Free Online Blackjack Tutorial
History – How To Play – Rules – Odds – Strategy – Pro’s Perspective
Whether online or land-based Blackjack is one of the most popular card games at casinos, whether online or land-based. The game is sometimes referred to as 21, as players will try to get a hand total that is equal to 21. The game is not a competitive game in that players do not compete against each other. It is only played between the player and the dealer at the blackjack table. When the showdown occurs, players will not compare their blackjack hands together, but will instead compare their hands with the hand of the dealer.
There are many versions of the game, but they all have the same concept and target, which is reaching a hand total of twenty-one. The game begins with each player being dealt 2 cards. Players will then go through a series of decisions that depend on the hand total and the cards forming the hand. These decisions include “Hitting”, “Standing”, “Splitting” and “Doubling Down.”
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When players get an ace and a jack or any other ten-value card, they will instantly win, and it is called Blackjack. Players will be rewarded more than the usual winning hand ( for Blackjack which is usually 3 to 2) while regular winning hands would pay even money (one to one). There is also a selection of side bets that players can place, depending on the blackjack version. The typical side bet in most blackjack games is an Insurance bet.
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- Online Blackjack Strategy Trainer The Blackjack Strategy Trainer is a free blackjack game that teaches basic strategy while you play. You select the exact rules that you want, and the Strategy Coach warns you if you make mistakes. Blackjack Strategy Trainer v1 Blackjack Strategy Trainer v2.
Blackjack History
The origin of Blackjack, like many other casino games, is still debatable. Nonetheless, most people agree the game of Blackjack originated in France in its land-based casinos in the 1700s. The game was called Vingt-et-Un. Vingt-et-Un is a French word that translates to twenty-one (21) in English, which is how players still use to refer to blackjack to this day. Some researchers believe that the game was derived from other card games that were popular in France at the time. These French games were French Ferme & Chemin de Fer, which had many similar rules and procedures.
Though Blackjack is thought to originate in France, the game was first referenced in a novel written in the 1600s by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes. In the book, he describes two characters playing a card game that was named Veintiuno (Vingt-et-Un), and the rules of the game were pretty similar if not the exact rules of Blackjack.
Players dealt with cards, and the purpose was to get a hand total that is as close to twenty-one as possible without busting. In this game, the Aces counted as either 1 point or 11, just the like modern-day version of Blackjack. The book was written in the early 17th century, which adds credibility to the theory that the game actually originated in Spain.
Later on, the game of Blackjack traveled throughout Europe, however, leaving the most prominent tracks in Spain and France. Eventually, the game was introduced to the US.
Among the different versions of Blackjack, Vingt-et-Un (21) was the one that spread the most. It started to appear gradually in North America among the French colonists. However, the rules of Vingt-et-Un at that time differed slightly from modern-day Blackjack. For example, the dealer was the only person permitted to double down, and there were wagering rounds between each dealt card.
The game became very popular in Nevada as it was the first state to legalize gambling in 1931.
At that time, the game was still named 21. For the casinos to attract players and encourage them to play the game, they offered the chance to place a special bet. This bet would pay players 10: 1 if they got a blackjack with a Jack of Clubs or Spades, along with an Ace of Spades. This is where the name Blackjack originated.
How to Play Blackjack
Like any casino card game, players will start by placing a bet. This is the final bet and players will not be able to reduce it or add to it (unless the game allows for doubling down) during gameplay. Once players place their respective bets, they will get two cards facing up while the dealer will give himself two cards though one is facing down, and the other is facing up. In some versions, the two cards of the dealer will also be facing up, for example in Blackjack Double Xposure.
Some games allow players to place bets on more than one blackjack hand; they are called multi-hand blackjack games. In these games, players will place a separate bet for each hand, and each hand is played separately. Although it is very rewarding, and it enables players to recover from the loss of one of the hands by winning the rest, it can also be devastating if the dealer gets a good hand or a blackjack.
