How to Play Blackjack Online: Learn Blackjack Rules and Strategies

Blackjack is a card game that’s been around since ancient times, but it is considered to be more difficult than other games like poker. The purpose of blackjack is to exceed the dealer’s hand with 21 points or less. Indeed, you have to make some calculations in your head, in other words, card counting, but there is nothing to be worried about. Blackjack is a game that can bring lots of joy. Everybody can memorize blackjack basics. At Parimatch you can try either an animated blackjack online game in the Slots section or feel the vibe of a real casino playing Live Blackjack. So let’s start!

Blackjack Rules

When you start playing online blackjack games, you see a standard deck with fifty-two cards in it. The dealer deals out the cards. Here is a moment where you should pray for getting the best possible variant. But no matter what cards are in your hand, you can fix the situation by using some blackjack basic strategy rules. Here are some words for you to remember like hit or stand:

• Hit – to hit means to ask the dealer for another card
• Stand – if you say stand, you don’t want any more cards and are satisfied with your hand. If you go over 21 and lose, the dealer wins, no matter what hand they have. If you have an Ace and a face card, that means that you have a blackjack and automatically win 1.5 of your bet.
• Split – if you have two cards of the same value, you can ask to split. If so, you will divide your initial hand in two and get an additional card for each new hand from the dealer.
• Double-down – if you want to get another card, you can double the amount of your bet. Keep in mind that after taking this card, you will have to stand.

In Live Blackjack you shouldn’t aim to beat all the people around the table – just focus on beating the dealer. They will start dealing cards beginning with the person on the left. You will get two cards with their faces down, so you will not see the cards that other players have received.

After that, the dealer looks at the cards in their hand and says whether or not they can take another card without getting over 21.
If your cards’ total amount is low, for example, 6 or 7, you can get another card. It is very unlikely that you will get more than 21 after it. On the contrary, if you already have the sum getting closer to 21, it will be better for you to stand.

Don’t forget that the only person you have to beat is a dealer, not everybody in the room.

Value of Blackjack Cards

As you can see from the photo above, it is not hard to remember each card’s value. It is written on the card itself. When it comes to Jack it is a ten-value card also, Queens, and Kings have a value of 10 too. An Ace can be either 1 or 11. If an Ace gives a score of more than 21 for any player or a dealer, it is counted as 1.

Soft and Hard Hand

A hand consists of cards that are yours; you can use them in the game. A hand with an Ace that is counted as 11 is called a soft hand. Any other hand will be called “hard.”
If you get a card that brings 10 points and an Ace at the beginning of the game, you have a winning hand. It can beat any other hand in the game.

Blackjack Table Layout

You can play blackjack at any table you like, but the classic version is a semicircular table, as shown above. This table has enough room for any number of players that may join in. Usually, seven people play, but this number can vary from 5 to 12. When you are playing online blackjack, you can see the number of seats available at once.

On the other side of the table (the one that is not in the form of a circle), there is a place for a dealer.

Blackjack Game Moves

When a blackjack online game is played in real life instead of online, people use hand gestures to indicate their moves. It is obvious that you won’t see any gestures when you are playing online, so that is why you will use special buttons available on the screen.

Blackjack Rules for Dealers

Everybody who is wondering how to play blackjack must know what is happening inside the dealer’s head, as this person is the one you will have to beat.

The dealer follows the same rules that everybody else does. It is said that if the total amount of cards on the dealer’s hand is sixteen or lower, they will always take another card. The dealer will continue doing so until the total amount will be at least seventeen or even more than twenty-one.

The dealer can have a soft hand – it is a hand consisting of an Ace and other cards or a card with a total amount of six. According to the rules of most online casinos, the dealer will take another card even if they already have a soft hand.

Blackjack Basic Strategy

Here are some Live Blackjack strategies you can use to win. Whether you choose a simple strategy or a more complicated one, please, note that using them is not some kind of insurance from being defeated. Though the considerable part of winning is your thinking and good counting, luck shouldn’t be underestimated.

Basic Strategy

For this strategy, the card that the dealer has face-up is the key. If it is seven or above or an Ace, you have to get at least seventeen in your hand. If the dealer’s card is not as good, you may reach at least 12 and then stop.

Keep hitting even if you have a soft hand.

