Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games to play online and tends to be one of the first table games that many gamblers learn to play.
Given the sheer wealth of blackjack and live blackjack variants available to players at Irish online casinos, it would be a real shame to miss out on experiencing the joys of the game.
However, understandably, not everyone knows the rules of blackjack, and many players enter the game without a good comprehension of those rules which leaves them at a severe disadvantage when placing bets.
Bearing that in mind, this guide aims to give our readers a comprehensive introduction to playing blackjack so you can approach the card table with confidence.
Blackjack is what is known as a casino banking game played with one or more decks of 52 cards. The objective of the game is to have a hand value that is closer to 21 than the dealer's hand without exceeding 21.
Blackjack can be played with just you and the dealer at the table, or with multiple players. Most blackjack tables allow for seven players to sit at a table; meaning you can expect to be playing with between two to seven players at the same table including yourself.
Every player plays against the dealer, but players do not compete against each other. However, many players pay attention to what gets dealt out to other players at the table to help decide their actions during play.
This is where practices such as card counting come from although it is a particularly difficult blackjack strategy to master and most players are happy to just get to grips with the basic blackjack rules.
To play blackjack you first need to understand these basic rules including how the dealer's hand works, and what options players have when it comes to betting.
Players must try and get a hand that's as close to 21 as possible without going over. Players must get closer to 21 than the dealer's hand to win.
If a player's hand exceeds 21 that's known as a bust and they lose that round. If the dealer hits and busts then all players at the table win.
In most blackjack games the dealer must draw to 16 and stand on all 17s; however, some variations may have slightly different rules.
All blackjack games start with the dealer dealing two cards, face up, to each player, and one card, face up, and one card, face down, to themselves.
The dealer's face-down card is called the hole card, and it is not visible to the players.
Players can choose to hit, stand, double down, or split their hand based on their initial two cards and the dealer's upcard.
Hit: When a player asks the dealer to hit it means they are asking to be dealt another card to help improve their hand. Players can continue to hit until they go bust or decide to stand.
Stand: This is where players signal to the dealer that they do not want to be dealt any more cards; you can choose to stand with your initial two cards, or you can hit and choose to stand as long as you don't end up going bust.
Double Down: On your initial hand, you can choose to double your bet before the dealer gives you another card. When you double down the dealer will give you one additional card and you cannot hit anymore on that hand.
Split: When you have two cards of the same value in the same hand you can choose to split the pair into two separate hands. When you split you make an additional bet equal to your original bet. You can then choose whether to hit or stand on each hand.
Numbered cards of any suit from 2 to 10 are worth the same value as the number on the card. If you get a five of diamonds that's worth 5 points toward your blackjack hand.
Jacks, Queens & Kings are all worth 10 points each.
Aces are worth either 1 or 11 points with players getting to choose the value of the card.
If a player is dealt an ace and any ten-card (10, Jack, Queen, or King) that's known as blackjack (also known as a natural). In the case of blackjack the dealer must pay out one and a half times the player's bet.
If a player gets 21 with three or more cards that's still 21 but it is not seen as blackjack so it only pays out the standard 1:1 ratio on your bet.
Experienced players utilise certain basic strategies to try and better their chances of winning blackjack. While these strategies are no guarantee of success they are tried and tested rules that help to increase a player's odds and help reduce the house edge.
Hitting on a soft 17: A soft 17 is any hand containing an ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11, which results in a total of 17. A typical example is a hand that includes an ace and a 6, but any hand with an ace and a combination of cards totalling 6 can be counted as a soft 17. For instance, an ace, a two, and a four is a soft 17 because the ace can be counted as 1 or 11.
A soft 17 offers more flexibility in terms of strategy compared to a hard 17 because the ace can be used as a one to avoid a bust when you hit.
Standing on a hard 17: A hard 17 is any hand that has a fixed value at 17, for example, a ten-card and a seven, or an eight-nine card combination. Drawing a card on a hard 17 has a high risk of exceeding 21 which is why most players play it safe and stand on a hard 17.
Doubling down on 11: This is a highly recommended blackjack strategy as there's no risk of going bust when you hit on an 11. There's an increased chance of getting a strong hand (for instance 18 or higher) which also means you have a higher likelihood of beating the dealer.
When you double down you only receive one additional card, however, you also double your initial wager, which is why doubling down on 11 is a popular basic strategy for maximizing a player's potential winnings.