Players will calculate their hand total, and make a decision to: either “Hit” or “Stand.” If they “Hit”, it means that they are not satisfied with their hand total and that they want more cards. They can keep hitting until they “Stand” which means that they are happy with the hand total or until they “Bust.” Busting means going over 21; if players bust, the hand is an immediate loss.
Once players stand, the dealer will show his hole card, which is the card that was facing down. He will then start “Hitting” which means to draw more cards until he reaches or passes 17. Some games obligate the dealer to stand on all 17s, and some require the dealer to stop at only Hard 17s. After the dealer stands, a comparison between the hand of the dealer and the hand of the player will take place. The hand that is closest to 21 is the winning hand. If the two hands have the same value, it’s a tie, which really depends on the rules of each version. When there is a tie, it is called a “Push”; some versions would consider it a tie and give players back their bets while other games consider a Push to be in the favor of the dealer.
There are other decisions that players will need to make during the gameplay. For example, players can “Split” If they get identical cards to form two hands. The two hands will have the same value of the original bet. Some versions would enable players to split more than once to form 4 different Blackjack hands. Also, some versions would allow players to split, unlike ten-value cards like a Ten and a Jack, or a Jack and a Queen. Players can split aces in some versions, but they will only be able to hit once and if they get a ten-value card, they will be paid even money as it is considered an average win and not a Blackjack.
Blackjack Rules
The rules of blackjack depend on which version is being played. Players are advised to check the rules of the specific blackjack version they are playing before engaging in the game. Although there are common rules like 21, busting, the dealing procedure and the card value, there are other rules that differ.
Card Values:
The card values are equal to the face value of each card, while Jacks, Queen, and Kings have a value of ten. Aces can be counted as either 11 or 1, depending on the blackjack hand. If it forms a total while being counted as 11, it is called soft, and if it creates a total while being counted as 1, it is called hard. For example, a hand that consists of an Ace and a five is a soft sixteen and a hard six.
Splitting Rules:
Splitting is allowed in every blackjack game, but some games will not allow splitting Aces and some games will only allow players to split 1 time. Players who split aces will only be allowed to hit once and get one more card. Players can split unlike ten-value cards depending on the rules of each game; some allow it while some require players to get identical ten-value cards so they can split. Splitting means that players will place a new wager which on the new hand, which is equal to the original wager was placed on the Blackjack hand; with four hands players can quadruple their original wager.
Double Down Rules:
Players will be permitted to double down after they get their first two cards. Some games enable players to double down at any value and others only allow them to double down if they get a hand total that is equal to 9, 10 or 11. Players will only be able to get one more card after they double, they will have to take that card, because it is not optional.
Surrender Rules:
Some games will give players the chance to surrender their blackjack hands; it is the equivalent of folding in poker. Players can make that decision after they are dealt the initial two cards. If they surrender, they will forfeit the hand, and they will lose half of their bet. Sometimes it is better to lose half than to lose the entire bet.
Insurance Rules:
Insurance is a side bet that players can place if the dealer’s card that is facing up is an Ace or a ten-value card. Players will win that bet if the hand has a blackjack. The dealer will peek and see his card once players place that wager and pay it out if it is a blackjack.
If players do not place insurance, and the dealer gets a blackjack, all the wagers, except insurance will bust. If the player has a blackjack as well, it is considered a push. Some variations will give players their bets back, while others consider a push to be in the favor of the house.
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Blackjack Odds
For you to fully understand the game, it is essential to comprehend and master the odds of the game and learn about the advantage of the house. It is critical to know how the house gets its edge.
The house has a distinct advantage over the players because players have to draw in blackjack first. If the player busts, the dealer will automatically win regardless of their hand. This is the main advantage the house has, and if everything else is equal, the house edge in a standard game of blackjack would be equal to 8 percent. The player and the dealer have a 28 percent probability of going over 21. Twenty-eight multiplied by twenty-eight means that 8 percent of the time the two hands will go over 21, and since the player will draw first, the dealer will win if and when they both bust.
