Blackjack Tips

Blackjack has come a long way since its early days in land-based casinos. Blackjack may have been fun before, but since the digital revolution of casino games, online blackjack tables offer a level of entertainment that is unmatched. If you’re setting off on a blackjack journey, this article is here to give you a few blackjack tips and tricks to help improve your skillset. 

Blackjack Gameplay

To start, let’s go through how the game is actually played. The gameplay may differ depending on the blackjack table you play since different blackjack games may come with additional rules and features. The objective of playing on a blackjack table is to obtain a hand with a value as close to 21 as possible without surpassing it. If you do surpass 21, you’ll go bust and lose the round. At the same time, you must also try and obtain a blackjack hand with a value closer to 21 than the dealer. 

When playing live blackjack games, players will be given an allotted time frame to bet before the round begins. If the betting time expires before bets are placed, players can wait for the next round to begin. Blackjack games that do not feature a live dealer do not have a limited betting window.

Players must choose between one of the different coloured chips found on the user interface to place a bet. Depending on the table, players might also be able to place side bets during this time. It is important to always place bets within your limits, depending on your bankroll. Once the betting time has expired, the dealer will hand out your first two cards and you must then choose between the following options: 

• Hit — Draw an additional card.
• Stand — Keep with your current hand.
• Double Down — Double your bet and receive an additional card.
• Split — Split your cards into two separate hands.

Some blackjack casino games also offer the ‘Surrender’ and ‘Insurance’ options, but it all depends on the table you play. The dealer will go on to hand out cards depending on whether you choose to hit, stand or split. As such, there are three ways you can win at blackjack:

• Earning a hand closer to 21 than the dealer. 
• The dealer going bust.
• Earning a hand consisting of a 10-point card and an ace, adding up to 21 exactly, otherwise known as ‘blackjack’.

If both the player and the dealer have a hand with the same value, then they’ll both push. 

Card Values

The value of the individual cards determines the strength of your hand. In all blackjack casino games, cards ranging from two to 10 are taken at face value. The jack, queen and king have a value of 10. The ace card can have a value of either one or 11, depending on the state of your hand. A hand containing an ace with the value of 11 is known as a soft hand. 

Tips and Tricks

Now that you have a general idea of how the game works, here are a few tips that may turn the tides and help you win at blackjack. Bear in mind, there aren’t any tips or strategies that guarantee a win, but these tips may help you smell the scent of victory. 

Tip 1: Utilise the basic strategy when possible.

Memorising the right way to hit, stand, split and double down may help cut the house edge in half. The basic strategy, or any blackjack strategy for that matter, will keep you from making uninformed decisions and reduce the risk of losing your bankroll entirely. Pair the basic blackjack strategy with a good betting system if you want the best odds of winning at blackjack. (Remember, the basic strategy doesn’t guarantee a win and does not mean that you will lose less often).

The basic strategy is not universal, though. For instance, players might need to adjust the basic blackjack strategy in some casino games, like Power Blackjack.

Tip 2: Avoid taking insurance.

When utilising the basic blackjack strategy, it is not recommended to place an insurance bet. While insurance may seem like a good choice, players with an insurance bet may face a much greater house edge. Overall, the bet has pretty low odds of winning.

Tip 3: Check the dealer’s upcard. 

The value of the dealer’s upcard may influence your decisions when deciding whether to hit, stand or double down.

Tip 4: Split a pair of aces and eights.

Splitting aces and eights into two separate hands is always a good idea, as it gives the player a better chance of forming a strong hand. A pair of aces has a value of two or a soft 12, while a pair of eights has a value of 16 — neither of which are favourable for a win. 

Tip 5: Dealer stands on a soft 17.

Seek blackjack games where the dealer stands on a soft 17. When the dealer stands on a soft 17, it gives the player much better odds of winning, reducing the house edge significantly. 

Tip 6: Stand when you have a hand that can bust against the dealer’s upcard. 

Tip 7: Double down on any ace against the dealer’s six.

This is probably one of the best times to double down. Unless you have a soft 20, it is recommended to double down whenever you have an ace and the dealer has a six. 

Tip 8: Have a betting system in place.

Betting systems, such as the Martingale strategy, can help you manage your bankroll and play more responsibly. They do not affect the probability of landing a win, but may reduce losses and occasionally generate small profits. Betting systems based on mathematical progressions may also help mitigate losses. It’s important to note that betting strategies are generally not viable in the long run. Additionally, many are designed with above-average bankrolls in mind. So, if you have a smaller bankroll, some betting strategies may do more harm than good. 

Tip 9: Select a table with more favourable odds. 

Compare the house edge between blackjack games. Some tables may offer a lower house edge than others, which may improve your odds of winning. 

Tip 10: Practise your blackjack strategy and betting systems in the free demo mode.

Online blackjack games come with a free demo for you to try. The demo allows you to play the game completely for free without risking real money. With the use of virtual funds, you can try and test your strategies and betting systems for as long as you like (or until these funds run out).