A standard blackjack table layout.
There are several blackjack variants that players can choose to play at online casinos which can be divided into RNG blackjack games and live blackjack games.
Some of these blackjack games can introduce rules that change how you play the game significantly. and can involve more complex strategies to increase your chance of a potential win.
Single-deck blackjack: A version of blackjack which is played with only one standard 52-card deck. Single-deck blackjack games tend to make for simpler and faster games in comparison to multi-deck games. It is also easier for experienced players to track the cards and is generally favoured by players who claim to be able to count cards.
Multi-deck blackjack: This version of blackjack uses more than one deck of cards. Multi-deck blackjack commonly uses between six to eight decks at any time. Due to the higher number of decks in play, the odds in multi-deck are much different and players typically have to adjust their play styles to accommodate this change in the number of cards in play. Multi-deck blackjack makes it particularly difficult for experienced players to count cards.
Spanish 21: Spanish 21 is a variation of Blackjack played with a 48-card deck instead of the standard 52-card deck. In Spanish 21, all 10-spot cards are removed from the deck, however, Jacks, Queens, and King cards are all still used and count as 10 so players are still able to get a natural blackjack during play.
In Spanish 21 a player's blackjack always beats a dealer's blackjack, and players can split aces and double down after splitting. Many standard rules of blackjack such as the dealer always hitting on 16, and standing on 17 remain.
Double Exposure Blackjack: In double exposure blackjack much of the rules of the standard game are the same except that the the dealer places both of their initial cards face-up.
This allows players to see the full extent of the dealer's hand from the beginning of play which allows for a change in strategy. However, to maintain the house edge there are certain rule changes including reduced payouts for natural blackjacks, and the dealer always winning when there is a tie unless the tie is a blackjack.
In European Blackjack, the dealer's initial up-card is the only card revealed, and they can't peek at their down-card to see if they have a natural blackjack. In the case of a dealer with a natural blackjack players lose their entire bet including any side bets that they had made except in instances where insurance bets are allowed.
In contrast, in American Blackjack, the dealer can peek at their second card to see if they have a natural blackjack. Essentially it saves players from making additional bets that would be lost to the dealer's natural.
However, to counteract this disadvantage to players, some European Blackjack variations offer early surrender, which allows players to forfeit half their bet if the dealer has a natural blackjack.
Betting options include the main wager, insurance bets, and side bets. Players can choose to bet on the main game, take insurance, or make side bets, and each option has its own set of rules and payouts.
Betting options can increase the player’s chances of winning, but they can also increase the house edge.
Players should carefully consider their betting options and choose the ones that offer the best value and the lowest risk.
Players should always be aware of the betting options and try to minimize their impact on the game.
Insurance bets are a form of side bet that is offered to players when the dealer's face-up card is an ace. This is to protect players from the possibility that the dealer may have a (natural) blackjack.
An insurance bet is a separate side bet that is made in addition to the main wager, and it usually costs half the amount of the initial bet for a player to make.
Insurance bets pay out at 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack, but if the dealer does not have a blackjack, the insurance bet will be lost and play carries on as normal.
Insurance bets can be a good option for players who want to protect their main wager, but they can also increase the house edge. It is also possible to lose the insurance bet and your main wager as well which means there is a risk where you can lose more than intended.
Blackjack side bets are additional bets that players can make along with their main bet. Most side bets can only be made once certain game conditions have been satisfied.
Side bets can include insurance, double down, and split. The benefit of side bets is that they can offer additional payouts or increase the player’s chances of winning.
However, side bets can also increase the house edge, and players should carefully consider their options before making a side bet.
Some side bets may have better odds than others, and many players use strategy charts to determine the best play for a certain side bet. While strategy charts can be helpful, they do not guarantee success so we recommend that you don't rely on them and understand that luck is still very much involved in blackjack regardless of strategy.
So with that being said, side bets can add an extra layer of excitement to the game, but players should always be aware of the potential risks and rewards.
Types of blackjack side bets:
Perfect Pairs: Perfect Pairs is a blackjack side bet where players wager on their first two cards being a pair. There can be different conditions for winning such as if the cards are a perfect pair (same value and suit in multi-deck blackjack), colour (same colour, different suits), or just any pair. The payouts vary depending on the type of pair and the blackjack variant's rules.