When it comes to doubling your bet, the strategy states that you should double if you have a total of 11. If you have a total of 10, double only if the dealer shows a card with the value of 10 or an Ace. If you have 9, think about doubling and do it only if you think that the dealer has a poor card.

Soft Hand Blackjack Strategies

The worst thing you can be dealt is a hand with a total of 13 or 14, while the dealer has 5 or 6. In this situation, you can risk doubling or hitting.

If your soft is 15 or 16, you can never go bust by hitting. Use it for your own benefit. Or you can use double and win.

According to the statistics, if you have a soft eighteen while the dealer has 3-6, you have 58% luck on your side if you stand – and only 55% if you double. If the dealer has from 2 to 8, don’t risk losing. Stand. If the dealer has 9, 10, or an Ace, try hitting with the hope of improving your hand.

Stand with a soft 19 – 21. You are very unlikely to get better, so enjoy the view in your hands.

Pair Splitting Advice in Blackjack

If the dealer has 9, 10, or an Ace, and all you can do is play blackjack with soft 18, you will likely lose. If the dealer has from 3 to 6, you can try doubling with no great risk. It is up to you to work out your own personal strategy. Practice and experience are good teachers, so you will build up a strong intuition with their help. Until that, don’t split if you have two cards with the value 10, and always split if you have two aces.

How to Count Cards in Blackjack

In order to improve your chances of winning, you can calculate the values of the cards and count cards. If you were a brilliant math student, you are a lucky one; if not – it is high time to learn. Counting cards is legal unless you are using a special device or have the assistance of other people.

The first step is called plus-minus count. Each card from 2 to 6 gets +1, each one from 10 to an Ace gets -1, and from 7 to 9 gets nothing.

The count itself starts at two. You have to calculate the total count of all cards dealt. Increase your bet if the count is more than 0.

Practice your counting in order to do it quickly. You can use paper and a pencil if you play blackjack online, but this kind of behavior won’t be left unnoticed at the real table.

Endgame Payouts

If you are dealt a hand that wins, the house will be paid out at once. If both you and a dealer have a similar card weight it is usually called “Push” and means that you neither lose nor win — your bet just simply returns to you.

Special Blackjack Game Cases

When some basic rules have been learned, we can go further and have a look at some more specific situations.

Insurance

Insurance bet can be suggested when the dealer has an Ace facing up. This is meant to protect a player in case the dealer has a blackjack. The payout in this situation is 2/1. Insurance can be avoided, and the casino can play without it. For this reason, you should always read the rules or special requirements of the online (and offline, by the way) casino you are playing in.

Non-Insurable Dealer Blackjack

In this case, there is no insurance — casinos can play without it. For this reason, you should always read the rules or special requirements of the online (and offline, by the way) casino you are playing in. If the dealer has a ten, each player is allowed to see their hole card before continuing the game.

Dead Hand

It is optional, so check if your casino platform rules enable a dead hand. You will be paid if at least one of your two cards is 8 or an Ace. These two cards must be in your initial hand.
A dead hand is played if the dealer has already won.

Side Bets

This is a feature of online blackjack rules, though you can have it offline, too. A side bet is a bet that you add to your original bet. You can place a side bet before your cards are dealt as well as afterward. There are plenty of side bets. They vary, depending on the cards the dealer has, or it may also depend on your hand.

You are not recommended to place side bets until you know all the rules inside out and practice a lot. Even fair players, who have already gained some experience, try to avoid side bets. If you are an advanced player and you are bored with the same routine, you can try playing blackjack with additional risks. Just don’t lose your house in the process!

Different Rule Variations

Playing online blackjack always check the rules beforehand! In blackjack slots games you can try to play the demo and get familiar with all the rules before betting real money. Don’t forget about it and stay updated on the rules. Check out the additional rules that can be present in the online casino.

Doubling After Splitting

Not that it is obligatory — but if you feel the urge to be adventurous, you can double the hand you have just split.

Re-Splitting

As has already been mentioned above, if you have two cards with the same value, you can split them to get two hands. Experts recommend you to split any time you have two aces or two eights. For more splitting strategies check the table above. But, of course, the final decision must be yours.

Re-splitting is allowed up to three times in a row if you have been dealt identical cards.