Odds of Busting Based on Dealer’s First Card Drawn
Of course, the odds are not equal among all variations. Some offer players great advantages and, to balance these benefits; the casino increases its advantage or edge. Because of this, it is essential for players to know everything about the game before playing.
For example, the number of decks in play has a tremendous effect. Some games draw cards from a single deck, which can affect the odds significantly while other games draw the cards from six different decks of cards. If a game uses one deck of cards, the house will change other rules to increase its odds and reduce the odds for players. This is because when a player gets an Ace, it means there are 3 Aces left which decreases the chances for the dealer in getting one of these aces. On the other hand, if the game uses 6 decks, it means that there are 23 Aces remaining in the deck.
The odds on a player’s hand will change every step of the way. For example, if players get two cards, and they hit, the hand total will increase, and the chance of busting will increase, and so forth.
Odds of Busting based on Player’s First Card Drawn
Since Blackjack is one of the games with a reputation of counting cards, a lot of researchers and gamblers have studied the game and the odds so they can increase their chances of winning. You might have seen that in the movie “21” where MIT students developed a way to beat the house. For them to do that, they had to make up a counting system that would increase their advantage. This is why there are published studies that show the percentage of busting and getting a blackjack depending on the first 2 cards, the hand total of the player, and the facing up card of the dealer. You can find more about these strategies and percentages in the Strategy section.
Blackjack Strategy
Before discussing strategy, let us firstly go through some numbers that can be quite helpful. For starters, we will discuss the bust probabilities for each hand total. This will enable players to optimize their game to the fullest by knowing the percentage of busting if they ask for one more card.
– If players get a hand total of 11 or below, the percentage is equal to zero.
– If players get a hand total of 12 or below, the percentage is equal to 31.
– If players get a hand total of 13 or below, the percentage is equal to 39.
– If players get a hand total of 14 or below, the percentage is equal to 56.
– If players get a hand total of 15 or below, the percentage is equal to 58.
– If players get a hand total of 16 or below, the percentage is equal to 62.
– If players get a hand total of 17 or below, the percentage is equal to 69.
– If players get a hand total of 18 or below, the percentage is equal to 77.
– If players get a hand total of 19 or below, the percentage is equal to 85.
– If players get a hand total of 20 or below, the percentage is equal to 92.
From these numbers, players can figure out when they should stand and when they should hit. Players who get a hand total of between 2 and sixteen should generally hit and get another card. If they get a hand total that is more than 17, they should typically stand.
Of course, players will have to take the showing card of the dealer into consideration. The next set of numbers shows the dealer’s chance of busting according to the facing up card.
– Ace (11.65%)
– 10/Face Card (21.43%)
– 9 (23.34%)
– 8 (23.6%)
– 7 (25.9%)
– 6 (42.08%)
– 5 (42.89%)
– 4 (40.28%)
– 3 (37.56%)
– 2 (35.30%)
Taking these numbers into consideration, as well as the previous ones, will help players decide whether they should hit or stand.
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Besides hitting and standing, players should also know when to split and when not to split:
– When players get Aces or 8 cards, they should always split. There is a big chance to get a hand total that is closer to twenty-one when you hit on these two cards.
– Players should never split 10, 4, or 5 cards, regardless of the upcard of the dealer. Splitting in these scenarios will put you in danger of busting.
– Players should split 7, 3, and 2 cards if the dealer is showing a card between a 2 and a 7. If the value of his card is 8 or over, you should hit instead of splitting.
– Players should split 6 cards if the dealer is showing a card that has a value between 2 and 6. If the value of his card is equal to 7 or over, you should hit instead of splitting.
Pro’s Perspective: Blackjack Strategies and Tips
With John Grochowski
Not all blackjack games are created equal. Beyond the basics, there is a mix-and-match set of rules, and each casino chooses the conditions for its own game variations. Some rules are favorable to players while others give the casino an extra edge.
