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Online casino blackjack has become a favorite of online casino gamers here at Everygame Casino and most other online casinos. Online dealer blackjack has a very high return to player rate of about 99.5% assuming that the gamer uses the best strategy on every hand.
Gamers who made the effort to learn the best blackjack strategy have found that the study and the game play have helped them improve their performance on the job!
Blackjack is a Highly-nuanced Yet Simple Game
The basic rules of blackjack can easily be summarized in a single, short paragraph:
The player goes first after he and the dealer are dealt two cards. The player takes another card as many times as they want until they reach as close to 21 points as they can or go over 21 points. If the player goes over 21 points, they lose immediately.
Hidden beneath the surface are many nuances and strategic decisions players have to make. In addition, online casinos offer many variations of blackjack. Also hidden beneath the surface are the differences between online dealer poker and land-based dealer poker.
Let’s Look Below the Surface
The player has many strategic options in blackjack:
- The player can stand at any time.
- The player can split pairs.
- The player can double down.
- The player can buy insurance.
- The player can surrender.
The dealer has no strategic options at all. He or she has to follow the set guidelines for the game being played and the rules that are unique to that casino.
- The dealer always hits with 16 points or less.
- In most games the dealer stands with 17 or more points.
- I some games, the dealer hits with soft 17.
What Does All of this Mean?
One of the hidden meanings is that the most obvious strategy move by the player is not always the correct decision. By this we mean the decision the player has to make when they have 12 or more points.
A ten-point card will put them over 21 points and if that happens they lose automatically. So, some players always stand with 12 or more points.
However, there are many hands in which it is the best strategy to hit with 12 or more points. These are hands where the dealer is showing a 5 or 6. The combination of the chances that the player will NOT go over 21 and the dealer does bust makes hitting with 12 or 13 points and the dealer showing a 6 or a 5 points the best strategy decision.
Always Pay Attention to the Dealer’s Card
This is possibly the single most important aspect of blackjack strategy. Many players hit or stand based only on what they have rather than on what they have plus what the dealer has!
Blackjack Variations Add Flavor to the Game
Here are a few of the variations in blackjack that we offer here at Everygame Casino:
European Blackjack
This variation is very similar to standard blackjack. The key difference between European and American blackjack is that in European blackjack players can only double down on hand values of 9, 10, or 11. This is a benefit to the house as the player in American blackjack will double down with 18 points if the dealer is showing a 5 or a 6.
Spanish 21
In Spanish 21, all of the tens are taken out of the deck! This makes it harder for the player to get a blackjack. So, the game compensates by introducing various bonuses and favorable rules for players. Spanish 21 typically offers additional payouts for specific hands, such as a five-card hand totaling 21 or a 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 combination.
In addition, in Spanish 21, if a player gets 21 points at any time, he or she wins automatically.
Pontoon
Pontoon is considered the British version of blackjack. A blackjack wins automatically and there are extra payouts for a five-card or four-card hand that don’t go over 21. Finally, there is an extra payout for a hand that hits 20 points r less with five cards.
21 Face-Up
In this blackjack variation, the player sees both of the dealer’s cards. Obviously, a player might surrender with a high point count that the dealer will beat. There are several rule changes in 21 Face Up so learn the game well before playing it for real money.
Suit em Up
This version has many side bets. Players can double down only on 9-11 and the dealer stands with a soft 17.
Match Play 21
This variation has many extra payouts for specific hands. In addition, as in Spanish 21, the tens are taken out.
The Best Strategy for Online Blackjack
Blackjack strategy involves prudent use of the split and double down options. It is also best to play in a game that offers surrender as that is often the statistically best way to play the hand.
On the other hand, a large statistical analysis has shown that buying insurance is not a good play.
In Blackjack the Return to Player Rate is High
The win rate is about 99.5%. this is based on statistical analyses. If you play at an online casino, counting cards has no value since the cards are always “shuffled” between hands.
As a result, the only way to get close to 100% in winnings is to follow the best strategy. The best strategy changes from variation to variation based on how a player can split pairs, double down, use surrender, and so on.
Developing a solid strategy is essential to maximizing your chances of success in online blackjack. Although we offer many fun variations in blackjack, we also know that it takes time to master the best strategy for any one variation.
The Frustrating 12-Point Hand
There are standard blackjack strategy charts available on the internet. They all show that the player should stand with 12 points if the dealer is showing 4, 5, or 6 and to hit on any other dealer’s up card. This conclusion was reached by analysis of millions of blackjack hands!
Reading the Standard Blackjack Strategy Chart
Note that the player has different strategies if he or she has a hard hand (one with no ace) or a soft hand (one with an ace). In addition, the dealer’s card affects the strategy. Finally, there is a section on when to split pairs,
Doubling Down and Splitting
The high return to player rate assumes correct use of the split and doubling-down options. Many players are afraid to use these options. It is of utmost importance to learn to use them!
Blackjack Skills and Workplace Benefits
Learning to play blackjack well can cultivate valuable skills that extend beyond the casino. The strategic thinking, risk assessment, and decision-making skills developed through playing blackjack can translate to various professional settings.
Analytical thinking is at the heart of blackjack strategy. We need to rely not only on a computer’s analysis but on our own analysis of the hand. As we said above, players need to look at and absorb the statistical meaning of the dealer’s card.
Anyone who has played chess with a young player knows that often new chess players don’t analyze the entire board; they only analyze the part of the board where their attack is coming from. By developing an analytical mindset, a blackjack player can apply their analytical mind to problem-solving and critical thinking in the workplace, aiding in decision-making and strategic planning.
Risk Management
Successful blackjack players know how to manage risk and make calculated decisions. Risk management is a lot more valuable in the workplace, where sound risk assessment is an essential part of seizing opportunities.
Emotional Control
Blackjack players learn to stay emotionally composed. This is actually a more pronounced skill learned in poker where the term tilt refers to a player being out of control emotionally. maintain composure and make rational decisions, even in the face of unfavorable outcomes. There are more stressful moments at work so this learned skill has great value in the workplace.
Everygame Casino Stresses Fun
We hope this article has directed you to develop the skills that will help you in blackjack and at work.
Everygame has over 300 great games. Some, like blackjack and video poker, are skill-based games while others like slots and Banana Jones are there for players to relax and unwind by playing them. In fact, knowing how to relax and unwind is another skill that can help players in the workplace.
