Gaming Guru

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What is Online Blackjack

In Online Blackjack You, the player will play against a Random Number Generator (RNG) which is your favourite online casino. The exception to this rule is if you are playing in a private group or in a tournament. In any case, the objective of the game is to get a score of 21 or as close to 21 avoiding any score over 21 and beating the RNG's score.

How is your score determined in Online Blackjack

Now you may be wondering how a score is determined. In Online Blackjack (or its land based counterpart) cards 2 through to 10 carry their respective value while picture cards (King, Queen etc) carry a value of 10. The Ace can carry a value of 1 or 11 depending on the situation. In Blackjack, suites (spades, diamonds etc) don't matter. For example if you were holding a 2 card and a 10 card, the score (value) of your hand would be 12. If you hold an Ace and 9, your score would be 20. If you hold three cards, the value of the Ace would be 1. For instance, you hold an ace, 5 and 4, your score would be 10 not 20. A Blackjack is a combination of an ace and a 10 or picture card. A Blackjack held by the RNG is an automatic winner EVEN if you hold a Blackjack, this is how online casino's get their house advantage. If you take out an insurance bet, you get even money for holding a Blackjack with the RNG. I will explain other conditions that take place in online blackjack later in this article.

Playing Online Blackjack

Online Blackjack is played using 1 to 8 decks of cards depending on the RNG that powers the online casino. In any case, you begin by placing a bet and clicking the “Deal” button. The RNG will give you (and other players if applicable) and itself a card. The above process repeats but this time the RNG deals itself a card face down, i.e. you can't see it. If the RNG has an ace as the up card (the card you can see) you are given the option to take insurance in which case you will receive a 2:1 payment on your insurance bet IF the RNG has a blackjack. If the RNG shows a 10 or picture card as the up card and has a Blackjack, you lose the round immediately EVEN if you hold a Blackjack

A word of advice from the Gaming Guru – Insurance bets are pointless

After the RNG is convinced that it doesn't hold a Blackjack, It is now YOUR turn to strike. You win immediately if you hold a Blackjack, Unfortunately if this is not the case, you have these options available to you.

Stand : You can click on “Stand” if your happy with the hand you have received and do not wish to take another card which might result in your score exceeding 21

Hit: You can click on “Hit” if you would like to take another card. The RNG will give you another card from the shoe. You can continue to take cards until you decide to “stand” or if you go “bust”. In the case of going “bust” you lose the round immediately. If the sum of your cards reaches a of score reaches 21, you win immediately.

Split: If you hold two cards of the same value, you can click on “Split”. By doing this, you agree to place an identical wager and the RNG will give you two more cards. The ‘split' cards are now treated as two independent hands and you can hit, stand and double down on the two hands. Some online casino's offer the opportunity to split after a split but that entirely up to you.

Double Down: Click on “Double” if you feel that all you need is ONE more card. During this situation, you double your original bet and the RNG hands you one final card. This option is available only with your first two cards or in some cases right after a “split”

Surrender: The availability of this option depends on the online casino and the type of online casino that you are playing. In any case, If you click “Surrender” you decide to give up your cards and HALF of your original bet. This option is extremely useful if you suspect the dealer of holding a blackjack or if you hold a really bad score with no hope of winning this round.

Once you have decided on your move (and not managed to get a Blackjack, 21 or go bust), the RNG will decide to “Hit” or “Stand”. An important note to point out is that the RNG does not have free will and HAS to play by rules stipulated by the online casino. These rules depend on the online casino and the type of online blackjack that you are playing. For example if the house rules state that the dealer has to “Stand on all 17's”, this means that the RNG will continue to “Hit” till it's score reaches 17. You win if your score is higher than the RNG if both of you ‘stood' or if the RNG goes bust (over 21).

Conclusion

There you have it, a nice little introduction to playing online blackjack. Blackjack has elements of skill which I will discuss in later articles and an element of luck as well. This is an example to demonstrate the ‘luck' factor that comes into play during online blackjack for instance, during a round of online blackjack with an online casino rule that forces the RNG to “Stand on all 17's”. Let's say you receive a score of 16 (which is the worst total in my books because it is too low to ‘stand' and too high to ‘hit' safetly). You decide to play it safe and ‘stand'. The RNG displays it's cards and to your excitement, its 16! Online casino rules come into play and the poor RNG has to ‘hit'. Your not out of the woods yet, fingers crossed and the RNG draws a 6, goes bust and YOU WIN.

Reference : Michael Shackleford's (aka The Wizard Of Odds) Article

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