How to Play Online Game – A Step-By-Step Guide

Blackjack is one of the most popular online casino games for many different reasons. It’s a game of chance that allows you to incorporate a bit of decision-making when trying to beat the dealer, and it’s one in which you call the shots concerning how to proceed once you receive your cards. This alone makes it an attractive choice for ambitious casino gamers. However, you need to master the rules of any game before you can try your hand at popular gaming titles at your chosen online casino

Getting Started with the Fundamentals

Before we run through how to play a hand of Blackjack at reputable casino sites, we need to cover the basics. To that end, in Blackjack, your main goal is to beat the dealer to 21 – without running over this total. And to kick things off, you will receive two cards from the dealer in most Blackjack variations.

Cards numbered two through 10 carry their printed values, while all face cards carry values of 10. As for the aces, these can be flexible, working as either a one or 11 in your pursuit of reaching a total of 21.

Playing Through Each Round

Let’s assume you’ve loaded up your favourite Blackjack game and you’re ready to jump in. It’s at this point that you can now run through the system of actually playing a hand of Blackjack – a process that we’ve detailed below:

Initial Wagering

Before the cards can be dealt, you must select a virtual chip size and place this chip at your virtual seat at the table (unless playing Blackjack in person). You must always meet the table minimum in order to play a hand, and assuming you stump up an acceptable wager size, you are now ready to take on the dealer! 

Card Distribution

After placing your wager, you’ll receive two visible cards while dealers get one face-up card plus one hidden underneath. This creates the foundational tension of Blackjack since you’re working with incomplete information about the strength of your opponent’s hand.

Evaluating Your Position

Total your cards immediately. Landing an Ace alongside any 10-value card creates a ‘natural blackjack’ – typically paying 3:2 on your original wager unless the dealer matches this result. But for all others, you’ll need to decide how to proceed based on what you think the dealer might have.

Decision Making Process

Several choices await based on your cards versus the dealer’s visible card:

• Hitting: Taking additional cards when your total seems insufficient

• Standing: Maintaining your current hand when satisfied with the total

• Doubling: Increasing your bet by 100% for exactly one final card

• Splitting: Converting identical cards into separate hands requiring additional bets
• Surrendering: Forfeiting half your stake to exit unfavourable situations

Dealer Resolution

Once you finish your hand, meaning you are satisfied with your total, the dealer then reveals their hidden card and plays from there. House rules mandate hitting totals of 16 or below while requiring stands on 17 or higher – in the vast majority of Blackjack versions! 

As for the outcome, you’ve won if your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, and/or if they go ‘bust’, meaning they’ve run over a total of 21.