Online Blackjack

Online blackjack is another game that has become popular as more players discover Internet casinos. The rules of online blackjack are essentially the same as the game played in live casinos. However, there are a few things to think about when you pick an online blackjack game.

Online Blackjack Basics
Online blackjack is a game in which players draw cards to try to get a hand that is as close to a total count of 21, without going over. Players pit their cards against those of the online blackjack dealer and the player with the best hand wins.

Each player puts down a bet and receives two cards. A hand on the initial deal with an Ace and any Ten (King, Queen, Jack or Ten) is known as a Blackjack. If the player has less than 21, he can "hit" the hand, asking for more cards to try to get more points. However, if the card point total exceeds 21, it is known as a "bust." A busted hand automatically loses.

Once the player stops taking cards or "holds" and all of the players have had a chance to draw or hold, the dealer follows the rules to hold or draw. In most casinos, the dealer must draw additional cards if he has a sixteen or lower and hold if he has a seventeen or lower.

Online Blackjack Rules Variations
Just like when you play in a brick and mortar casino, there are some variations when you play online blackjack. For example, some casinos require the dealer to hit a "soft seventeen" -- which is another name for an Ace and Six. This is advantageous to the player. Other casinos allow players to "surrender" in online blackjack; a surrender allows a player with a bad hand to give up half of his bet and not complete the hand.