Plenty of beginner casino players tend to stick with simple games like online slots and are intimidated by live dealer titles. That’s why believe that blackjack is the perfect stepping stone for all the punters who are interested in trying something new. In this article, we’ll teach you how to play blackjack and we’ll mention some of its most popular variations. You will be able to enjoy this classic casino title in no time, as it is incredibly easy to get into, even for the most novice of players.
History of Blackjack
Before we get into the specifics of blackjack rules and what type of versions you should consider trying, let’s take a moment to look back at the history of this legendary casino table game. As you can probably assume, blackjack is infinitely older than the online gambling industry.
What’s even more interesting is the fact that it is much older than land-based casinos themselves. While the exact period of invention isn’t known, it’s safe to assume that its roots go back to 17th-century France. During that time the game was simply known as “21” and it was usually played by high-ranking aristocrats and wealthy people.
During the 19th century, blackjack slowly made its way to North America, and it was played by common people in saloons and private settings. During this time, gambling was strictly prohibited, so there still weren’t any casinos around that time. The important was that the game wasn’t played by nobles only.
It’s also worth noting that at that time the game rules weren’t standardized yet. Depending on the location, people had their own set of rupees that they followed, but that all changed in the early 1930s of the twentieth century when gambling became legal in the state of Nevada.
From there things grew exponentially. As more and more casinos were being opened up and gambling became accessible to a larger number of people, blackjack became a worldwide phenomenon. It is safe to say that it was just as big as poker in that period.
Blackjack remains one of the most popular table games in online casinos. The popularity grew even more, as all of a sudden everyone with an internet connection could enjoy casino games in just a couple of clicks. The expansion of the industry led to software providers creating unique and interesting variations of the game that would otherwise be impossible in real life.
How to Play
As we’ve already mentioned, blackjack is a straightforward game to start learning, and that’s why we always recommend it to punters who’ve never played a live dealer title before. We know that it can feel scary to try out something different, especially if you don’t have any prior experience, but you shouldn’t worry in this case.
The objective of blackjack is very straightforward and to the point. Your goal is to beat the dealer by having a higher summed-up value of cards than him. The only catch is that the value cannot go over 21, which is also considered to be blackjack. Number cards have their standard value, while face cards are all counted as 10.
An ace can be either 1 or 11 depending on what will be more beneficial to you at the given moment. At the beginning of each round, players place their bets and wait for the dealer to draw two cards for each individual at the table and the dealer himself. The cards you receive are visible from the moment they’ve been dealt, while the dealer only reveals one.
Now you have 2 main options to choose from. You can choose “hit” and the dealer will draw an additional card for you, or “stand” to not receive any more cards and to stay at your current value. You can keep on hitting as long as you are under 21. After everyone at the table is done, the dealer reveals his face-down card and continues drawing. In most cases, he is obligated to stand on 17.
Additionally, there is the “double” option which allows players to double their initial bet and only receive an additional card after the first two have been dealt. Those who receive two identical cards can also choose to “split” which will turn their hand into two separate bets.
Most titles also have side betting options such as perfect pair, 21+3, and bet behind. And, that’s pretty much it. Once you get the hang of things, you’ll be playing this game like a professional in a short amount of time. Of course, there are numerous blackjack strategies for you to learn and incorporate into your gameplay which can help you maximize your winning potential.
Popular Blackjack Variations
After you’ve spent some time playing standard blackjack tables, you should consider trying out various versions available in online casinos. These products present the game with additional features and alternative mechanics that can help you keep things fresh and exciting at all times. Here are the most popular variations worth checking out:
Lightning Blackjack
Developed by the legendary software provider Evolution Gaming, this version of blackjack comes with the signature Lightning mechanic that introduces multipliers to winning cards. This allows players to win much larger sums of money than they would in standard tables.
Of course, this type of winning possibility is compensated with a fee that punters are required to pay with each bet they place. The tables are filled with stunning visual and audio effects, making this one of the most atmospheric live casino titles out there currently.
We highly recommend that you try playing Lightning Blackjack if you want to experience an unmatched level of excitement and thrill. With each hand possibly providing you with a multiplier that can go anywhere from 2x to 25x, there is a good chance of cashing out with ludicrous winnings.
Speed Blackjack
Next up we have speed blackjack, which is considered by many to be an optimal way to experience the game. Whether that’s true or not, there’s no doubt that players all around the world love this version of the game, as it doesn’t dramatically change the structure of how everything functions, but simply makes things more efficient.
The difference between the standard ruleset and the speed ruleset is that all present players immediately receive their two initial cards, and those who choose what to do with their hand the fastest will receive further cards immediately, without having to wait for the others.
This greatly expedites the gameplay and allows those who are experienced to utilize it to their advantage. The popularity of this version is evident, as there have been many software providers that have produced their tables of speed blackjack.
Blackjack Switch
If you’re looking to try out something entirely different, then we highly suggest that you consider playing Blackjack Switch. This revolutionary title presents players with two separate hands for each round. The selling point of this product is the fact that players can switch second cards between two hands.
This allows you to create a better pair of cards for yourself and possibly raise your chances of winning. While this sounds fantastic, it’s important to note that to compensate for this huge advantage, dealers can instigate a push if they stand on 22. Additionally, in most switch titles, blackjack pays out 1:1 instead of 3:2.
In some specific titles of this version, the dealer can also hit on 17 in situations where one of his cards is an ace. All in all, Blackjack Switch adds numerous other strategies, which creates a very exciting environment for players where they can experiment and become better over time.
Power Blackjack
Those with deeper pockets and who are willing to spend more money in hopes of getting bigger returns should consider playing Power Blackjack. In this version, the game is being played out with 8 decks, but 9s and 10s have been removed, which results in new strategies being deployed by players.
The main feature of power blackjack is the fact that players can either double, triple or quadruple their initial bet on the first two cards. Furthermore, it comes with a variety of additional side bets such as Hot 3, Bust it, 21+3, and Any Pair. This is a title that doesn’t necessarily overhaul the experience, but rather makes small changes and adds additional options for players to win big amounts of money.
Progressive Blackjack
Last but not least we have progressive blackjack. This variation of the legendary game doesn’t change anything with the rule set or how the game plays out. The only difference is that there is a progressive jackpot present where a player can win massive amounts of money.
Apart from standard bets, punters can choose to deposit a small amount of their funds into the progressive jackpot which is constantly growing. For someone to trigger the jackpot, a player needs to have a specific combination of cards consecutively. This combination changes from the specific titles, but in most cases, it requires you to receive all 4 aces.
