What is Blackjack?
Blackjack is a table game played with one or more decks of card. Unlike poker, the game is played against the dealer and not other players. As we pointed out earlier, the game's object is for players to have a hand that is higher in total value than what the dealer has but not exceeding 21. Face cards such as J, Q and K are valued at 10 each. Ace is also valued at 10, but there are cases where it is valued at 1. As for the other cards, they are valued based on their number.
Online Blackjack Rules
Before you start playing blackjack online, it is essential that you understand the rules. Although there are several variations of the game, the basic rules that apply is the same. At the start, you will need to place your bet according to the betting limit. You will then be dealt two cards from the deck, and the dealer will also take two cards, of which one is face-up for players to see. If it is a face card, the dealer will take a peek at the second card to see if the hand forms a blackjack.
On receiving your initial cards, you will decide how to proceed by using one of the playing actions. Remember that your hand total must not exceed 21. Otherwise, you lose instantly in the game.
Hit
This is one of the playing actions available in blackjack, and it is used to indicate that you want an extra card. The right time to use this playing action is when your total card is way below 21, and you are trying to get it closer. However, be careful not to exceed 21 when using the hit option in blackjack games.
Stand
Stand is a playing action that is used to let the dealer know you don't want any additional card. It is the second most-used action by players after Hit. For example, if the total value of cards you have is 21 already or closer, you can use Stand to hold the value for the round.
Double Down
This playing action is used by players to double their original wager. Depending on the game variation you are playing, you can use double down at the start or during a round. For instance, if you bet ₹1,000 in a previous round, you can double it down to ₹2,000 in the next round.
Split
Split playing action is only available when the initial cards are a pair. It allows you to split the pair into two different hands so you can have a chance to win more from the game. However, be aware that using this option will automatically increase your bet amount by a factor of 2 times. Depending on the variation, you may be able to split two different face cards.
What Happens if The Outcome is a Tie?
In a situation where the total value of cards that the player and dealer have is the same, the game may end as a push. This means that the original wager will be returned to the player. However, be aware that some casinos treat a push differently and may require players to use the wager for the next round. Apart from that, some blackjack variation may treat a tie to the advantage of the house. So ensure that you check the rules that apply in the version you are playing.
Rules For Natural Blackjack
So far, we have discussed the basic rules of blackjack as well as the different playing actions available in the game. But some rules apply to natural blackjack. If the dealer's upcard is a face card or an Ace, he has to check the other card to see if a natural blackjack is formed.
Depending on the online blackjack variation, players may be allowed to take insurance in this situation. If the dealer has blackjack with the initial cards, he wins. The exception is only when the player has a natural blackjack, in which case the game ends in a push. The same rule applies if the player's initial cards is a natural blackjack.
How to Play Online Blackjack in India?
Playing online blackjack is pretty straightforward. It is a game that requires a combination of skill and luck, and it can be played on both desktop computers and mobile devices. There are several top developers in the iGaming industry that design different kinds of blackjack games. Here is a step guide to playing the game.
1. Join a good online casino. Choose from the list of our recommended blackjack casinos above.
To get started playing blackjack, you need to sign up with a top real money betting site that offers the best services and bonuses. Make sure the casino has several variations of the game so that you can have plenty to choose from.
2. Fund your new casino account
Once your account is set up and activated, you can then fund it using one of the deposit methods that the operator supports. Our recommended betting sites support several banking options that are popular in India.
3. Choose your preferred blackjack variation
In the online casino lobby, choose the blackjack variation that you prefer and load the game for real money.
4. Place your bet and begin playing
Once the game loads, you can place your preferred bet amount based on the table limit. After that, click on the Play/Start button to start playing.
Best Blackjack Online Strategy
Blackjack is a game of skill with an element of luck. This means that you can use different strategies to improve your chances of winning. However, be aware that no betting strategy offers a 100% winning chance. Thus, ensure that you only bet with money you can afford to lose. That said, if you use a betting strategy in blackjack, you can avoid chasing a losing streak.
Basic Strategy
There are some basic strategies you can apply in blackjack that does not need any sophisticated calculation. Once you understand these strategies, you will be on your way to enjoy a better experience playing online blackjack.
First, you must know when it is the right time to use a particular playing action. For example, if your initial cards have a value of 20, hitting may not be appropriate as the probability of going above 21 is higher. Another wrong use of playing action is standing when the value of the initial cards is 10 or lower. This is because the dealer will surely hit until he gets a higher value closer to 21. Besides that, if you hit while your total value is 10, there is no way you can end up exceeding 21.