21 + 3: This side bet is only offered by certain blackjack variants and at online casinos you will generally see it advertised as "21+3" blackjack. In this side bet your first two cards and the dealer's up-card are combined to form a three-card poker hand making it a bit of a hybrid of both games. To win your poker hand must form a straight or better, such as a flush, three-of-a-kind, or a straight.
Insurance bet: As we previously mentioned this is a bet that players can make if the dealer's face-up card is an ace and they feel that there is a likely chance that the dealer's hole card may form blackjack.
The house edge is the built-in advantage that the casino has over the player, and it can range from around 0.5% to over 2% depending on the rules.
The house edge can be affected by the number of decks used, the dealer’s rules, and the player’s strategy.
Players can reduce the house edge by using basic strategy, card counting, or by choosing games with favourable rules.
The house edge is an important consideration for players, as it can affect their overall chances of winning and their expected return on investment.
Players should always be aware of the house edge and try to minimize it by using the best possible strategy.
Reshuffling is when the decks are shuffled again to randomise the order of the cards. This is particularly pertinent to card counters as it resets the tally and essential the blackjack game starts from scratch again.
Reshuffling can be done manually or using an automated shuffler, and it is usually done after a certain number of hands have been played
This is also true of live casino games which also use real cards; however, computerised RNG blackjack games always offer a randomised deck thanks to the random number generator that calculates the outcome of each game.
Card counting is a blackjack strategy that some players claim helps them to know when to bet low and win to bet high in order to increase their success at the blackjack table.
Card counting involves tracking the number of high and low cards that have been played to gain this advantage over the house edge.
It takes quite a bit of mental arithmetic and it is much simpler with a single-deck blackjack as there are significantly fewer cards to keep track of. This is why casinos tend to prefer multi-deck blackjack games that can be reshuffled frequently to help prevent anyone from card counting.
While not illegal, card counting is not tolerated in casinos, and players who are caught counting cards may be banned from playing blackjack and encouraged to try out some different casino games instead.
It can be seen as an advanced technique in blackjack, however, in general, it's not a very successful strategy for most players due to the complexity of the systems needed to count cards and various tactics casinos employ to make card counting more difficult for players.
Blackjack is a popular casino game that involves strategy and luck. Players can increase their chances of winning by using basic strategies such as the ones we have mentioned in this guide.
However, it's worth mentioning that blackjack like any other casino game is a game of chance and there is no strategy that can guarantee success or luck at the tables.
So please always gamble responsibly and only play with what you're willing to lose.
By understanding the rules, strategies, and betting options, players can make informed decisions and enjoy the game and blackjack can be a rewarding form of entertainment for all kinds of players and experience levels.
Mark has written extensively for the iGaming industry, covering topics including casino reviews, how-to-play guides, and articles on gambling regulation and responsible gambling practices. He is passionate about the Irish casino market, constantly searching for the best online casinos and games to offer our readers. Check out his recent articles like our blackjack cheat sheet page for his expert know-how on Irish online casinos.
The main goal in blackjack is to have a hand closer to 21 than the dealer's hand without exceeding that number.
Blackjack is usually played with between 2-7 players; however, all the players are competing against the dealer and not each other.
Side bets are additional bets that you can place along with your main bet. Depending on the blackjack variants or situation in game the available side bets can differ but the most common ones include Perfect Pairs, 21+3, and Insurance bets.
This is a bet that players can make if the dealer's face-up card is an ace and they feel that there is a likely chance that the dealer's hole card may form blackjack.
If the dealer has a blackjack, the insurance bet will pay out at 2:1, but if the dealer does not have a blackjack, the insurance bet will lose and play carries on as normal.
Insurance bets can be a good option for players who want to protect their main wager, but they can also increase the house edge.
A natural otherwise known as blackjack is where if a player is dealt an ace and any ten-card (10, Jack, Queen, or King) that's known as blackjack (also known as a natural) and the dealer must pay out one and a half times the player's bet.
A split happens when a player is dealt two cards of the same value; for instance two 8s; players can choose to split their hand by doubling their bet. They can then choose to hit or stand on each hand as they wish.
After being dealt your hand, you can choose to double your bet before the dealer gives you another card. When you choose to double down you are dealt one more card and cannot hit anymore that round. Many players generally employ this strategy when they have a hard 10, or hard 11 in their hand as there is no risk of going bust on the next hit but there is a chance of landing a high-value card.
