Online Blackjack Odds

For fans of table games in the United States, Blackjack needs no introduction. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer without going over 21. So if you are ready to race to 21, our experts at CasinoUSA are happy to share some of the basics, strategies, tips, tricks and more. If you are looking to play Online Blackjack for Real Money jump straight to our expert guide from here to find out which are the best US real money casinos.

• What Is The Best Online Blackjack For Money
• Best Online Blackjack Odds
• Wizard Of Odds Blackjack Card
• Blackjack Odds Sheet
• Blackjack Trainer Wizard Of Odds
• Online Blackjack Wizard Of Odds

Blackjack entices and excites millions of people all over the world as a staple at most casinos. It has also made a smooth transition into the world of blackjack online casinos, where playing blackjack online for real money becomes more popular by the day. Our guide to online blackjack. BLACKJACK ODDS: 12 AGAINST A DEALER 4. Another hand where your strategy is dependent upon the makeup of the cards is a starting total of 12 against a dealer's 4 upcard in games with S17.

For the most part, Blackjack is an exciting game with the potential to win big money. However, that's only if you play with a cool head and stick to the rules and basic strategies. If you want to learn how to play blackjack the first important thing is to understand the basics of the game.

Blackjack is easy and simple to understand. You need to learn when to place bets, strategies like card counting, when to increase bets, and much more. While a land based casino may seem a great place to take a shot at blackjack it is always prudent to begin your tryst with the game online or you can experience the same thing by playing at the live dealer online blackjack casinos.

There are some awesome sites where you can play online blackjack and will guide you to the very best.

Top US Blackjack Casinos

Online Blackjack Basics

Contents

• Online Blackjack Basics

Blackjack objective: to create a hand with a higher total than the dealer but not going beyond 21.

Players compare their hands with their dealer. In the beginning, each bet is placed in the betting box. Each player is dealt two cards face-up while the dealer receives one card face up. Once the players have drawn their cards the dealer's hand is completed.

Howcast

Blackjack card values:

Ace – 1 or 11

2-9 – Same value

Jack, Queen & King – 10

If you have a hand (Ace, 3), the value can be 4 or 14. If the next card drawn is a 5, you will have a hand of (Ace, 3, 5). In this case, the Ace takes on the value of 11 to make a total of 19. If you drew 8 instead of 5, the Ace will take the value of 1 or else the total would be 22 and you will lose the bet.

Blackjack rules are fairly similar throughout the globe, except for a few variations. The dealer's hand value is most important while the value of other player's hands does not matter. Showing your cards to the dealer or other players does not pose a problem especially in a shoe game where the cards are dealt face up.

Blackjack Dealer Rules

• The dealer deals in a clockwise direction starting with the player on his left.
• Each player receives two cards while the dealer flips one of his cards to reveal its value.
• Players' cards are dealt face down in hand held games while they are dealt face up in shoe games.
• Each player is allowed to pick up his or her initial cards with one hand while subsequent cards are to be left on the table.
• The player to the left of the dealer will indicate how he wants to play his hand after the cards are dealt.
• The dealer completes his hand after every other player finishes and then pays or collects the bets.

Another rule for the dealer is that he will have to Hit (draw cards) until the total value of his hand exceeds 17. The rule states that the ‘dealer stands on all 17s'. In the case of the dealer an Ace is counted as 11 unless the hand value exceeds 21.

Blackjack rules may vary where some may be good for a player and some not to his advantage. Some of the common variations include double downs after splitting pairs. It reduces the house advantage by around .13 percent.

Some casinos offer players the surrender option. An ‘early surrender' is when a player takes the option before the dealer looks under a ten while a ‘late surrender' is accomplished after the dealer peaks for blackjack. If you have a bad hand like a hard 15 or 16 against the dealer's up-card of Ace or 10, the surrender can be helpful.

Another important aspect in blackjack is to understand the dealer's role. When the dealer's total exceeds 21, every player with a total of 21 or less win or else the dealer's total points is compared with each player's total.

Understanding payouts is also essential. Other than blackjack that pays 3 to 2, winning bets are paid even money. In the event of a tie (push), you keep your original bet.

Blackjack Player options

As a player, you have the option to Surrender, Hit/Stand, Double Down, Split, and get Insurance.

• Surrender: If you feel that the odds are against you and you have a losing hand then you can quit or ‘Surrender'. It is wiser to lose half your original stake than all your money. This option is available only before you draw the third card, split or double.
• Hit/Stand: During the game you need to decide whether to draw (hit) another card or play with the two initial cards dealt (stand).
• Double Down: If you think you have great potential to win you can double your bet. If the dealer has an open card of 4 or 5 and you have a 4 and 7, the chances of winning are greater. This option can be used before the third card is drawn.
• Split pairs: Two initial cards with the same value can be split into two separate hands and played independently. There's more on splitting pairs in the tips section. There is usually no restriction on the number of times a player can split but some casinos may have specific rules so make sure to read the house rules before you begin.
• Insurance: The dealer offers ‘Insurance' to players when his open card is an Ace since the chances of the dealer getting a blackjack or ‘natural' is much higher. If you agree to such an offer you will need to place half your original bet. If the value of t he facedown card is not a 10-value card, your winning bet will be paid at 2:1 odds.