Card Counting
This is probably one of the most popular strategies in online blackjack. It involves counting the card to know the right time to increase or reduce your bet. To use the strategy, the first you have to do is assign tags to the cards. For each card ranked 2 to 6, assign +1, while those ranked 10 to A should be assigned a -1 tag. Every other card is assigned 0. Once the game begins with the dealer dealing the first two cards, you have to start counting by adding the assigned values of the cards together. For instance, cards ranked 6 and 4 will count as +2 since they each have a +1 value.
If your count is positive after the first round of the game, you should increase your bet, as this means that there are more higher-ranked cards in the deck. However, if the count is negative, you should decrease your bet as there are more low ranked cards in the deck.
Soft Hands and Hard Hands
A soft hand in online blackjack refers to a hand with an Ace that is valued at 11, while a hard hand does not contain an ace. Compared to a soft hand, the rules that apply to a hard hand with values between 12 and 17 is quite strict.
The norm among pro players is to stand when you have a hard 17 or higher and hit if it is a hard hand below 17. However, a soft hand is more favourable for players as the ace can change from being valued at 11 to 1. Generally, it is recommended that you hit if you have a soft 15 or less and have a soft 19 or more. However, for soft 17, your move will depend on the dealer's upcard.
When to Double Down
As we pointed out earlier, double down is one of the playing action available in blackjack and the way it works differ from one variation to the other. Some moves revolve around the playing action that professional online blackjack players use to improve their chances of winning.
When you have a hand of 10 or 11, it is recommended that you double down. However, you need to consider the dealer's upcard to make the best move. In cases where the hand of the dealer is 4, 5, or 8, you can double down on a hand lower than ten.
When to Split
Splitting in blackjack games is possible only if the first two cards you are dealt have a similar value. As a general rule, players should split aces and eights. This is because splitting aces will mean that having any 10 value cards will give you a blackjack. The reason for splitting eights is to avoid having a value of 16 since it is more difficult to decide whether to hold or stand with the value. That said, you should never split 10s, 5s and 4s.
Blackjack Betting Strategies
Apart from the different strategies we have discussed so far, there are betting strategies that you can also use in blackjack. This includes the Martingale strategy and Labourache betting system. These strategies are focused more on bankroll management, and when used properly, they can help you increase your winning chances over time.
Online Blackjack Tips & Tricks
There are a few tips and tricks you can use when playing blackjack online to enjoy a better experience. These tips are related to some of the strategies we have discussed in the previous sections.
Don't split 10s
This is a general strategy used by pro blackjack players. While it may be tempting to split tens as forming two different hands can give you a chance to win more, you should refrain from doing so. Having tens as your initial cards brings your value to 20, which is closer to 21. The dealer will need to have a blackjack before he can beat the hand, and this is not always easy, especially when his upcard a low-ranked cad. Thus, by retaining the tens, you stand a better chance to win the round.
You can stand on hands like 12 and 13
It is common for players to hit when they have hands like 12 or 13 since it is farther from 21. However, you may consider standing, especially if you are counting cards and you know there are more high-value cards on the deck. If you hit with a 12 or 13 and get a face card, it will result in a bust, and you lose the game.
Do not take insurance
When the dealer's upcard is an ace, you may be offered a chance to take insurance in some variations of blackjack. This means that you are betting an additional half of your original wager on the dealer having a natural blackjack as the initial cards. However, when presented with the option, do not take insurance. This is because the probability of the dealer having blackjack is low unless you are an advanced card counter that knows how many face cards are left in the deck.
Double down on 11
Another online blackjack tip that we have also pointed out in one of the strategies explained earlier is to double down on 11. When your initial cards have a value of 11, doubling down and hitting can be a good choice as you know that you cannot exceed 21 when you take an additional card. However, it is important that you consider the dealer's upcard to be sure if this is a good move or not.
Use strategy chart
You can use an online blackjack strategy chart to know the appropriate time to make a move. These charts have information about what to do when you have a particular value relative to the dealer's upcard. This acts as a form of a guideline, but you will need to also learn other blackjack rules and deviations.
Do not bet more than your bankroll
Betting on blackjack is fun, and it is easy to lose yourself to the excitement. Thus, discipline is important when playing the game so that you do not bet more than your bankroll. If there is a need, you may consider setting a deposit or session limit if your online casino provides such responsible gaming tools. This way, you can avoid chasing a losing streak or hurting your finances playing the game.
