How to Play Online Blackjack For Real Money

 

Learn Online Blackjack For Real Money

If you want to make the most out of your online blackjack experience, you are in the right place here. This free online casino blackjack strategy guide is a great starting point for your ride from blackjack beginner to casino connoisseur. We’ll cover important casino topics such as the online game rules and basic real money strategy, and inform you of all the different game versions of casino blackjack available in our online casino. At any time, you can test your newfound blackjack game knowledge by jumping into one of our blackjack games.

 

Understanding Blackjack Rules

One reason so many casino players learn how to play blackjack is for the low house edge. When following basic real money strategy, the house edge is less than 1%, with variance coming from things like the number of decks included in the game and the rules. Knowing how each rule affects house edge will help you scout out the best game to play for your blackjack dollar. Here are five important casino play factors to consider before joining an online blackjack game for real money.

 

 

 

JOIN TO PLAY BLACKJACK

 

 

 

Blackjack Payout

Getting a “Blackjack” (also known as a natural) is the best play hand in the casino game and automatically wins (unless the Dealer also gets Blackjack). This is when you get an Ace and 10 for a score of 21 on your first two cards. While standard wins pay 1:1 in the game, Blackjack hands pay 3:2.

 

Some games of blackjack have decreased this pay to 6:5, meaning you’d win $12 instead of $15 on a $10 bet. The 6:5 Blackjack payout increases the house edge more than any of these other rule variations, so it’s wise to prioritize 3:2 Blackjack.

 

Dealer Hits/Stands on Soft 17

In real money blackjack, the Ace can be worth 11 points (soft) or 1 point (hard). A soft 17 includes an 11-point Ace and Six. It’s soft because the Ace can still be converted to 1 point if needed. Dealers have no choice but to keep hitting until they get a score of at least 17. While they will always stand on a hard 17, some games have play dealers hitting on a soft 17. Having the blackjack Dealer stand on soft 17 results in a lower house edge than games where the dealer hits, so look for tables that say “Dealer stands on Soft 17.”

 

Number of Decks

The real money blackjack games a player will find in our online casino come with one, two or six play decks in the shoe. Some land-based casinos offer eight-deck play variants as well. The number of play decks included in the shoe influences the house edge, with the edge decreasing with fewer decks. The six and eight-deck play variants increase the house edge the most.

 

Doubling After Splitting

Some real money games of blackjack restrict players from doubling down after a split. If this casino rule is part of a game you’re considering playing, know that it will increase the house edge. There are certain times when doubling after a split is highly recommended according to basic real money strategy, so you want to leave that play option open if possible.

 

Number of Splits Allowed

Splitting your initial two-card play hand into two separate hands is allowed in all online blackjack games, but the number of times you can split is always capped. Having a higher cap on the number of splits allowed helps you—not the house.

 

 

 

JOIN TO PLAY BLACKJACK

 

 

 

Blackjack Variations

When a player plays online blackjack for real money, the casino game selection is wider than what the player would get at a land-based casino since there are no space limitations. That means the player can compare all the online games offered in an online casino to ensure they are getting the best version possible. At Ignition Casino, the player can play online blackjack with one deck, two decks, six decks, European rules, side bets, and bonus features. We’ll cover the play rules of each option available in our online casino.

 

Single Deck Blackjack (One Deck)

• Dealer hits soft 17

• Split up to two hands

• Double any two cards

• Split Aces receive only one card

• No Surrender

 

 

Double Deck Blackjack (Two Decks)

• Dealer stands with soft 17

• Split up to two hands

• Double any two cards

• Split Aces receive just one card

• No Surrender

  

Blackjack (Six Decks)

• Dealer hits soft 17

• Split up to three hands

• Double any two cards

• Split Aces receive just one card

• Option to Surrender

  

European Blackjack (Six Decks)

• Dealer stands with soft 17

• Split up to three hands

• Double on hard totals of 9-11 only

• Split Aces receive just one card

• Dealer doesn’t have hole card (won’t peak for Blackjack)

• No Surrender

  

Perfect Pairs (Six Decks)

• Dealer hits soft 17

• Split up to three hands

• Double any two cards

• Split Aces receive just one card

• Pairs side bet pays 6:1 to 25:1 when your initial two-card hand is a pair

• Option to Surrender

  

Zappit Blackjack (Six Decks)

• Dealer hits soft 17

• Dealer score of 22 is a push

• Split up to three hands

• Double any two cards

• Split Aces receive just one card

• “Zap” scores of 15, 16, 17

• Option to Surrender

 

 

 

 

Blackjack Basic Strategy

No need to reinvent the wheel at casinos, live or online. Experts have already hashed out Blackjack play strategy for beginners. To know the best move for your hand, simply compare your score with the play Dealer’s upcard on a blackjack strategy chart. We’ve included one for our standard six-deck blackjack below. You’ll need to use a different one for Single Deck Blackjack and Double Deck Blackjack.

 

The charts have your play score in the first column, and the blackjack Dealer’s upcard in the top row. The optimal move is either Hit (H), Double (D), Stand (S), or Surrender (Sr). Splittable (Sp) hands and hands containing soft scores get their own chart further below.

 

  

Below are all the potential online play scenarios you can run into with a soft hand compared to the play Dealer’s upcard in the top row.

 

  

Pairs get their own play chart too because you’ll often be splitting them. To know when to split, hit, double, stand or surrender, consult the chart below.

 

 

Importance of Basic Blackjack Strategy

Anyone can make online blackjack play decisions based on a gut feeling. After all, it’s fairly intuitive to know when to hit vs. stand. But if you want to win the most money possible online, you need to make the optimal move, as determined by mathematicians, for every hand. It’s the only way you’ll get the casinos' house edge under 1% and become a true master of the blackjack game. Only after perfecting basic real money strategy can you move on to more advanced techniques like card counting.