The art of 21: Unlocking huge wins with Bitcasino Blackjack

Get ready for an exciting adventure in the virtual world of online blackjack here at Bitcasino! This is where the excitement of the classic card game meets the convenience of modern technology.

What is blackjack?

Blackjack is a timeless casino banking game rooted in tradition, having entertained players in brick-and-mortar casinos for years. Originally referred to as ‘black jack’ and ‘vingt-un’, this game sets itself apart by pitting players against the house rather than against each other.

• Number cards (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10): These cards have a value equal to their face value. For example, a 5 of hearts has a value of 5.

• Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): All face cards, regardless of suit, are valued at 10. So a Jack of spades, a Queen of diamonds, and a King of clubs each have a value of 10.
• Ace: The Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11, depending on which value benefits the player more. It can be valued as 1 to prevent going over 21 (busting) or as 11 to improve the hand's total value. 

Shuffle up and learn: A guide to online casino blackjack rules

Amidst the wide array of casino games available, blackjack is one of the simplest and most rewarding to play, particularly when your strategies prove successful. 

If you're interested in delving deeper into the world of blackjack, here is a step-by-step guide with the essential casino blackjack rules to bear in mind:

Place your bet

Usually, you can place a wager on your hand, known as the main bet. Moreover, there may be various side bets available, such as:

• Perfect Pairs: This bet is about predicting if your first two cards will form a pair.

• 21+3: Combine your initial two cards with the dealer's face-up card to create a three-card poker hand. Payouts depend on the strength of your poker hand.

• Buster Blackjack: This side bet focuses on the dealer going bust. If the dealer busts, you win the side bet, and the payout increases based on the number of cards the dealer busts with.

Cards are dealt after betting

Once the betting time is done, the dealer deals two cards to each player at the table. These cards are placed face-up for everyone to see. The dealer, on the other hand, receives one card facing up and another card facing down.

Decide whether to draw the next card

After receiving your first two cards, you will examine your hand to determine the best move. Outside the blackjack rules, one tip is that you must also consider the dealer's face-up card to estimate your chances of winning.

Once you have considered your cards, choose from the following actions for your next move:

• Hit: Request for one more card to increase the value of your hand.
• Stand: Choose not to receive any more cards and keep your current hand.

Once all the players have made their decisions, attention shifts to the dealer to determine the game's outcome against them. The dealer will reveal their face-down card. Players will then compare their hand to the dealer's hand to determine if they win or not. To determine, consider the following outcomes:

• If the value of a player's hand is closer to 21 than the dealer's hand, or if the dealer busts (exceeds 21), you win.
• If the value of the dealer's hand is closer to 21 than yours, or if you bust, the dealer wins.

Generally, the dealer must continue to draw cards until they reach a total value of 17. However, this may vary based on the specific game table rule.

Unlocking the magic: Special rules for success in online blackjack

In addition to the main bet, online casino blackjack offers various special rules and additional betting options that can increase your chances of winning. Some of these options are simple and easy to grasp, while others require more skill and experience to be successful.

Doubling down

Doubling down means doubling your original bet in exchange for receiving one more card. This option is available after you have received your first two cards, depending on the rules of the game.

Splitting pairs

After you receive your first two cards, you can choose to split pairs. This means separating a pair of cards into two separate hands. Each card becomes the first card of a new hand, and you need to place an additional bet equal to your original wager on the new hand.

Insurance

This side bet comes into play to offer players extra protection if the dealer's face-up card is an Ace. It helps guard against the dealer having a natural blackjack or a hand with a value of 21. If the dealer has a natural blackjack, the insurance bet wins. If not, the insurance bet is lost, and the main game continues.

Even money

An even money bet is a special option for players who have a blackjack (for instance, an Ace and a 10) when the dealer's face-up card is an Ace. It costs half of the original bet. The even money bet protects players from a tie if the dealer also has a blackjack. It ensures a 1:1 payout on the player's blackjack hand, regardless of whether the dealer has a blackjack. 

Surrender

Surrender is when you fold your hand and lose half of your bet before the dealer checks for a natural blackjack. It's a way to limit your losses in a potentially unfavourable situation. If you choose to surrender, you let the dealer know, and your hand is removed from the game.

Note that not all versions of blackjack or casinos allow surrender, so it's important to check the rules of the game you're playing. There are also various kinds of surrenders, including:

• Early surrender: This option allows you to give up a hand and pay only half of your initial bet before the dealer checks for a blackjack.

• Late surrender: With this choice, you can surrender after the dealer reveals their cards. In this case, you get to reclaim half of your bet only if the dealer's hand is not a blackjack.

Blackjack tips and strategies: How to make successful wagers

Unlike games of pure luck, online casino black jack is a skill-based game where informed decisions can greatly impact your chances of winning. Here are some of the top blackjack strategies to keep in mind.

Double down on 11

With an 11, there's a good chance of getting a card worth 10, which gives you a total of 21, a strong hand. Since there are many 10-value cards in the deck, it's smart to double your bet when you have an 11 to increase your chances of getting a strong hand.

Split 8s and Aces

Whеn dеalt a pair of 8s, considеr splitting thеm. It's an opportunity to turn a wеak hand with a total value of 16 into two sеparatе hands, increasing your chancеs of achieving a winning total.

On the other hand, starting with a pair of Aces is a strong hand. Splitting aces creates two strong hands, improving your chances of winning. If you get a 10-value card on either of these hands, you get a blackjack, which is the best hand in blackjack.

Never split 10s

As you know, the goal is to have a hand total as close to 21 as possible, and 21 is the best hand you can have. When you have a pair of 10s, your hand total is 20, which is a very strong hand. Therefore, having a total of 20 gives you a high chance of winning.

Make the most out of casino rewards and bonuses

Online casinos often offer generous rewards and bonuses to keep their players satisfied. These incentives can help players increase their bankroll or play games without using their own money.

Learn card counting

Card counting is a popular expert strategy in blackjack. It involves keeping track of the ratio of high-value cards to low-value cards in the deck.

The High-Low system is the most commonly used card counting method in blackjack. This system assigns specific values to different cards:

• Low-value cards (2-6): Assigned a value of +1.
• Neutral cards (7-9): Assigned a value of 0.
• High-value cards (10s and Aces): Assigned a value of -1.

As the game progresses, you maintain a running count by adding or subtracting these values for each card. To account for the number of decks remaining in the shoe, you calculate the true count by dividing the running count by the estimated number of decks left. The formula for calculating the true count is:

Bankroll management

While playing blackjack can be enjoyable, one of the most effective strategies is to practise proper bankroll management. This involves setting a budget for your gambling activities and sticking to it. When you manage your funds wisely, you can withstand significant losses and maximise your winning potential. Some key aspects include:

• Decide on the maximum amount of money you can comfortably afford to spend on playing blackjack without causing financial strain.
• Split your total budget into smaller portions called session bankrolls. Each session bankroll represents the amount you are willing to risk during a single playing session.
• Determine how much to bet based on your bankroll and desired level of risk. 
• Never chase losses. Resist the urge to increase your bets in an attempt to recover previous losses quickly. Stick to your predetermined bet sizes and avoid making impulsive decisions.

Join Bitcasino now: Your gateway to online blackjack excitement!

Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned player, online blackjack has something exciting for everyone. Reputable online casinos like Bitcasino provide a gateway to an exciting gaming journey whenever and wherever you desire. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

To provide you with more information about online blackjack, here are some of the most common questions asked.