Let’s look at some of the more common options.
Number of Card Decks
Fewer decks are better for players. That’s because more blackjacks are dealt with fewer decks. That’s true for both players and dealers, but players are paid a premium on blackjacks and dealers aren’t.
In a single-deck game, if your first card is an Ace, 16 of the other 51 cards, or 31.4 percent, are 10-value cards that complete a blackjack. In a six-deck game, a first-card Ace leaves 64 of the other 311 cards, or 30.9 percent, as 10 values. There is a similar effect when the first card is a 10-value. Regardless of whether an Ace or a 10 comes first, there is a greater chance of blackjack with fewer decks.
However, not all single-deck games are better than all multi-deck games. You need to consider other rules in effect, including those listed below.
Blackjack Rules
The basic blackjack rule is that the dealer hits on 16 or less and stands on 17 or more. However, many casinos have the dealer hit soft 17, where an Ace is being counted as 11. Soft 17s such as Ace-6, Ace-2-4, Ace-3-3, and others can’t be busted with a one-card hit because the Ace can be counted as 1 instead.
It’s better for players if the dealer stands on all 17s. Hitting soft 17 gives the dealer a chance to improve to hands that could beat player 17s, 18s, 19s or 20s, and even push player 21s.
For most of blackjack’s history, two-card 21s have paid 3-2 so that a $10 bet brings $15 in winnings. Some casinos nowadays only pay on 6-5 on blackjacks, so a $10 bet only wins $12. This is one of the most important rules in blackjack. If blackjacks only pays 6-5, it adds 1.4 percent to the house edge – an amount greater than the entire house edge in many games that pay 6-5.
Variations of Double Down
As a player, you want to see games where the player may double down on any first two cards, including after the player has split pairs. If you split a pair of 8s and receive a 3 on one for a two-card total of 11, you want the option of doubling down. It increases the house edge if the casino does not allow doubling down after splits. Similarly, some casinos do not allow doubling down on soft hands and some restrict doubling to two-card totals of hard 10 or 11.
Fewer restrictions are better for smart players who know how to use them. Have your web browser search for basic strategy charts. They’ll tell you the proper times to double down along with the best plays for each possible hand.
Everyone should want to know how to play blackjack in a casino. So I’ve written this blackjack tutorial to get you started.
And it doesn’t matter if you want to play in Atlantic City, Reno, Las Vegas, or online. The rules are mostly the same.
Why should you want to know how to play blackjack?
Simply put, it’s the best table game in the casino. It’s more fun than any other game except maybe craps. And it has the best odds in the casino.
Most people played some rudimentary version of 21 with their mom at the kitchen table when they were growing up. If you did, you’re partially prepared already.
But there’s more to knowing how to play blackjack in a casino than trying to get close to 21 without going over.
1- The Rules for Playing Blackjack
To start a game of blackjack, you first must buy in. At a land-based casino in Las Vegas, you’ll put money on the table that the dealer will convert to chips. (Don’t hand the money to the dealer.) In an online casino, you’ll deposit money into an account and draw off that as you play.
The dealer deals you (and the other players) 2 cards each. The dealer also takes 2 cards. One off the dealer’s cards is dealt face up.
Blackjack is a comparing game where you compare your score to the dealer’s to see who wins. The cards are worth a certain number of points each:
- Aces are worth 1 or 11.
- Face cards are worth 10.
- All the other cards are worth their ranking.
The suits don’t matter, and your hand’s score is calculated by totaling the point value for each card.
Your goal is to have a higher total than the dealer, OR to still be in the game if and when the dealer busts. Your goal is also to not go bust yourself.
What is this expression “bust”, and what does it mean?
Some people know that the game is also called 21. That’s a magic number for multiple reasons:
A 2-card hand with a total of 21 is a “blackjack” or “natural”. It pays off at 3 to 2 in most casinos.
