The Top 7 Online Blackjack Sites in India (2021)

What Are the Rules of Blackjack?

As far as casino card games go, online blackjack may very well be the easiest to play. There are no complex hands to remember like poker, and the dealer will always tell you what your score is. Several players can take part at the same time, with everyone aiming to beat the dealer instead of playing against each other.

The card values are as depicted, (e.g. 3 is 3 and 6 is 6) while face cards are worth 10, and the Ace is worth both 11 or 1 depending on your hand. For example, if you have an 8 and an Ace, you would have a hand of 19. But if you had a 10, a 5, and an Ace, the ace would be worth 1 for a total score of 16, rather than going bust with 26.

Below are the rules of blackjack summed up:

• The goal is to beat the dealer’s hand without scoring more than 21.
• Each player is dealt two cards to begin the round. The dealer is almost dealt two cards, but one is kept hidden until the end of the round.
• Each player is then given an opportunity to end their turn or increase their score. A player will Hit to receive a card and Stand in order to stick to their current score.
• If your score is higher than 21, you will go bust, and lose the round no matter the dealer's outcome.
• If you are dealt 21 from the start (Ace and 10), you receive a blackjack. A blackjack is an instant win, unless the dealer is also initially dealt a blackjack. In this case, the player receives a push, and their bet is returned to them.
• A blackjack is typically a higher payout then a regular win. The common payout is 1.5x the bet.
• The dealer must always hit until their score totals 17 or higher. They cannot hit past 17.
• You can choose to Double Down once in the game. This means Hit, but also increases your bet by 100%.
• If you are dealt two of the same cards, you can split the pair into two different hands. This also doubles the bet, as you now have two hands.
• You won't be able to play after splitting aces.
• You can actually double down on a hand resulting from a split.

There is a special scenario that can occur in blackjack.

• If the dealer's up card (non-hidden card during initial deal) is an Ace, then the banker will offer insurance. This is a type of side-bet aimed to insure the player against the dealer having a blackjack. Insurance is typically paid out at 2/1, and the maximum side-bet is typically half of the player’s initial bet.
• If the dealer has blackjack, then the insurance pays out. Otherwise, the game continues as normal and the bank takes the insurance side-bet.
• If both the dealer and player have a blackjack, then the player receives a push.

Blackjack Basic Strategy – How to Win at Blackjack

Now that you know how to play blackjack, it is time to learn some strategy! Like any online casino game, there is no way to win every time; however, there are some tactics players can follow to increase their odds of winning more often. There is a myriad of advanced strategies available online, but we’ve hand-picked some tried and tested ones below to help you learn how to win blackjack.

• Hit and Stand – Basic strategy would dictate that you should always stand on 17 – 20 and hit up to 16.
• When to Double Down – There are hands where doubling down has a better chance of a payout and you won’t go bust. The best time is when another card won’t bust you and the dealer risks going over 21, because they must hit until 17.
• Always Split 8s and Aces – Regardless of what the dealer holds, it is always a great idea to split a pair of 8s or Aces. Splitting Aces has the potential for massive gains, while splitting 8s can lead to winning more money.
• Never Split 10s – You’re more likely to see more wins keeping the 10s as a 20 than you are splitting them.
• Never Play Insurance – We’re keeping it real with this tip. Basically, the payout is actually less than the odds that the dealer has a blackjack.