Play Blackjack Online For Free At Online Casinos

One of the best ways to put these tips to the test is by playing on a blackjack online casino table for free. Online blackjack games come with a demo that allows you to play the game without risking real money. Cool, right? Beginners and experts alike can test their strategies while leaving their bankrolls untapped. 

The demo is a gaming mode that includes all the same mechanics and features you would find when playing the real deal, except you won’t have to use real money to place bets. Instead, you will find virtual funds — a form of ‘fake money’ that replaces your actual bankroll. The amount of virtual funds you have depends on the provider, but you’ll definitely have enough virtual money to practise with. The only kicker is that any wins obtained during the demo are completely virtual and cannot be credited to your account. 

Online blackjack games are not as complex as live tables, so you may not find all the same features and mechanics. But, ever since blackjack was introduced to online casinos, the game sported all-new mechanics that cannot be replicated when playing in land-based casinos. So, the demo can prove to be very beneficial, especially to new players.

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may be asked to register and verify your account to access the demo. But you may be able to play as a visitor in cases where verification is not necessary. 

Play Blackjack At EnergyCasino

If you’ve learned all you can from the demo, the next step is to try out these games for real! There is a whole world of blackjack games out there, and what better place to try them all than at EnergyCasino?

We are home to some of the best casino games in the industry rolled out by top-tier providers like Evolution, LiveG24, Quik and Pragmatic Live! Enjoy incredible blackjack games like Power Blackjack, Atlantic City Blackjack, European Blackjack Gold and many others. 

If you want to take your gaming beyond blackjack, you can always try out classic table games like roulette, baccarat and poker — or try out video poker and live game shows if you really want to switch things up! On the flip side, we also have thousands of online slots that you can play, with all-new features, themes and gameplay. Don’t worry if you’ve never dabbled in other casino games before; the game rules can be accessed at any time and list everything you need to know. We also have other articles packed with useful tips on games like roulette, baccarat and poker.

Collect cards and test out your strategy at EnergyCasino. You’ll never have to worry about drowning in complex mechanics as, thanks to talented providers, online blackjack is easily accessible to players of any skill level. But this is only the beginning! 

The Best Blackjack Games

Whether you want to play blackjack online or with a live dealer, you will always have a fun time. Win or lose, blackjack offers great entertainment. With all these blackjack games to try, you might be a little confused about where to begin, but we’re here to help. Below is a list of our personal favourites to help get you started. If these don’t resonate with you, you can always head to our site to check out our other games. 

Infinite Blackjack

Infinite Blackjack is one of our many stellar live blackjack games, rolled out by Evolution. The game is played with eight decks — each deck has 52 cards — and has a low house edge. It includes a low-bet limit, perfect for players on a budget, and additional rules that add an extra fun spin on the classic game. The Six Card Charlie rule, for instance, gives players greater odds of winning a payout, even if the dealer has blackjack. The usual hit, stand and double down options are offered, but this live table goes a step further to offer four exciting side bets. The Any Pair, Hot 3, 21+3, and Bust It side bets are completely optional, but players might still win a payout even if they lost their initial bet. This is a live table and can only be played for real money. 

Free Bet Blackjack

Yet another fantastic Evolution release, Free Bet Blackjack, puts its own personal twist on the classic game. It is fairly similar to Infinite Blackjack, and many of the same standard rules apply, so players with a basic understanding of how the game is played should find no trouble picking up the gameplay. The game is played with eight decks — each deck has 52 cards — and the dealer stands on a soft 17. Players cannot surrender, but the Six Card Charlie rule is in effect to give players a better chance of winning a payout. The two major changes in the game include the Free Doubles and Free Splits rules, where players can essentially place bets for free — hence why it's called Free Bet Blackjack. This is a live table and can only be played for real money.

Power Blackjack

Power Blackjack also shares many similarities with Infinite Blackjack. It offers four optional side bets on top of standard gameplay, but there are a few changes in the rules players should be aware of. The nines and 10s are removed from each deck — the shoe contains 352 cards rather than 416. The dealer is also allowed to peek for blackjack when they receive a jack, queen, king or ace. Also, a different blackjack strategy is required rather than the basic one. This is a live table and can only be played for real money. 

Atlantic City Blackjack

Atlantic City Blackjack is an online casino game developed by Games global. It is an RNG-based game, and so there is no live dealer. The dealer stands on a soft 17 and is allowed to peek for blackjack. Both the ‘Surrender’ and ‘Insurance’ options are available as well, together with the table’s other rules, these features are quite beneficial as they help prevent unsuccessful splits or double downs. Since this is not a live table, players can try out the demo instead of risking real money. 

First Person Blackjack

One of Evolution’s spectacular titles, First Person Blackjack, takes RNG gaming to a whole new level. This game is as close to Live Casino blackjack as an RNG table can get. It features many of the usual blackjack bets as well as popular side bets like Perfect Pairs and 21+3. It is played with eight decks, with each deck containing 52 cards. Players can hit, stand, split and double down as usual and the dealer stands on all 17s. The ‘GO LIVE’ button is its most noteworthy feature as it takes players through an in-game portal to a live game. Although this is an RNG game, players can only play for real money.

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