Early Surrender

You will lose half of your wager, in this case, but save the other one. You can surrender right after the moment when all cards are dealt. You can do it if the dealer has an ace. But you can choose to fight on. It is only up to you. Practice more to make your skills better and to understand whether or not you should surrender.

6 to 5 Blackjack

That means that the usual payout of 3 to 2 is cut down to 6 to 5. Pay attention to it and find out what payout system is used at the table you are going to play not to be disappointed in the end.

Single Deck versus Multi-deck

It means that you will have more 10-valued cards to hit. Usually, up to eight decks may be played. There are many peculiarities for each type of game (with two, six, or eight decks). The house, the payouts, and the rules about doubling after splitting are affected by the number of decks. So learn the rules and don’t play if something is still not clear to you.

How Can YOU Play BlackJack on Parimatch?

Parimatch is not only a sports betting platform. It has plenty of casino games, including blackjack online. To play Live Blackjack or any other casino game you need to have an account at Parimatch and some money for betting.

Sign Up

If you already have an account — just simply log in. If you are new to Parimatch, you should complete the registration process. It takes only a couple of minutes. You will have to enter a valid phone number and verify it afterward in order to make a deposit.

Deposit

To make a deposit, log in, go to the main menu, and click on the deposit button. Choose a suitable way of filling up your account and dive into the thrill of blackjack! (Note that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are also available in our Bitcoin casino). The money will be added within a short period of time.

Start the Game

When all rules are clear, you can choose the table and start the game.

In case, you need a quick guide on how to play Blackjack on Parimatch, check out the video below:

Check Bonuses

Review casino bonus offer to check if you can get even more by playing casino.

Good Luck!

Try everything that you have learned so far to beat everyone! Always remember that making mistakes is a part of learning, the most effective part of it, by the way. Don’t give up!

Summary

Well, what can be said to all of you who are wondering how to play blackjack online? Here are some pieces of advice and things to remember.

1. Blackjack basics are easy to learn. Once you do it, you can proceed to the more complicated versions.

2. Counting is good. If you are good at math, you have some advantages. If not, don’t worry. Counting cards is not the only strategy to win.

3. Play as often as possible! The more you play, the more confident you feel at the table. You can also learn by reading some articles and guides; just be sure that those articles are written by experts.

4. Choose a stable online casino platform. Who wants to play if the game always stops and shuts down?

5. Get familiar with the basics – terminology and the very process of playing.

6. Blackjack has plenty of varieties. Before you start playing, clear it out. Don’t be hesitant to ask – you will not look stupid.

Read More

Are you a big online casino enthusiast and want to step up your skills? We recommend you get acquainted with some of our other articles, related to these topics:

• How to win at Blackjack?
• How to Play Online Casino Games and Win?
• Top 5 Diwali Games Online
• Parimatch Betting Guide: Everything You Need to Know
• How to Play Rummy?
• What Is Online Gambling?

How to Play Blackjack FAQ

Is counting cards in blackjack illegal?

Only if other people are helping you or if you are using some devices to do so. Naturally, no casino will be happy with counters at its tables, but when you are playing online, and nobody can see you – who cares?

Are blackjack and 21 the same game?

Yes, they are. These are just two names for one game.

Do dealers count Ace as 1 or 11?

The dealer’s first ace is counted as 11 if it will not let him or her down. The following aces are counted as 1.

How much should you bet on blackjack?

There are no limits. If you are a beginner, don’t play for real money until you know exactly how to do it. It is considered as a rule to have 100 times more than one bet. If your bet is 10 USD, have at least 1 000 USD to spend.

Where do you find the blackjack table rules?

As mentioned in the guide, various blackjack tables may have different rules. Find various Blackjack games at Parimatch.

Where can you play blackjack online?

Parimatch has proved to be one of the most reliable platforms with all the necessary documents and equipment to make your game safe and stable. Play blackjack on Parimatch!

Does it matter where you sit at a blackjack table?

No, it doesn’t matter, especially if we are talking about an online blackjack game when you are sitting at your own table in your house.

Can you cheat at online blackjack?

Cheating is not a good thing, as everybody knows. In the long run, you will earn more by teaching yourself and making mistakes than by cheating. There are some strategies and little tricks that will help you to win – but absolutely not cheating.