Online blackjack is one of the most beloved casino games. The game is stimulating, entertaining, and with the potential for big wins. Therefore, it makes sense more and more players want to try it. Any decent gambling site will have blackjack games catering to different gaming demands. Whether you wish to test the waters with free blackjack or improve your skills with the newest release, you can find an online casino in the Philippines offering a few suitable options. Keep reading this guide to learn how to play blackjack or get a refresher before getting started.
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History of Blackjack
The most popular casino card game, blackjack, goes back to the 17th century. It was first referenced in a noble by Miguel de Cervantes written in 1601-1602. Blackjack is a descendant of a group of banking games called 21. In the book, the author, who was a gambler, talks about his protagonists being skilled at veintiuna (twenty-one in Spanish).
The 18th and 19th centuries also have early traces of the game. However, it wasn’t until 1800 that blackjack rules were established in Vingt-Un. The early 1800s saw the game find its way to America, where players used the British rules for a while. Later, Vingt-Un evolved into an American variant, and the name blackjack was adopted in 1899. The game moved to brick-and-mortar casinos and then to gambling websites, with different variations coming up over the years.
The Basic Terms
As you prepare to play blackjack online, you should know the game’s vital elements. The following is a quick highlight of what happens in blackjack games:
- You play against the dealer and not other players when betting on blackjack.
- An online blackjack game uses between one and eight 52-card decks.
- When playing online blackjack, you have to try to beat the dealer by getting a hand that is closest to a total of 21.
- In some blackjack games, you can take insurance, which protects you if the dealer lands a 10.
- Some casinos have the option of surrender, a rule that allows you to give back half your stake if your bet is not promising.
- A natural blackjack is a hand with a 10 and an Ace. It pays 3:2
Online Blackjack Rules and Strategies
A blackjack table, even when playing online, can have several players and a dealer. In online blackjack, except for live casino titles, the dealer is a computer system. Your objective is to beat the dealer by getting a better hand, meaning the closest one to 21. A hand over 21 is called going bust, which is a loss.
Once you place bets, the game starts with everyone at the table getting two cards, facing up, except for the dealer, who gets one card facing down. Next, you have to calculate the value of your hand. In blackjack, number cards are worth their face value, face cards are worth 10, while an Ace can be 1 or 11. Here are the actions you can take based on this information.
- Hit – get another card
- Stand – keep your cards
- Double down – stake a bet equal to the original wager and get another card
- Split – divide your cards and match your initial bet to create two separate hands
After all the blackjack players make their moves, the dealer reveals the facedown (hole) card. If your score is closer to 21 than the dealer, then you win. Blackjack rules require the dealer to hit on a hand worth 16 or lower and stand on a hand valued at 17 or higher.
Most popular variations and blackjack house edge
Real money blackjack games come in different iterations, which is part of the fun of playing online. You can find classic variants and an array of unique titles packed with exciting features. However, if you are a beginner, it’s best to stick to common online blackjack options. Here is a quick look at some options available in the Philippines.
American Blackjack, with a house edge of 0.40%, is the most-played version of the casino game. In this variant, the dealer receives the facedown (hole) card before players make their decisions.
European Blackjack waits until after the players make their moves to give the dealer the hole card. This variant allows doubling down but not re-splitting or surrendering. It has a house advantage of 0.39%.
Atlantic City plays with eight decks and allows the dealer to peek at tens and Aces. You can re-split, surrender and double down in this version. The house edge is 0.35%.
Blackjack Switch gives you two hands to play separately and lets you swap cards from one pair to the other. The game has a house advantage of 0.17.
Live dealer games are fascinating because they have real people acting as dealers. Therefore, you get to go one-on-one with a trained professional. With live dealer blackjack games, you can play common variants except with real dealers with whom you can chat.
Best places to play blackjack
Filipino players have numerous blackjack casinos to select from, but the best ones are not always easy to find. It’s not enough for an operator to have online blackjack titles. For one, it must be licensed and registered. Stick to regulated online casinos because they are not only legal but also give you better chances of finding fair blackjack games.
