Online Blackjack UK

The History of Live Blackjack

The history of Blackjack games spans back so far that its exact origins are still debated, yet the first recorded mention of the game is believed to have surfaced in a 16th-century novel, Don Quixote.

Many other sources seem to agree that it first originated in France during the 1700s, where it was called Vingt-et instead of the Blackjack game itself. Supposedly, it is derived from French Card games like Chemin de Fer, and French Ferme.

To confuse matters further, others believe that it was an invention of the Romans, who apparently loved gambling.

Unfortunately, we’re short on time machines to go back and check for ourselves, but we can tell you about the growth in popularity of Blackjack up until now.

Sources and statistics seem to suggest that the popularity of blackjack casino sites is actually decreasing, yet these statistics only take into account land-based casino Blackjack, and not sites in the UK.

As online gambling further evolves, so do players, and players everywhere flock to Online Casinos in search of the best Blackjack games around. Sites in the UK are filled to the brim with live casino games, and blackjack in a bid to be the best blackjack sites

As gambling evolves, so do players, and players everywhere flock to Online Casinos in search of the best Blackjack games around.

How to Play Blackjack Games

The Best Blackjack Games are available to play at pretty much every casino site and all Online Casinos, but how do you play?

The rules of playing online Blackjack, are actually quite simple, but it can be hard to master.

In this section, we’ll go over Blackjack rules, the aim of the game, and how you can improve your edge with perfect basic strategy

The Object of the Game

Each player in Blackjack must attempt to beat the dealer by getting a card count as close to 21 as they can, without exceeding 21.

How to Play Online Blackjack Games

When playing Blackjack casino games, the player on the left of the dealer will play first.

The Dealer will proceed to deal 2 face-up cards to the player, and 2 to themselves. One of the dealer’s cards is face-down, so you won’t see it until you’ve made your decision on what to do with your current hand.

• Hit – The player chooses to receive another card from the Dealer in an attempt to take your hand value closer to 21, or hit 21 exactly.
• Stand – Face the dealer’s total with your current total
• Double Down – Double your bet in the middle of a hand in return for one extra card
• Split – Turn your two cards into two separate hands, before receiving one extra card for each hand.
• Surrender – Surrender your hand and forfeit half of your bet to the dealer, and receive half back

The only win condition in Blackjack is that your hand is closer to 21 than the dealers. Once you’ve made your move, the dealer will reveal his down card, before continuing to draw cards until they go bust, or their hand totals 17 or over.

The dealer must stand on 17 in most iterations of Blackjack, which means they’ll conclude their hand once they reach 17 or more.

You’ll win the hand if your total is closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand is, but you’ll go bust if you or the dealer exceeds 21.

Card Values

Each card in Online Blackjack is identical to the value shown on the card, with the exception of Royals, and Aces.

King, Queen and Jack are worth 10, but it’s up to the player if an ace is worth 1, or 11.

This is where Soft and Hard totals come into play, and you can use them strategically to secure yourself a better hand

If one of the aces in your hand is an Ace, then you’re believed to have a soft hand. This gives the player more choice on what to do.

Example:

The Dealer deals the Player an Ace, and an 8. 

The total of the hand is now either 9, or 19. 

In this example, the player has a fairly strong hand against the dealer, no matter what cards they have. If the player is happy with 19, then they stand against the dealer, who must stand on 17.

Here’s another example of where it won’t be beneficial to stand on a soft hand.

 

Example: 

The Dealer Deals the Player an Ace, and a 2. 

The total of the hand is now either 3, or 13.

 

In this example, the player has a rather weak hand, but the presence of the Ace makes things a bit easier.

The choice here would be to hit for another card to raise the total value, but there’s more of a safety net than there would be if you were dealt a hard 13.

This is because the Ace reverts to a value of 1 if the new card would cause the player to bust in normal circumstances.

 

Let’s look at this example.

 

Example:

The Dealer Deals the Player an Ace, and a 2. 

The total of the hand is now either 3, or 13.

The player decides to hit, and the dealer deals the player a King.

The total hand value is now hard 13. 

 

As you can see, the player isn’t bust as they’d normally be. The Ace changed its value to 1, preventing a bust. The hand in this example is now a hard 13, and the player can hit for another card.

 

Splitting Pairs in Online Blackjack Games

In an Online Blackjack game, you may come across an opportunity to split your hand.

To do so you’ll need two cards of the same denomination, and if you do decide to split, then you’ll essentially be playing two hands.