Any hand with a total of 22 or higher is a bust, which is an immediate loss.
Any hand that hits 22 or higher loses at that instant. Since the dealer acts last, it’s possible for you to bust AND for the dealer to bust, and you’ll still lose.
Also, at the end of each round, if you and the dealer have the same score, you have a tie. This is called a “push”. You get your bet back but no winnings.
2- Your Options for How to Play Your Blackjack Hand
You have a limited number of decisions you’re allowed to make.
- You can “hit”. This means you take an additional card from the dealer. This will increase the point value of your hand by whatever the additional card is worth. You can hit your hand as many times as you want.
- You can “stand”. This means you opt to take the total you have now and take no additional cards. Once you stand, you don’t get to make any decisions. You just have to wait to see how the rest of the hand plays out.
- You can “split”. You can only split your hand when it consists of 2 cards of the same rank. Not only that, but you have to put up a new bet for the 2nd hand, then you get to play 2 hands. The starting card for each hand is one of the 2 cards from your original hand.
- You can “double down”. You put up another bet, the same size as the first one, doubling the amount of money you have in action on the hand. Then you take one more card. You cannot hit after getting that one additional card.
- You can “surrender”. When you surrender, you give up half your bet. Your hand ends immediately. This is occasionally–but rarely–the correct play, mathematically.
The dealer also gets to make decisions, but she has specific rules related to what she can and can’t do.
3- The Dealer’s Rules for Playing Each Hand
The dealer doesn’t get to make decisions about how to play her hand. She plays according to a prescribed set of rules. She doesn’t have options like splitting, doubling down, or surrendering. All she can do is hit or stand.
At most casinos, the dealer must hit or hand until she has a total of 17 or higher. Then she must stand.
At this point, it probably makes sense to discuss the difference between “soft hands” and “hard hands”. (The dealers at some casinos hit a soft 17, but at other casinos, they must stand on a soft 17.)
4- Soft Hands versus Hard Hands
A soft hand is a blackjack hand that includes an ace. Since an ace can count as a 1 or as an 11, you’re less likely to bust when you have a soft total.
Let’s look at an example:
You’re dealt a 5 and an ace. Your total is 16, but it’s soft. If you hit and get a 9, you can count the total as 25 or as 15. Since you’d bust with a total of 25, you’d count it as a 15.
A hard hand, on the other (ahem) hand, is a hand where the total isn’t flexible. In the previous example, that 2nd total is a hard total of 15.
Here’s another example:
You have a 5 and a king. That’s a total of 15. There’s no wiggle room. The cards are worth what they’re worth, so that’s a hard total.
The appropriate strategy for whether to hit or stand varies based on whether you have a hard or soft total. It also varies based on what the dealer’s face up card looks like.
In some casinos, the dealer hits a soft 17. In others, the dealer stands on a soft 17.
You’re better off playing in casinos and at tables where the dealer stands on a soft 17.
5- The Little Details Related to Playing Blackjack in a Casino
Knowing how the rules work is one thing, but actually being able to play requires a little more knowledge and skill.
For one thing, you need to know the appropriate hand signals for the various decisions you make. You can say “hit” or “stand” out loud.
But don’t be surprised if the dealer asks you to use the appropriate hand signals. The camera above the table records all the action. If you’re using hand signals, it’s impossible for you to lie about whether the dealer made a mistake.
The hand signals vary based on whether you’re playing in a face up or face down game. In casinos dealing from a shoe with multiple decks in it, you get your cards face up. When you’re playing in single deck games, it’s traditional for you to get your cards face down.
In a face up game, you’re not allowed to touch the cards. You signal the dealer what to do with hand motions.
To take a hit, you point at your hand with your index finger. To stand, you wave your hand face-down over the cards.
And if you want to double down or split, you place your 2nd bet next to your original bet. Do not place it on top of your original bet, though.
