Free Online Blackjack Games

Short History of Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular online casino games today, however, its origins are still unknown. Most researchers believe that casino blackjack originated in France somewhere around 1700. The theory is sustained by the French card game called “Vingt-et-Un” which means “twenty-one”.

There is even a theory that blackjack was actually invented in Ancient Rome. The true part is that Romans loved to gamble, but there is no actual solid evidence that ties any casino game to that era or location. 

In the early 1800s, the game was introduced to the United States and the myth says that many gambling houses offered bonuses to attract players during the harsh first World War days. 

The bonus was offered to the player if his hand consisted of an Ace of Spades and a Black Jack (Jack of Spades or Jack of Clubs). This hand was called a “blackjack” and the name stuck to the game forever.

Recently,  the French card historian, Thierry Depaulis did some research on the matter and found out that the actual name of Blackjack was first given to the game by gold prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush. 

The bonus part of the myth was real, however, it was offered for a hand consisting of an Ace and any 10-point card. Thierry Depaulis claims that “blackjack” also refers to the zincblende mineral and has no connection with the Jack of Spades or Jack of Clubs. 

Online Blackjack VS Live Blackjack

The evolution of the internet brought a lot of changes to the gambling world and casino games like blackjack also had to evolve over time. While some changes are good, there are still some players that may disagree since, of course, not everyone has the same tastes.

For a new player, there is often confusion between online blackjack and live blackjack. While technically they are the same game and they are played by the same rules, there are some major differences. 

Live blackjack is perfect for gamblers who prefer the real casino experience when playing blackjack. Basically, you join a live dealer casino with a real dealer and other real players. 

The game is broadcast through state of the art webcams and sound capturing devices to provide an incredibly realistic experience. Here, you can chat with other players and enjoy slow-paced gameplay just like you would in a land-based casino.

Online blackjack resembles online poker and slot machines a lot. Instead of playing versus a live dealer, an algorithm will deal the cards and results through an RNG (Random Number Generator). 

There are no real players to interact with as it is just you versus the program. The RNG of these games is periodically tested for fairness by independent auditing companies, so you don’t have to worry.

Online blackjack has fast-paced gameplay and it’s more suited for those who are looking for a quick and simple gambling session or for introverted players who want to avoid unnecessary interaction. 

How to Play Casino Blackjack

Blackjack is not the easiest game to learn out there, however, with a little practice and some solid knowledge any player can eventually master it. 

For online casino blackjack, the standard 52-card pack is used, but there are some variations of the game that can include multiple decks. The ultimate goal is to draw cards that total 21 or as close as possible without going over.

After the bets are pleased, the dealer will deal one card face up, for each gambler at the table, including himself. Another card will be dealt to each player face up, except the dealer’s which will be face down. In some games where only one deck is used, players receive their cards faced down.

The game starts with the person at the left of the dealer. To play your hand, you will need to add the value of the cards. Number cards count as their natural value; the jack, queen, and king count as 10, while aces are valued as either 1 or 11 according to the player's choice. The hand’s value must not exceed 21 points because all bets on it will be immediately forfeited. 

If the player gets a 10 value card and an Ace as the first hand, the combination is considered Blackjack and called a “natural”. In this case, If the player has a natural and the dealer does not, the player automatically gets x1,5 the wager’s value. 

If the dealer also has a natural, he will automatically collect the bet from all players at the table who do not have 21 points but do not go over. If the dealer and a gambler have naturals, it’s a stand-off or a “tie” and the gambler can take back his wager. 

Naturals don’t occur very often so if you don’t have a natural and the dealer doesn’t have a natural, the game will continue with each player in succession and wait for their decision.

When it comes to your turn, you can do one of the following:

• Stand - If you believe that your first two cards are acceptable, you can maintain your position and signal the dealer to move to the next player.

• Hit - If you would like to potentially improve your hand, the dealer will give you more cards until you either “bust” (if you go over 21), or you decide to stand.

• Double Down - If you consider that you’ve got a good hand but you need to get an additional card, you can double the initial bet and the dealer will give you another card.

• Split - If you’ve got a pair (two cards of equal value), you can put a second bet and the dealer will split your hand and give you two new cards.

• Surrender - If the odds aren’t looking bright, you can choose to surrender and lose half of your wager.

How to Win at Blackjack

Let’s face it, we’ve all been here at some point or another, asking ourselves if there is any sure way to win at a casino game. The internet nowadays is full of advice and guaranteed strategies but they are mostly fake. 

Blackjack is a popular game since it involves both skill and luck. Strategy can somehow influence the outcome, but, at the end of the day, it has a luck-based side which you can not control.

Below, you can find the best actions according to your hand: 

Surrender 

• You can surrender if your hand is 16 but not if you have a pair of 8 or 15, if the dealer has 9,10 or A 

• Surrender on 15, a pair of 8 and 17 if the dealer has A

Split

• Split A and 8

• Don’t split 5 and 10

• Split 2 and 3 if the dealer has 4 or 7

• Split 4 only if the dealer has 5 or 6

• Split 7 if the dealer has 2-7

• Split 9 if the dealer has either 2-6 or 8-9

Double

• Double 9 if the dealer has 3-6

• Double 10 except if the dealer has 10 or A

• Double 11 except if the dealer has A

• Double 13 or 14 if the dealer has 5-6

• Double 15 or 16 is the dealer has 4-6

• Double 18 or 18 if the dealer has 3-6

Hit or Stand

• Hit hard 11 or less

• Stand on 12 if the dealer has 4-6, otherwise always hit

• Stand on 13-16 if the dealer has 2-6, otherwise hit

• Stand on 17 or more

• Hit 17 or less

• Stand on 18, except hit if the dealer has 9, 10 or A

• Stand on 19

This may seem like a lot of information for a new player and these are only a few of the rules. According to which version of blackjack you are playing, there could be more or fewer rules. 

Where to Play Free Online Blackjack Games

As you’ve read above, blackjack casino games can be fun but they are quite complex. It’s always a great idea to play a free blackjack game online before investing actual money in it. 

The only problem here is that online casinos will usually only offer players the ability to play online blackjack free during a sort of a promotion or bonus.

Luckily for you, we have plenty of free online blackjack games from various software providers which you can try out. Play free blackjack online no download required in demo mode for as long you like and test any of our strategies until you find the best one for you.

Where to Play Casino Blackjack Games for Real Money

If you don’t want to play blackjack free online for fun anymore and you feel confident enough, you can move on to the next step and try blackjack casino games for real money.

You can register an account with any blackjack online casinos on our list. All these gambling websites are deemed as the best blackjack casinos by other real players. It’s very important to only play at trustworthy casinos. You can also rate these casinos to help other gamblers find a safe place to play.

It’s understandable that not every single casino on this list will fit everybody’s tastes or needs, but if you want to check out which one has been among the favourites, you can always use the “Top-Rated” option in the filters. 

This is your moment to also look out for a blackjack bonus casino to start off on the right foot. Since newly established websites usually offer the best offers and promotions, you can always check our newest online casino page if you hope to claim a blackjack no deposit bonus. 

Final Words

Online casino blackjack is an amazing game that has been around for a couple of centuries. Even if the origins are quite unclear, blackjack continues to be one of the most popular casino games in the world.

What makes this game so enjoyable is the fact that it involves both a strategy and skill side, which you can influence, and a luck side where the gambling part comes in. 

It’s not quite a simple game, that’s why it is not as popular among beginners as other casino games like slots, however, for those that take the time to learn it, blackjack can be a truly amazing game.