Once split, the two identical cards will become separate, and you’ll be able to Stand or Hit on each hand independently.

Once you’ve stood or gone bust on one hand, then you may play the other.

It might be tempting to split, but there are situations where you shouldn’t.

• Always Split Aces
• Never Split 10’s 
• Split 9’s if the dealer’s total is 2-9, otherwise stand.
• Always Split 8’s 
• Split 7’s if the dealers total is 2-7, otherwise hit
• Split 6’s if the dealer’s total is 2-6, otherwise hit. 

These are just some examples of what decisions to make with what hands, but how on earth are you supposed to memorise them all?

That’s where Blackjack games basic strategy comes into play, and if you can memorise it then you’ve given yourself a good chance at beating the dealer.

Online Blackjack Casino: Basic Strategy 

Blackjack Basic Strategy is a way for players to play blackjack online and cut the house edge by a marginal amount, and it’ll give you the knowledge to play your hand in an optimal way on every turn.

Basic Strategy can change depending on the rules of the game, but a standard basic strategy start will give you all you’ll need to play in the best possible way if the dealer stands on soft 17.

• H – Hit
• S – Stand
• P – Split
• D – Double (Hit if not Allowed)
• DS – Double (Stand if not Allowed)

 

Is Basic Strategy Enough to Beat Blackjack? 

Basic strategy will only get you so far. The house edge with perfect basic strategy is still 0.5% higher than your edge, so in the long term, you’re still expected to lose even if you make the right move each and every time.

Plus, how would you even memorise Basic Strategy? That alone seems like a herculean task, and we’ve not even covered card counting yet.

Thankfully, there’s a system you can use that makes memorising the chart easier.

Memorise Online Blackjack Basic Strategy

Here’s our handy little guide on how you can memorise basic strategy most effectively. First of all, we’ll talk about splitting.

Splitting Cards

• Always Split Aces and 8’s
• Do not Split 10’s & 5’s
• Split 2, 3 and 7 if the dealer has 2-7 
• Split 4’s if the dealer has 5 & 6 
• Split 6’s if the dealer has 2-6 
• Split 9’s if the dealer has 2-9 with the exception of 7

Soft Totals

• Always stand on soft 20 and 21
• Double Soft 19 against 6, otherwise stand
• Soft 18 Doubles if the dealer has 2-6, stands against 7 or 9 or hits against 9-Ace. 
• Double Soft 17 against 3-6, otherwise hit. 
• Double Soft 16 or Soft 15 if the dealer has 5-6, otherwise hit 
• Double Soft 14 if the dealer has 5 and 6, otherwise hit. 

Hard Totals

• Surrender 16 against the Dealer’s 9 – Ace
• Surrender 15 if the Dealer has 10
• Stand on Hard 17 or above
• Hard 13-16 always stands against the dealers 2 – 6, and hit against 7 – Ace 
• Hard 12 always stands against the dealers 4-6, otherwise hit
• Always Doble Down on Hard 11
• Always double a Hard 10 against the dealers 2-9 
• Always Double Hard 9 against the dealers 2-6 
• Always Hit Hard 8 and below

Online Casino Blackjack Card Counting

You might have heard of Card Counting at Blackjack tables before, as well as its moral and legal implications, but the truth is, it’s not illegal.

Casinos in Las Vegas certainly have the right to remove players from the casino if they suspect them of counting cards, but that doesn’t mean you’re breaking the law.

Blackjack Card Counting is a strategy used to determine who has the advantage on the next hand.

By assigning drawn cards a positive, negative or zero value, players can determine its “Effect of removal”, or EOR for short.

The Effect of Removal is an effect that a single card has on the house advantage once it is removed from play.

This then allows the player to make a rough estimate on the house advantage based on the composition of cards that are yet to be dealt.

Card Counting is an extremely advanced tactic, and many won’t have the discipline to learn it.

Some professional Blackjack Players insist upon this being a fundamental skill if you’re to beat the best blackjack casino sites.

