Guide to Online Blackjack

The most powerful hand possible is a hand value of twenty-one in your first two cards. This hand contains an ace and a ten valued card and is known as a "blackjack".

Blackjack strategy is quite essential when playing. There are only so many cards so, even with only a marginal difference, there is definitely a given play that has better odds of winning than another play. Using a good strategy will help contain losses until you can have a winning run and make a little money. Click here to visit our blackjack strategy page.

Blackjack page information

• Card Values
• Soft and Hard Hands
• Betting
• Blackjack Rules
• Insurance
• Best Online Blackjack Casinos

Card Values in blackjack

The cards two through ten have a numerical value equal to the card value. All face cards as well as Tens have a value of ten. Aces may be counted as eitherone or eleven. In blackjack, card suits have no value.

Soft and Hard Hands

When you have an ace in your hand that counts as eleven, you have what is known as a "soft hand". If you hold no aces or have an ace in your hand that can only count as one, you have a "hard hand".

Betting

Minimum bets can be as low as $1 while Maximum bets are as high as $5,000.00. At the start of each hand, the player places his bet in the square on the table or on a number of squares if playing multihand online blackjack. The dealer always deals his own cards face down. After the dealer has dealt the player two cards, he will turn his first card face up. After the player has played out his hand, the dealer will turn his second card face up and, if necessary, hit his hand until he has a hand value of seventeen or more. Irrespective of whether you are playing blackjack online or in a land based casino, the betting in each of the variations may change according to that particualr game being played.

Blackjack Game Rules

If the first two cards dealt to you are cards with equal value, you may "split" them. All face cards and Tens are cards of equal value. When you split you play two individual hands. The right most hand is played out first. Any ace drawn to a split ten is not a blackjack. The dealer will need a blackjack to beat any hand of twenty-one. You may "double" on a hand which consists of two cards. You double your original wager and are dealt only one additional card. Doubling your wager whenever a favorable situation arises adds significantly to your advantage.

Insurance

Insurance is another form of wager that is offered when the dealer has an ace showing. Those who take insurance are betting that the dealer has a blackjack. Insurance costs one-half your original wager. Whenever you win the insurance bet, the dealer will pay you by leaving your original wager on the table (its a 2 to 1 payout).