Online blackjack for beginners

Online blackjack is a digital version of the classic casino game of blackjack, also known as "21". The internet version has attracted a fanbase because of the huge popularity of this traditional table game, which is simple and enjoyable to play.

If you've spent time in online casinos then you'll surely have seen several variations of internet blackjack, yet it's possible that you weren't 100% sure how to play.

You may have asked yourself the following questions, including:

1. How to play the game of blackjack?
2. How to place bets?
3. Who do I play against?

This guide aims to help you find the answer to these questions. You will learn about the history of the game, useful terms, rules, gameplay strategies, and more.

Our expert team at Casino Universe have put their heads together to come up with a useful introduction to the game of online blackjack, so that you can learn all the information you need to be able to play blackjack at online casinos.

So get ready to take a deep dive into the world of 21.

The history of blackjack

History fans will like the story of blackjack with its roots firmly entrenched in 18th-century France where it originated as 'Vingt-et-Un', or '21' in French.

The game quickly caught on in the casinos that were popular there at the time for one fundamental reason: it was just so easy to play. All players had to do was try to read a value of 21 from the cards they were given: that's it.

The game made the trip across the Atlantic with French emigrants to the United States in the 19th century. Once there, it underwent a name change to 'Blackjack', referring to the much sought-after winning hand of the ace of spades and a jack of clubs or spades, which paid out a bonus to the player at the time.

Blackjack became a staple of casinos worldwide, and numerous variations sprung up. One of the most important developments in the history of blackjack was the introduction of card counting techniques in the 1950s and 60s.

Put simply, card counting involves keeping track of the cards that have been dealt in order to gain an advantage over the house. A group of MIT students first popularized the technique to win millions of dollars at casinos and it became the subject of several books and movies.

In the 1970s, computer-based blackjack appeared for the first time. This allowed casinos to automate the game, install blackjack machines and increase their player capacity. Computers led to the development of new blackjack strategies and systems, such as shuffle tracking and hole carding: they also formed the basis of internet blackjack.

As one of the most popular online casino games out there, it's useful to know just how to play this popular game and the next section will show you how to do just that.

How to play blackjack

Have you ever seen the movie Rain Man? If so, you may remember how Dustin Hoffman's character uses his incredible memory and math skills to win huge prizes at the blackjack table. If you've never played the game before, this might make you think that the game is super complex to play, but the opposite is true.

Yes, only one person in a million can play like Rain Man, but you can actually pick up the basic rules in a few minutes. Like with old-school blackjack, the internet version generally has the main objective of trying to get to a total of 21 without exceeding it.

The game, whether online or in person, starts in the same way. Each player places a bet in the designated area on the table. The dealer then deals two cards to each player, including themselves, with one card face up and one face down.

Each card has a numerical value: 2 to 9 are worth their face value, face cards are worth 10 and Aces are either 1 or 11, depending on the player's preference.

The next step is for the player to "hit" or "stand". If the player decides to hit, they receive another card from the dealer. They can continue to hit until they decide to stand, or until their hand exceeds 21, in which case they lose automatically, or "go bust".

Once all players have made their decisions, the dealer reveals their face-down card. If the dealer busts, all players who have not "busted" win. If the dealer does not bust, the players with the highest hand value that is less than or equal to 21 win.

This is the basic version of the game you're likely to come across, but some casinos like to offer various additions.

Other useful terms

Double down: This allows the player to double their original bet and get one extra card. While this can increase your potential payout, it also means you risk losing more money, however players might use it tactically if they feel the odds are in their favor. Luck will still play a big part in any winning hand, however.

Split: Players use this option if they want to separate two identical cards into two hands, but it also means doubling their stake.

Doing this can give a strategic advantage depending on the dealt cards and could turn a weak hand into two strong ones.

Surrender: Working in the same way as 'folding' in poker, 'surrender' just means you forfeit your hand and get some of your stake back, usually half. This can be a prudent strategy if you believe your hand won't come to anything, but there's always a chance that the weakest-looking hand becomes a winner!

Blackjack strategies

Unlike Rain Man, most of us don't have a photographic memory to use in blackjack. Even if we did, we might get in trouble at a land-based casino who often have people looking out for card-counting techniques.

There are plenty of strategies that can be used when playing blackjack. Please note, however, that no strategy guarantees you money. If you want to save money then we recommend you don't gamble at all or, at the very least, follow responsible gambling principles.

Basic Strategy

This involves learning the odds of winning for each hand to give you the best play possible. You can do this by studying blackjack strategy tables that are available in bookstores or online. When done well, it can reduce the house edge significantly enough for it to be worth using.

Martingale System

The Martingale system works by doubling your bet after every loss. The idea is that when you eventually win, you will recoup all of your losses plus a profit equal to your original bet.

While this strategy can work, it requires a large bankroll and there is no guarantee that you will win before running out of money. This makes it a risky option in our expert view, and so we wouldn't recommend using it.

Progressive Betting

Like the Martingale technique, progressive betting says to increase your bet after every win, but with one crucial difference: you decrease it after every loss. The idea is to capitalize on winning streaks while minimizing losses during losing streaks.

While this strategy can be fun and can lead to short-term profits, it does not change the odds of the game and can lead to big losses in the long run. For this reason, we don't advise using it.

Play blackjack for free

If you want to practice playing blackjack before putting actual money on the line, then a good idea is to play the game for free on Casino Universe's list of free blackjack games. We provide a wide selection of free casino games on our website: all you need to do is enter the game of your choice (in this case blackjack) in the 'Game type' filter and take your pick!

You can experiment with various types of online blackjack, and learn the rules and betting strategies without risking any money.

After honing your skills and feeling confident in your abilities, take a look at our list of online casinos where you can play for real money.