Card Strategy	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10, J, Q, K	A	Level of count
Hi-Lo	+1	+1	+1	+1	+1	0	0	0	−1	−1	1
Hi-Opt I	0	+1	+1	+1	+1	0	0	0	−1	0	1
Hi-Opt II	+1	+1	+2	+2	+1	+1	0	0	−2	0	2
KO	+1	+1	+1	+1	+1	+1	0	0	−1	−1	1
Omega II	+1	+1	+2	+2	+2	+1	0	−1	−2	0	2
Red 7	+1	+1	+1	+1	+1	0 or +1	0	0	−1	−1	1
Halves	+0.5	+1	+1	+1.5	+1	+0.5	0	-0.5	−1	−1	3
Zen Count	+1	+1	+2	+2	+2	+1	0	0	−2	−1	2
10 Count	+1	+1	+1	+1	+1	+1	+1	+1	−2	+1	2

Blackjack Tips and Tricks for Success

Successfully navigating the world of online blackjack requires a blend of strategy, understanding, and intuition. Here are a few Blackjack tips to help you on your way.

Online blackjack sites are the perfect platform to develop and refine these skills, offering a realistic gaming experience accessible from anywhere.

Firstly, one of the most important tips for playing on online blackjack casinos is understanding the rules and basic strategies. This will give you a solid foundation and increase your odds of winning.

Secondly, always remember to manage your bankroll effectively. Good financial management is key on online blackjack casinos, as it allows you to maximize your playing time and increase your chances of coming out on top. Many online blackjack sites also offer a variety of the best Blackjack bonuses and promotions, and making smart use of these can give you an extra edge.

Thirdly, only choose to play at the best online blackjack sites possible. No matter which blackjack tables you choose, make sure that your casino is number one. From there, you can choose a Blackjack game that suits your needs.

Lastly, don’t forget that practice makes perfect. The more you play on online blackjack casino sites, the better you’ll understand the nuances of the game, and the more successful you’re likely to be.

Remember, blackjack is not just about luck, it’s a game of skill too, and these tips can help you improve your play at an online blackjack casino.

Tips for Mitigating Blackjack Losses

Playing at an online Blackjack site is both convenient and exciting, but it’s essential to employ a strategy that may help you minimise losses. Online Gambling at blackjack sites can be very profitable, but the opposite is also true if you’re not careful.

Understand Basic Strategy

You should familiarise yourself with basic Blackjack strategy before you play. Online casino sites offer various blackjack games, but most of them follow the same rules. If you know basic strategy then you’re well-equipped to make good strategic decisions to lower the house edge. Other more advanced strategies may mean playing with half your initial bet and adjusting as you progress.

Set A Limit

So you’ve played blackjack games at an online casino, you know basic strategy, but you still lost. Unfortunately, the house edge can not be completely eliminated. A good blackjack game ends in profit, but it’s not a bad result to leave even, either. Online Casinos have tools to help you set limits, such as deposit limits. Use these so that you may responsibly enjoy online casino blackjack.

Take Advantage of Blackjack Games Bonuses and Promotions

Online casinos often provide enticing Blackjack casino bonuses and promotions. Take advantage of these offers to boost your balance. When playing with active bonus money, you may need to play a minimum initial deposit. You can also win real money, but take note of However, read the terms and conditions carefully, as blackjack bonuses typically come with specific wagering requirements that need to be fulfilled before any potential winnings can be withdrawn. It’s important to note T&Cs that apply to only bonus funds, including how bonus funds contribute, and when bonus funds expire.

Understand Different Rules

Each online casino may have different rules. When you play blackjack, you might play universal blackjack rules, but did you know that an online casino can offer blackjack games with a different ruleset? Vegas Strip, European Blackjack, Spanish 21 and other types of Blackjack Games may offer a different experience, and each may require you to play differently, add sides bets, and more. European Blackjack is the most common at sites in the UK, but different blackjack games may be offered. If you’re playing blackjack online with progressive jackpots, take note of any rule changes that may apply.

Practice Free Blackjack Games

Blackjack Games can be played for free at an online casino that allows users to demo games before they bet real money. If the Blackjack casino does not allow demo play, then you can find plenty of blackjack games for free online, with some that even train you to make the right decisions. Use this tool to memorise the perfect basic strategy before you try your hand at the many different Blackjack variants available. Some popular variations include Infinite Blackjack, Power Blackjack, VIP tables by Evolution Gaming, and more.

Analyse Your Gameplay

After you play real money games at an online blackjack site, you should analyse your gameplay. Blackjack players at the best online blackjack casinos have plenty of experience in the game that is easy to learn, but hard to master, and you should, too. Analyse your decisions, side bets, wins, and losses objectively. By identifying patterns or mistakes in your strategy, you can make adjustments for future sessions and get the full Blackjack experience. Continuous improvement and self-reflection are key to mitigating losses in the long run. This will help you play blackjack online with confidence.