. This will depend largely on your philosophy as a gambler, while your decision may also be influenced by the precise rules of the game and how these impact on the dealer.

Of particular interest is the so-called ‘Soft 17’ rule, which has a direct impact on when the dealer stands and the house edge that you must face as a player. In general terms, blackjack rules stipulate that dealers must draw on hands that have a value of 16 or less, and stand on those that are worth 17 or more. In instances where a Soft 17 rule is applied, however, dealers are required to hit a soft 17 and rather than stand, changing the landscape of the game and influencing your chances of winning.

Now, while the Soft 17 rule means that dealers will go most slightly more often than during standard blackjack iterations, they’re also statistically more likely to secure hands with a total value that’s higher than 17. According to statistics, the net result of this rule change is that the operator’s house edge will increase by around 0.2%, and while this is a relatively small increase it’s one that can have a big impact on your returns over time.

As a beginner, you’re best bet is therefore to focus on traditional and simple iterations of online blackjack, which demand that dealers hit on 16 and stand on 17 (particularly in instances when six decks of cards are used). This simplifies the challenge and enables you to focus on developing a viable strategy, rather than becoming preoccupied with subtle variables such as the Soft 17 rule. On a fundamental level, this approach will also incrementally increase your chances of winning, and this type of decision is central to your success as an online Blackjack player.

It’s also important to develop a simple and basic strategy that informs your decision in various game scenarios. In simple terms, this includes hitting on hard hands that have a value of between four and eight, for example, while standing on similar hands of between 12 and 16 (or above). When dealing with soft hands, however, you’ll be better served by hitting those with a value of between 13 and 18, as in these instances it’s possible to use your Ace to the value of either one or 11.

These basic rules can be used relatively successfully over a sustained period of gameplay, regardless of the value of the dealer’s hand or the precise iteration of the game that you’ve chosen to play. You must be prepared to develop and diversify your strategy as you gain experience, of course, while it’s also fair to surmise that your decisions must always consider the basic circumstances of live gameplay. Adhering to a basic strategy can help you to gain experience and play with relative success while you learn the game, however, and this education can prove invaluable over time.

Choosing your Game and Online Casino Platform

We’ve already touched on how avoiding games with the Soft 17 rule can improve your chances of success, while this also highlights how seemingly innocuous rule variations can alter the house edge facing players. There are other rule variations that have a similar impact on the house edge associated with blackjack, so developing a clear understanding of these can help you to make an informed and ultimately generative decision.

The first variation to consider is the number of decks that are used during a specific game. A number of standard games feature six or more, with eight commonly used in the most popular iterations. Games that feature a larger number of decks increases the house edge in favour of the casino, so as a general rule it’s better to prioritise variations that user as few decks as possible. Even choosing a six-deck game can improve your odds of winning by around 0.02%, while a five-deck format can enhance your chances of success by 0.03%.

If you’re able to access a single deck game, you’ll access an available house edge that is 0.48% better than eight-deck blackjack.

These represent incremental shifts in the prevailing house edge, but this can make a big difference for casual or inexperienced gamblers. So, be sure to target games that utilise the smallest number of decks possible, while also keeping the following rule variations in mind.

We’d also recommend selecting traditional blackjack games that feature 3:2 payouts on a blackjack (or a two-card hand that equals 21). In recent times, we’ve seen operators diversify their payouts by introducing a 6:5 alternative when players are fortunate enough to achieve blackjack. At first glance, this appears attractive to players of all descriptions, but when applied on single or double-deck variations it actually negates the house edge margin that is typically lost to players. So, if you’re a novice who has chosen to play a game with minimal decks, you should also consider sticking to variations that adhere to the basic 3:2 payout rule.

Doubling down is commonplace in the world of blackjack, and this rule stipulates that players can double their wager after seeing their initial hand (with the single requirement that only one additional card be drawn). This can be extremely effective if you’ve been drawn a hand with a value of nine, 10 or 11, particularly if this is a soft hand that includes that all-important ace. As a result of this,any variation that allows you to double down offers a 0.23% improvement on the house edge from a player’s perspective, especially if the dealer has a hard and rigid hand.

In fact, this one of the most rules to look for, other than the Soft 17 variation and the payout ratio on a blackjack (or natural) hand.

Another staple of basic blackjack strategy is that you should always split aces (as this theoretically affords you two chances to achieve 21 as there are more 10s in the deck than any other card). Given that you’ve probably chosen a blackjack iteration that pays out at 3:2 on a natural, this can afford you a considerable advantage that improves your house edge by between 0.08% and 0.19%.

This depends on how many additional cards you can draw after splitting your aces. In most instances you’ll only be allowed to draw one, which boosts your probability of winning by 0.08%. If you’re able to draw more than one card after splitting aces, the house edge will decrease by 0.19% and can really impact your chances of beating the dealer.

In days gone by, identifying these rules would be enough to inform your choice of games. This is no longer the case in the virtual realm, however, as online players must also select from a wide range of operators and available promotional offers. In short, each online casino offers a variable range of blackjack iterations and real-time bonuses to new players, so you’ll need to consider each one as an overall package if you’re to increase your chances of winning and boost your potential returns.

As a starting point, the casino that you choose must be certified, regulated and reputable, as this guarantees a transparent and enjoyable gaming experience. Our own website will help you to compare online casino brands objectively, while also accessing a range of customer reviews to help inform your final decision.

This comparison also lists the real-time bonuses being offered by each platform, which in turn will impact how much free gameplay you’re able to access as a new registrant. While tax constraints may be deterring operators from offering no-deposit bonuses in the current climate, you may be able to access deposit matches of anywhere between 100% and 400% when you first credit your account. Terms and conditions will vary, but deposit matches essentially afford you free capital in relation to the value of your initial deposit.

This remains a key consideration for you as a new and inexperienced gambler. After all, having access to free capital can minimise your risk as you continue to learn the intricacies of the game, which in turn can help you to play for longer and build your knowledge base. Without this, you’ll run the risk of losing much of your hard-earned money almost as soon as you start to play, ending your interest in the game in record time.

Remember, you’ll need to strike a balance when choosing your casino platform. More specifically, it’s important to prioritise individual games that offer the type of advantageous rules that we discussed earlier, while also paying attention to real-time promotions. This way, you can optimise your short-term savings while also increasing your chances of winning frequently over time.

Make no mistake; it’s this type of common sense approach and logical strategy that will help you to success in the fast-paced world of online blackjack.