Online Blackjack Rules You Should Know
Online blackjack is quite a simple game to play. All that is needed is for you to beat the dealer by getting a value closer to 21 than the dealer. However, there’s a catch. Getting a value over 21 automatically disqualifies you, meaning that you lose. But to understand the rules is not as simple as it sounds.
Online blackjack is played using 6 or 8 standard decks of 52 cards, but there are variations that use a single deck or 48-cards.
Online Blackjack Game Basics
Online blackjack starts with a hand dealt with the player after placing a bet. The dealer will then deal himself with a hand of 2 cards. One facing up and the other faces down.
The player has a choice of either hitting or staying dependent on how close their cards total value is to 21.
With the basics out of the way. Here are some of the rules you need to internalize.
Payouts and Bets
Your payout will always depend on the amount you placed as a bet. If your cards present a value closer to 21 than the dealer’s, then your payout will be 1:1. Also, if the dealer busts and you don’t, then the payout remains the same.
Should you receive a blackjack in the first 2 hands, i.e. a card with a value of 10 and an ace, then your payout will be at 3:2.
Card Values in Online Blackjack
Face cards are worth 10 that is the King, Queen and Jack while the number cards will have a value similar to what is displayed on the cards.
Aces have a value of either 1 or 11 and this will depend on the cards you choose. If your Ace stays at 11, your hand is regarded as soft. This means that can make a hit for another card without busting.
Splitting Hands
If you first hand contains 2 cards that are similar, then you can split them into 2 different cards to place another bet. You can only do this twice while playing a total of 3 hands at a go.
Once you split, every hand will be played the way a single and would have been played by either standing or hitting. Keep in mind that the Aces can only be split once. Also, the payouts remain the same as mentioned earlier.
Insurance
You’ll get an insurance if the dealer’s card facing up is an Ace. In this case, you will move forward an extra bet equivalent to half your initial bet. If the card facing down is a 10, your payout will be 2:1.
However, if the card is anything else other than a 10, you will lose your insurance bet.
Surrender
The option to surrender will become available after you check the first 2 cards in your hand. Note that if you choose to surrender, you will also have to surrender half your stake to the house. This is regarded by many as a safe loss because you avoid losing your entire bet.
Knowing the rules in online blackjack gives you an edge over the house compared to when you play without the same. With that, you can anticipate the face-down card and that can inform your next move.