How to Play Blackjack: The Ultimate Guide to the Most Popular Live Casino Game

by GemBet

Are you ready to become the master of one of the most popular casino games in the world? Read this all-embracing guide on how to play Blackjack and start cashing in big time! Whether you need a basic strategy to kickstart your winning spree or an advanced tactic that will launch you straight to the stars, we got you covered. 

This famous live casino game has a rich history, but its simple concept keeps getting renewed. Today’s Blackjack players can enjoy its many variants online, playing from the comfort of their homes or on the go. Moreover, the top-notch live casino providers never fail to discover new ways to spice up the game, granting more unforgettable experiences and bigger prizes. 

Stay tuned and boost your knowledge in a snap – regardless of your skill level! Test your new mastery in GemBet Live Casino.

 

Learn All About the Most Popular Casino Games: Blackjack Basic Rules, Card Values, and Variants

Before learning how to play Blackjack, you should stand back and enjoy its historical significance. Modern-day players know and love live Blackjack as the most straightforward yet entertaining card game in online casinos. But its background spreads all the way back to Don Quixote! As the game’s origins are still debatable, Cervantes’ masterpiece serves as a timetable for its first mentions. It suggests that Blackjack’s roots date from French casinos circa 1700. 

Back then, gambling establishments came up with a special bet, entailing 10:1 odds of a player holding the Jack of spades or clubs paired with an Ace. This theory explains how the game got named. 

Experts say that French nobles were particularly fond of it, and even Napoleon Bonaparte aimed to get Vingt-et-Un and win the bet. Thanks to the turbulent historical era packed with mass movements, this prominent game took 140 counties by storm, eventually making it into the official Hall of Fame in California. 

These days, you can pick a reliable online gaming platform to enjoy countless Blackjack variants without breaking a sweat! 

Blackjack Rules and Objectives

Whether you play a Blackjack game online or in a brick-and-mortar casino, your ultimate objective will be the same. The player’s goal is to draw cards with a total value of 21 or come as close to it as possible. If they get cards closer to the sought-after total than the dealer, the player would beat the dealer. However, if they exceed the fixed total, they’d automatically lose even if the dealer also busts, going over 21. 

A two-card hand of 21 value is the immediate winner, and this favorable outcome is called “natural,” entailing one Ace and one ten-value card. These winning combos open the possibility of an even money bet, allowing players to raise their gains. 

Card Values and Hands: Players’ and Dealers’ Actions 

Blackjack rules and card values are easy to grasp. All numbered cards represent the values stated on them, while the King, Queen, and Jack all count as 10. Aces usually carry the value of 11 unless that would push a player or the dealer over 21. This scenario would modify the meaning of the Aces, awarding them a value of 1. 

The round starts as the dealer deals two cards to each player, including themself, with one placed face-up so that the player can know what they’re up against. The other one stays hidden and is known as the “hole card.” 

After the players have decided on their moves, the dealer displays the hole card and plays the hand. House rules typically entail the dealer hitting until they reach 17, regardless of what the players have. If they go over 21, all the players would win. 

If both the player and the dealer reach a desired total in the same hand, this tie would be labeled as “push,” while a scenario where neither side has a 21 total prompts everyone to keep playing. 

Popular Blackjack Variants in Modern-Day Online Casinos

Once you learn how to play Blackjack, you’ll be able to enjoy its many popular variants without breaking a sweat. Although some rules differ by a little, the game’s simple and effective concept remains the same. These are the most common variations to try out:

  • Vegas Strip Blackjack – a game type where a “natural” raises your winnings,
  • American or Classic Blackjack – a variation that allows players to split their hands three times and create four hands, 
  • Double Exposure – a variant of a classic game where dealers place their two cards face-up, enabling players to plan their move more effectively. 

Finally, many players enjoy Chinese Blackjack. It’s the game’s most prevalent variant in Southeast Asia, also known as 21-point. Malaysian players call it Kampung to underline the difference between this variation and the traditional one often found in land-based and online casinos. Chinese Blackjack allows a maximum of five cards, and all hands must collect at least 15 points throughout the game. Still, its most unique rule is that the dealer can randomly reveal any player’s hands, spicing up the game. 

 

How to Play Live Blackjack: A Step-by-Step Guide to Play Like a Pro

Player’s Options: Hit, Stand, Double Down, or Split

Blackjack rules and players’ moves are quite simple. Each participant can take the same actions, based on the cards they were dealt:

  • Hit – Get another card,
  • Stand – Skip the hand and get no cards,
  • Double down – Double the bet, ask for one more card, and stand, 
  • Split – Double the bet and turn each card in hand into the first card in a new hand if both cards have the same value. 

Finally, a player could be presented with an option to surrender. In this case, they’d give up half the original bet amount and forfeit the hand. While this alternative was offered during the early and mid-20th century, most land-based and live casinos don’t grant it anymore.

Gameplay Example: See How the Game Unfolds from the Top

The best way to teach someone how to play Blackjack is by offering an example. The game would start with the dealer handing our two cards to each player. One of the dealer’s two cards is placed face-up. 

You get an Ace and three, with a total worth of either 14 or 4. You’ll ask for a hit and get a Queen, adding another ten points to your score. This scenario turns Aces into ones, meaning you now hold cards valued at 14. If you’re hit again and get to a total of 17, the wise thing to do is stand. If the dealer stands after getting a 17, you’d be in for a push, continuing to play. 