If you’re playing in a game where the cards are dealt face down, you’ll actually be allowed to hold your cards. To ask for another card, scrape the cards gently on the table. If you want to stand, place the cards underneath your tips. To double down or split, you’ll turn your cards over and place your 2nd bet next to the first one. Never place your 2nd bet on top of your original bet.
And, of course, if you’re playing online, you’ll just use the appropriate animated buttons to make your decisions.
6- Then Learn Basic Strategy
It’s pointless to play the one game in the casino with the smallest house edge if you don’t take advantage of that low edge. And in blackjack, your decisions matter. There’s one mathematically best decision in every situation.
Experts call all those correct decisions and situations combined “basic strategy”.
You have the following information in each hand:
- Whether you have a pair or not.
- Whether you have a hard or soft total.
- What that total is.
- One of the dealer’s cards.
If you have a pair, you get to decide whether or not to split. This decision varies based on the dealer’s upcard. In some situations, like when you have aces or 8s, you”ll always split. In others, like when you have 4s, 5s, or 10s, you’ll never split.
With the other pairs, you need to memorize the basic strategy for splitting based on the dealer’s upcard. For example, if you have a pair of 2s, 3s, or 7s, you’ll split if the dealer has a 2 through 7 showing. If the dealer has an 8 or higher showing, you’ll treat your hand as whatever hard total it is (4, 6, or 14).
With hard totals, you’ll usually be gauging how likely it is that the dealer will have a stiff hand. (A stiff hand is one that’s likely to go bust.) You usually assume the dealer has a 10 in the hole, but not always.
There are more 10s in the deck than any other value, because of the jacks, queens, and kings. If the dealer has a 6 showing and a 10 in the hole, she has a hard total of 16. She’s required by the rules to hit that hand. Most of the cards in the deck will cause her to bust.
So if you have a hard total of 16 in that situation, you’re better off standing than hitting. You’ll probably win if the dealer busts. And if you take an extra card, you’re likely to bust.
The strategy is different for a soft 16 in that situation. It’s impossible to bust that hand, so you should try to improve it. The only soft totals you’ll always stand on are soft totals of 18 or more.
Plenty of sites offer detailed explanations of basic strategy. Most of them also include a table to help you memorize the correct moves. My favorite is the basic strategy generator at Ken Smith’s site. It’s configurable by the rules that you input, which means it’s more accurate than most basic strategy charts.
7- Remember How the House Edge Works
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The house edge is the mathematical advantage that the casino has over the player in the long run. For most blackjack games, the house edge is between 0.5% and 1%.
What does this mean?
You’re mathematically expected to lose AN AVERAGE of 50 cents or $1 every time you place a $100 wager. This is a long term expectation, though. In the short run, you might win or lose much more than this.
If you’re not using basic strategy, the house edge goes up. Really bad players at the blackjack table face a house edge closer to 4%.
If you take nothing else way from this post, learn this:
You should always play according to basic strategy.
The only time you deviate is if you’re counting cards at an expert level. That won’t apply to most of my readers here.
Ignore your hunches. They’re meaningless. You’re not psychic. I promise.
Also, even though the house edge for blackjack is incredibly low, it’s still there. If you play blackjack long enough, the casino will win all your money.
Finally
Learning how to play blackjack should be mandatory for any serious casino gambler.
That’s why I wrote this blackjack tutorial.
Free Online Blackjack Tutorial
It’s one of the most entertaining games in the casino. And even though the house has an edge, it’s one of the lowest in the casino. That means you get more entertainment for your money.
The best way to learn how to play blackjack is online, by the way. You can play free games where you don’t have to risk any money at almost any reputable online casino. The only exceptions are those online casinos offer live dealer games via webcam. They’d be fools to let you play for free while they have to pay an actual dealer.
Free Online Blackjack Tutorial
Now that you know how to play blackjack, get started right away. Good luck at the tables!