In online blackjack, it is you vs. a computerised dealer. This makes online blackjack a perfect alternative to live casino games and is perfect for players who want to cut to the chase and focus on the actual gameplay (instead of being entertained by the live dealer and so on) as well as new players, as online blackjack allows players to make decisions at their own pace.
In today’s article, we’ll be giving you a comprehensive guide to playing online blackjack right here at Lord Ping.
What is Online Blackjack?
Online Blackjack refers to Blackjack games which players can enjoy at online casinos. In online Blackjack players play against a simulated RNG-programmed dealer. It is important to note that online blackjack is different from live dealer blackjack, as in online blackjack it is just you vs. a simulated dealer, whereas live dealer blackjack features a real-world dealer and other players and is live streamed directly to your device. The main thing players need to be aware of is that because online blackjack is formulated using random number generation as opposed to a real-world deck or decks, it is not possible to use card counting strategies when playing online blackjack, though, players can still use general play strategies to help them decide whether its a smart choice to hit, stand or double down.
Online Blackjack Rules for Beginners
While different online Blackjack variants might include additional or modified rules (which is why you should always read the game data before playing) there are some key rules of online Blackjack that are seen across the board and knowing them is integral to successful gameplay.
Regular wins will pay out 1:1.
A regular win occurs when the total value of your cards is greater than the total value achieved by the dealer.
Payouts for Blackjack wins are 3:2.
A Blackjack is when the total of the player's cards reach 21. This is the best possible outcome of the game.
16 and Below
Unless previously stated in the ‘house rules’, in online Blackjack If the value of any hand is 16 or less, the dealer must hit.
Hit or Stand
To get a final hand value of 21 or as near to it as possible, players can hit to be dealt another card or stand and stick with the value they currently have. Additionally, they can split or double down.
Split
To increase your chances of beating the dealer, some Blackjack games will allow you to split your single hand into two separate hands if the cards you have been dealt are of the same value.
Double Down
Mid-hand, you have the opportunity to double your wager and receive one additional card. After this, you will have to stand. This option should only be used in limited scenarios such as when dealt a 10 or an 11.
Online Blackjack Hands
Blackjack hands can be split into two distinct types, ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ hands. Knowing the difference between these two terms is important, as the optimal decision to make will change depending on the type of hand that you have been dealt.
About Soft Hands
In blackjack, an ace can have a value between 1 and 11, making it either the highest or lowest card in the deck. If you hold an ace in your hand, your hand is soft. A soft hand lowers the probability of busting to almost nothing (keep in mind that blackjack is a game of chance, so nothing is ever 100% definite).
For example, when you first get dealt two cards, they are an ace and a seven. Your hand would be worth 18 if you were counting an ace as 11. However, if you calculate the ace as one, the value drops to just eight. Aside from the ace, the face cards (jack, queen, and king) are the highest-ranking cards in blackjack. They are all worth 10. You can end up with a blackjack or '21' (counting the ace as 1, of course) after starting with a soft hand and acquiring an ace and another 10. A soft 17 hand is made up of an ace (counting as 11) and a six. According to the soft hand method, you can almost never lose a blackjack hand when you have an Ace (of course, blackjack is a game of chance so nothing is ever certain). When playing online blackjack, if you have an Ace and your hand total is more than 21, your Ace's value will drop from 10 to 1.
Essentially you can think of soft hands as being malleable and subject to change.
About Hard Hands
There are two types of hard hands in blackjack: those with and without an ace. A hand containing an ace is regarded as hard when the ace counts as one. Let's say you have an ace, 3, and 10. Because your hand worth would be 24 (10+3+11), going over 21, and you would "bust" or lose the game, however due to the Aces changing value it would switch to 1 making your hand worth would equal 14 (10+3+1) keeping you in the game.
A hard hand without an ace would be a 10 and a 6, which would make a hard 16. This is one of the trickiest blackjack hands because of the low winning odds (If you hit you have a high chance of going bust, but as the dealer hits on 16 or lower your combination of 16 is unlikely to be enough to win). With the exception of the ace rule, your hand is not considered hard if you can add more cards to it without busting. This happens when you have low-value cards in your hand, such as a 2 or a 3. Then, if you decide to hit, you cannot score more than 21, regardless of the suitability of your third card.
Essentially, a hand is defined as ‘hard’ when both the values in the hand are fixed, and it is possible to go bust if receiving another card.
How to Play Online Blackjack
- Step 1: Place your wager: Decide how much you’d like to stake in accordance with the betting limits of the game you have decided to play.
- Step 2: Dealing the cards: You and the dealer are handed two cards. You will receive your cards from the computer when playing online slots. Additionally, the dealer will show you one of their cards during this step.
- Step 3: Set up a side wager: After your cards have been dealt, you can now wager on things like colours, pairs, and other elements if your chosen game features them. The most significant side bet is called Insurance; it pays out half of your initial wager and is only available if the dealer deals an Ace as their first card. You receive your insurance benefit in the event that the dealer achieves as Blackjack. Of course, side bets are completely optional and if you’re brand new to blackjack you’ll probably just want to focus on the main gameplay.
- Step 4: Choose if you want to hit: You can raise the value of your hand by pressing the button to "hit" and obtain extra cards. However, you forfeit your money if you go bust which is a total that goes over 21. You can use blackjack strategy charts to help you decide the best option to take.
- Step 5: "Stand": Press "stand" once you're happy with your hand. This informs the dealer that you are finished receiving cards.
- Step 6: The result: Once you have chosen to stand the dealer will then play. If the total worth of the cards in your hand is greater than the dealer's or equal to 21, you will win. You will forfeit your wager to the dealer if your hand value is less than the dealer's or if it crosses 21.
Top Blackjack Games on Lord Ping
There is a huge range of online Blackjack games available on Lord Ping, but there’s also a wealth of Live Blackjack games to enjoy too. These games have a live dealer and are as close to playing blackjack in a real-world casino as you can get. Games like One Blackjack and Infinite Blackjack can have an unlimited number of players at the table, while Blackjack by Evolution is designed to closely mimic real-world gameplay. For a twist on the traditional format, there are also games like Lightning Blackjack which adds lightning multipliers to cards for increased payout potential.
Play Online Blackjack on Lord Ping Today
At Lord Ping, you’ll discover a wealth of online blackjack games to enjoy as well as live blackjack games too. No matter what you choose, all our games are optimised for play on all devices, and to discover more, sign up and play today.