In another hypothetical scenario, you’d get two fives. You can choose to double and split the cards, and the next time you get two cards, another 5 and a 7 come your way. The dealer’s hole card is a 7, taking them to 17 as they’ve had a 10. The dealer must stand on 17, meaning you’d win 2:1. 

 

Find the Winning Blackjack Strategy: Tested Tips You Must Follow to Make a Haul

Learning how to play blackjack like a pro entails another set of ground rules. These easy Blackjack tips will keep you on the winning side regardless of your level of expertise and the bet amount you place. 

Before you leap into the dazzling world of live dealer games, learn to manage your bankroll properly. The rule of thumb is to always start small. This piece of advice is part of every player’s basic strategy, keeping you on the safe side and minimizing potential losses. 

The second rule to go by is disregarding other players and their actions. You must pick your style and set limits that work for you. After all, the goal is to beat the deal, and you should do so on your own terms. Never stake the money you can’t afford to lose, and keep track of the wagers you’ve placed so far. Watch out for the outcomes, and count your wins and losses to determine the next move. 

You can make an insurance bet where you’d stake half of your initial bet against the dealer hitting a natural blackjack. The insurance bet usually works well when the dealer shows an ace. Finally, if you’re getting lucky, try a few other side bets. These represent the even money players can place at each round’s start. They usually involve your hand, but could also cover the dealer’s hand. 21 + 3 is the most popular side bet, but be sure to steer clear of these additional investments before you learn how to play blackjack like an expert and collect valuable experiences first. 

Basic Strategy for Beginners + Common Mistakes to Avoid

If you’re a rookie looking for the smoothest way to learn how to play blackjack online or in a land-based casino, we have you covered. This basic strategy is all you need to hit the ground running. First, memorize the “don’ts” that could lead you toward an unfortunate streak:

  • Never hit on a hand value of 17 or higher
  • Never split the fours or fives
  • Never split a hand of two ten-value cards.

However, you should always split Aces and eights. 

Understanding how to play Blackjack like a winner entails learning about the soft totals and hard totals. A soft total is any hand where an Ace’s one of the first two cards, counting as 11 from the start. A soft 20 where you get a nine on top of it always stands. 

A hard total is a hand that doesn’t start with any Aces or has some that can only be valued as 1 instead of 11. This outcome fixes your total, eliminating the chance to treat it as a potentially different result, so you’d be standing ahead of a single option.

Finally, you’ll have to memorize your moves and totals to stay on top of every situation, but avoid a sketchy card count at all costs. Counting cards isn’t technically illegal, but brick-and-mortar and online casinos consider it cheating. This practice puts the house and other players at a disadvantage, so a casino will take measures against it. Many land-based establishments and live gaming sites use multiple decks or shuffle a single deck after each hand to stop players from counting cards. Other prevention methods include advanced surveillance equipment. You’ll be banned from the platform immediately if you get caught in the act.

Are you ready to move to the big league? The best advanced strategy for this hot live casino game awaits!

Advanced Strategy to Finish a Live Blackjack Game as Champion 

If you’re way past the basic strategy and would like to grasp how to play Blackjack online or in real life like a pro, winning big money, these proven Blackjack tips for seasoned players will help you out:

  • Stand when your hand is 12-16 if the dealer has a 2-6,
  • Hit when your hand is 12-16 if the dealer has seven and Ace,
  • Double down on a hard 11,
  • Double down on a hand value of 10 if the dealer’s up card is 9 or less. 

Advanced strategies to use at a hot Blackjack table take the number of cards and their values into account. The basic strategy would hit a total of 16 against a dealer’s 10-value card. However if a player’s total of 16 entails a 4 or 5, you should stand. 

These tactics also involve information from other players’ hands. For example, if you have 10 and 3 and the dealer is showing a 2, the best move is to stand. But if other players also have tens, you can ask for a hit, as the air is quite clear and the chances of getting a higher card and exceeding 21 are lower. 

Put this advanced strategy to use and nail the next Blackjack game seamlessly. And if you feel up for an extra challenge, try double deck Blackjack, a popular variant of the standard live casino game, where you’d have to try harder with 104 cards in play. 

 

Play Online Blackjack in the Most Trusted Live Casino & Collect Massive Winnings!

Learning how to play Blackjack online is a lot of fun and can grant you whopping winnings in the future! Even if you’re a newbie seeking a basic strategy to kick off your first live dealer session, our comprehensive guide will help you. So revisit these rules and tested tips to become the ultimate champ on any hot Blackjack table in GemBet Live Casino. 

Apart from enjoying this entertaining card game and its countless variants, you’ll unlock more prizes, starting with a generous 250% Welcome Bonus – check out our promo page for more information and get up to SGD 1,000 on your first deposits!

Don’t miss the buzzworthy 100K Cash Rush, as you may win up to SGD 10,000 Free Cash every week! If you sign into our platform from Malaysia, the newest 340K Cash Rush promotion may grant you an unbelievable max reward of MYR 34,000 Free Cash!

So grasp these winning Blackjack techniques to beat the dealer with no card count in our online casino – and we’ll send extra profits your way!

 

 

The promotions mentioned in this blog post are not always representative of the current offers on GemBet. Please check the Promo page for the latest promotions available in your region. Terms and conditions may change without notice. We recommend reviewing the current promotions before participating. We are not liable for actions based on this information. Please contact customer support for assistance.

 

Author

You may also like

Leave a Comment