Consider the bonuses and promotions offered. Can you use them to play blackjack? Even if you don’t find exclusive blackjack bonuses, try to find other offers that will boost your playing budget.
The range of casino games available matters. A casino’s product suite determines your gaming options. Pick gambling websites that provide the blackjack games you wish to play.
Mobile compatibility is another consideration if you prefer to play blackjack online on your phone. Find out if a casino has an app or if the site is mobile-responsive. If you intend to play live blackjack games, ensure they are accessible on mobile.
Don’t forget to check the payment methods. An online casino should provide safe and reliable banking solutions to make it easy to deposit real money and withdrawal winnings in the Philippines.
Tips on how to win
You can win real money playing blackjack online, but it takes work. Learning a few pointers can help you make sensible decisions that improve your chances of winning in online blackjack.
Learn basic strategy
The first thing to do when learning to play blackjack is to familiarize yourself with basic strategy. One thing to keep in mind when gambling on real money games is that the house always has an advantage. However, that shouldn’t stop you from trying to boost your chances when betting on online blackjack.
You can lower the house edge significantly by applying a basic blackjack strategy, consequently increasing your probability of making a profit. You can learn which moves to make when holding certain cards in online blackjack to reduce the chances of going bust.
Understand Hard vs Soft hands
If you are to play online blackjack successfully, you must know what to do with soft and hard totals. Whether you hold a hard or soft hand influences your winning odds. A soft hand is when the cards include an Ace, whose value shifts between 1 and 11.
You have more flexibility with a soft total. Conversely, a hard hand doesn’t have an Ace, meaning it’s more difficult to work with. In online blackjack, the type of hand dictates the best strategy to use. Free blackjack games are practical solutions when trying to grasp the concept of soft and hard hands.
Know what rules work to your advantage
You can get the most out of online blackjack if you know how to leverage favorable rules. For example, if a game offers surrender, you can opt to take advantage of the feature if you believe it will cushion your losses. Splitting is another rule you should know how to use. Dividing your hand means doubling your stake, but learn how to do it right. For a beginner, practicing with free blackjack games is a good way to get a hang of different rules and avoid mistakes when playing with actual money.
Avoid short payouts
Novice blackjack players should always start small and move on to big bets as confidence builds. When you are still new to online gambling, short payouts might seem like a good idea, especially if they are frequent. However, you may not be getting much of a profit with small cashouts. Learn to play for long payouts that promise decent returns on your investment. If you are unsure about this strategy, playing free blackjack for a while helps.
Difference between free and real money blackjack
Even if the objective is to play for real money, free games are always great to have. How are they different from regular online blackjack titles? The main distinction is that with free blackjack, you don’t have to deposit funds to gamble. Thus, you can enjoy online blackjack without risking money. Free online blackjack games are available to play for however long you want.
Unlike real-money online blackjack, free games don’t generate tangible wins. Even if your bet wins, the gameplay uses virtual money that you can’t cash out. When you wager actual cash in online blackjack, the ultimate goal is to earn returns.
Depending on the casino, you may not need to sign up to play free blackjack games. Hence, you don’t need to disclose personal details. You can simply select a title and start gambling. Conversely, online blackjack is only available for real money gaming after opening an account, verifying it, and depositing.
Free blackjack is not available for live games. Therefore, you can’t practice live blackjack without spending money.
You can use bonuses on free blackjack games. The right bonus can help you capitalize on your winning probabilities in online blackjack.
Conclusion
At this point, you should know the most crucial aspects of online blackjack and be ready to play. You can have tremendous fun gambling in blackjack online because you have hundreds of titles from which to choose without the trouble of visiting a physical casino. Use your knowledge to find the best online blackjack games at Filipino casinos that match your skills, budget, and gaming goals. Leverage free blackjack games to hone your skills. Improving your proficiency means enjoying bigger challenges as you grow.