Online Blackjack Strategy

• Make sure to understand the house rules, which can vary.
• Stick to your budget and play safe by staking around 3 to 5% of your bankroll. This is a good way to protect your bankroll.
• When on a total of 17 avoid drawing any more cards until the dealer gets to or exceeds 17. Let the dealer draw, not you.
• Do not split if you have two cards with a face value of 10. This is because the dealer will find it hard to beat a total hand of 20. The going will be tough if you split and then land up with a 6 and 5.
• Don't split a pair of 5s. You could end up with a good hand if you have an 8 or higher. Split only if you have a pair of 8s otherwise you could be in a difficult spot with a total of 16. If you draw you will need a 5 or less to remain in the game.
• It may not be wise to split if the dealer has a 10 since the dealer will have to draw until he gets to 17 or close. If the dealer will need to draw again if he draws a 6 and also face the prospects of losing since any value over 5 will hand over the game to you with your pair of 8s.
• If you have two Aces then it may be prudent to split. You will make a blackjack if your next card is a 10. The dealer will have to match that. If the dealer pulls an ace you can buy insurance against the dealer making a blackjack.

Then again, there's much more to playing Blackjack. From side bets to house edge, Blackjack etiquette, Blackjack strategies, and everything in between, we promise to keep you posted so stick around at CasinoUSA.com and you will soon beat the dealer at his own game more frequently than you reckoned for.

Online Blackjack FAQ

Whether you already have some experience with Blackjack in traditional casinos or are making your first steps with online Blackjack, having a clear idea of the basics of the online version is important for a good gambling experience. With that in mind, here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Blackjack in online casinos.

Does Online Blackjack Really Offer the Best Returns?

Although there are some games that have a 0% house edge (in certain scenarios) theoretically Blackjack has one of the best odds in online casinos. However, this is not something set in stone, because your odds in Blackjack depend on your choices and the rules of the game. Some variations have better rules that can increase your advantage, while others don't. However, all games will be more rewarding if you have mastered basic strategy.

Is Online Blackjack Similar to Traditional Casino Blackjack?

In general, yes. Both online and Blackjack variations played at brick and mortar casinos follow the same rules and style of play, as well as offer similar odds. However, there are some online versions of Blackjack that offer extra bets, or have slightly different rules that what you can find in traditional casinos. That's why it's always good to check the table rules before you join in a game.

Is Basic Strategy Important?

Blackjack is not a game of random guesses and haphazard decisions. The whole point of you playing Blackjack is to win money, which can never be done by relying on hunches. The basic Blackjack strategy is a strategy created with the help of mathematical calculations that have produced moves which have the best returns in the long run. When you drift away from basic rules and strategy, you only increase the casino's advantage over you.

Can You Count Cards in Online Blackjack?

No, you can't. The cards you get at an online blackjack game are determined by a Random Number Generator whose sole purpose is to produce an entirely random outcome on every bet. The decks are also shuffled after every played hand, which makes card counting literally impossible. This is mainly due to the advantage online players can get with all the available software resources for Blackjack.

Is there a Successful System for Winning at Blackjack?

One of the first things that many beginner players become interested in is finding out whether there's a reliable system for winning money in Blackjack. If such a thing was possible, everybody would have already made a successful career out of playing Blackjack. The Martingale system is one popular choice, but this is just a misconception, as this system doesn't really work with Blackjack.

Can I Play Online Blackjack For Free?

Most online casinos will offer the same games as demo versions on their website. You can play these games to test drive them and learn the rules before you spend any money, often even without having to create an account. You can also use free chips offers or no-deposit bonuses, although you should read the terms to see whether they apply to blackjack games.

How Do I Know The Casino Doesn't Rig a Game?

If a casino holds a license, this means that the regulatory body that granted its license had inspected the casino's Random Number Generator, but also their listed game RTPs. Once given a license, the casino can risk losing it if they modify their outcomes in any way.

There are also third-party audit agencies like eCOGRA and TST that conduct their own inspections and award certificates. That's why it's always a good idea to check for watermarks from auditors and regulatory bodies.

How Many Decks are Used in Online Blackjack?

Just like in land-based casinos, online blackjack can be played with a various number of decks. The standard games come with six decks and up, while there are also a number of single-deck games to choose from. If you're a novice player, always make sure you use a strategy that's adapted to the number of decks you're playing with.

How Many Hands Can I Play?

There are both single-hand and multi-hand versions of online Blackjack. The multi-hand ones can go up to five hands per round but they will also be more expensive, since you'll be making a bet per each hand. However, this also means that you'll have better winnings.

What's a Progressive Blackjack Bet?

Just like progressive slots, some Blackjack versions come with a progressive jackpot which can be won by placing a side bet. The jackpot is accumulated by funds from all players and can be won in part or in total by receiving a specific card combination.