Blackjack Terms and Expressions
As with most other games, blackjack has terminologies that you need to be familiar with as an Indian player. In this section, we will define some of the popular terminologies of the game.
- Blackjack: This is the game itself, and the term may sometimes also refer to having a hand with the value of 21.
- Natural Blackjack: This refers to having 21 as the initial cards (an ace and a face card).
- Dealer: The dealer is responsible for dealing cards. However, in online blackjack, this is done by the computer algorithm.
- Bust: When your hand goes over 21, it is called a burst, and you lose.
- Hit: This is a playing action used to request an additional card.
- Stand: This is used when you don't want any additional card.
- Double Down: This allows you to double your initial bet amount.
- Hole Card: The hole card refers to the dealer's face-down card.
- Split: This is a playing action used when the initial card is a pair. It allows you to split the pair to form two hands bit your bet amount is also doubled.
- Push: This occurs when the dealer and player have the same hand value. It means that you get back your stake.
- Surrender: The surrender option is available in some blackjack variations. It is used to get back half of your wager when you believe your hand is a losing hand.
- Upcard: This refers to the dealer's face-up card, which you can see.
Is Online Blackjack legal in India?
There are several developers in the iGaming industry that design online blackjack games. These developers operate with multiple licences from some of the strictest regulatory authorities. Besides that, their games pass through series of testing phases to ensure that they are safe and fair to play. Online blackjack is legal in India, and there are numerous online gambling sites in the country that feature different variations of blackjack.
Thus, you can play it without any issue. However, to enjoy the best gaming experience playing online blackjack, it is essential that you choose the best online casinos that are also licensed and offer incredible welcome bonuses and other promotions.
Be aware that there are some scam blackjack sites online that feature rigged version of the game. If you play at this kind of casinos, money may be stolen, and you also stand at risk of your information falling into the wrong hands. However, our recommended betting sites that feature the card game have been thoroughly vetted, and we believe they are the best choice for you.
Random Number Generator in Online Blackjack
The main difference between online blackjack and physical blackjack is that the former is a computer game, and there is no real human dealer to anchor it. But how do developers and online casinos ensure that the dealing of cards is completely random?
This boils down to the use of Random Number Generator (RNG). An RNG is a computer algorithm that generates a random sequence of numbers, which are then later used with some other sophisticated codes to make the outcome random. In the case of online blackjack, the RNG ensures that the dealing of cards is random, so every player has the same chance of receiving a particular value card.
Online Blackjack Variations
There are several variations of blackjack available online. However, these variations have the same basic rules and gameplay. However, there are a few advanced rules in some blackjack games, such as the Surrender option. That said, some of the popular variations of the game featured at the best online blackjack sites include classic blackjack, blackjack switch, double attack blackjack and several others. You can find these variations at our recommended casinos listed above.
Live Dealer Blackjack in India
When online blackjack was first introduced, some players were worried about how fair it is as no human dealer to anchor it. This led to the introduction of live dealer blackjack games, and several Indians play this version at top online casinos.
Live blackjack is a physical version of the game hosted in a developer's studios. It is anchored by a human dealer who you will play against. With the use of high-definition camera technology, optical reading software and other sophisticated technologies, you can stream and play live blackjack in real-time right from your device just as if you were at the actual tables. In addition, there is usually an interactive feature included that allows players to chat as they play. Live dealer blackjack comes in different variations, such as Live European Blackjack and Live Classic Blackjack.
The Best Live BlackJack site in India
Several online casinos in India offer live blackjack games. However, if you want the best experience playing the game, it is essential that you choose a good online casino. First, you need to consider the different variations of live blackjack featured. There are a few variations of live blackjack with human dealers that speak Hindi.
One of the casinos we recommend for live blackjack games is Casumo Casino India. It has a good betting platform that is optimised for both mobile devices and desktop computers. Besides that, it offers incredible bonuses and provides players with efficient customer support around the clock.
Blackjack Online for Real Money
Now that you understand the rules and gameplay of online blackjack, you can consider playing it for real money at the best online casinos. After all, many players play games at online casinos to stand a chance to win real money. But as usual, it is important that you play at a good blackjack betting site that operates with a valid licence from well-known regulatory bodies.
While playing, remember that there are different strategies you can apply to improve your odds of winning. But when applying any blackjack strategy, ensure that you do not bet more than you can afford to lose. Why not check out our recommended casinos, such as Casumo Casino that is well-known in the iGaming industry, to offer players the best experience.