Odds are everywhere you look. Seriously. Odds are in a casino, your workplace, your day-to-day live and habits, your marriage and where in the world you live.

Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself:

• Odds of having twins (21st century) – 3 in 100 or 3%
• Odds of getting a divorce – 40 to 50%
• Odds of being stuck by lightning – 1 in 5,000 or 1 in 700,000 in any given year
• Odds of being audited by the IRS – .4% if you make less than $200,000 / year
• Odds of being dealt a blackjack – About 4.83%

Odds are just the likelihood that something will happen. As a blackjack player you deal with this all the time.

Lets look at a couple real examples to show you what I mean.

Here are the odds of you busting your hand, depending on what you were dealt:

• 21 – 100%
• 20 – 92%
• 19 – 85%
• 18 – 77%
• 17 – 69%
• 16 – 62%
• 15 – 58%
• 14 – 56%
• 13 – 39%
• 12 – 31%
• <11 – 0%

Odds of Being Dealt Specific Hands

Here are the probabilities for being dealt a specific hand:

• Blackjack – 4.8%
• Standing Hand (17-20) – 30%
• Decision Hand – (1-16) – 38.7%
• No Bust – 26.5%

Here are the odds for the final hands that the dealer will make:

• Natural 21 – 4.82%
• 21 (3+ cards) – 7.36%
• 20 – 17.58%
• 19 – 13.48%
• 18 – 13.81%
• 17 – 14.58%
• 16 – 28.36%

Dealer vs. Player Odds

Finally, here are the odds of the dealer busting based on their up card:

• 2 – 35.30%
• 3 – 37.56%
• 4 – 40.28%
• 5 – 42.89%
• 6 – 42.08%
• 7 – 25.99%
• 8 – 23.86%
• 9 – 23.34%
• J,Q,K – 21.43%
• A – 11.65%

Of these examples, this is the most useful. Notice what hands the dealer is most likely to bust with. The dealer will most often bust with 4, 5 or 6, followed by 2 and 3.

The odds above are static. There's nothing you can do to change them. However, you can find ways to improve your odds so that you lose fewer hands and less money. And the less money you lose, the more you can keep to play more blackjack.

What Is The Best Online Blackjack For Money

Here's what you can do to improve your odds in blackjack:

• Use basic blackjack strategy. Without basic strategy you're playing at an 8% disadvantage. With strategy, however, the odds increase significantly. You'll be playing at only .5 to 1.5% disadvantage.
• Find the best games. The rules make all the difference. For example, if you play a 6:5 blackjack game you're adding a 1.39% disadvantage. If the dealer hits soft 17 that's another .18%. However, it's possible to find games where the player is paid 3:2 for blackjacks and the dealer stands on soft 17. So find those games. Also be careful about which blackjack variation you play. The best games to play are blackjack, Spanish 21, Vegas Strip BJ and Blackjack Switch.
• Avoid side bets. Side bets look exciting, because for a nominal amount you could possibly win a huge jackpot — worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The problem is that the odds against winning can be anywhere from 2-40%.
• Avoid wives tales. There are a lot of bad strategies like never busting (never hit a 12+), mimicking the dealer and assume that the dealer has a 10 in the whole (with ace up). The problem with using any of these strategies is that they increase the house edge from 3 to 10 percent.

You can do other things, too, like count cards or read books (usually a mix of basic strategy, card counting and general how-to's for casino blackjack). However, you'll improve your odds at winning at blackjack just by following my suggestions above.

Understanding the Long Run – Sample Size and Variance

Best Online Blackjack Odds

I wanted to finish up this article with a brief explanation of odds, and how they work over the long run. You see, I think a lot of people will see the numbers above and get confused when they don't match their own stats. In other words, someone might go to the casino play 500 hands of blackjack, and wonder why they didn't get 24 natural blackjacks, or the other way around, why they got 42.

Wizard Of Odds Blackjack Card

The thing is, odds and statistics are all about the long run. Long run usually meaning sample size, or the total number of hands (or games) played.

What that means is that over a significant sample size, hundreds of thousands or even millions of hands, the number of times you'll receive a blackjack is about 4.82%. The more hands you play the truer this will become.

Blackjack Odds Sheet

The reason why odds don't match up in smaller sessions, say over 500 hands, is because of variance. There's a technical term and definition for variance, but I'll just give you my version; variance is the ups and downs you experience on your way to the long term (expected) results.

Blackjack Trainer Wizard Of Odds

Mike Caro, a poker player and author, puts it this way:

A measure of the spread of statistical distribution about its mean or centre.

That means in a short time frame, it's possible to experience more drastic odds. You might win or lose more than you're supposed to. It also explains why people can go into a casino, not use basic strategy and win 3x as much as what they walked in with. The cards ran in their favor — they experienced a positive streak of variance.

Online Blackjack Wizard Of Odds

So that's the gist of it. So the next time you walk into the casino and have a wild swing one way or another, you know that that's not normal, and that in the long run you'll be closer to break-even so long as you stick to basic strategy — the plan with the best odds.