Play The Best Blackjack Online Games

Popular since the 18th Century, Blackjack is a staple in every casino, whether it is a brick and mortar casino or an online platform. Thanks to modern technology, online casinos have made online Blackjack accessible for anyone. With its simple rules, and various betting limits to suit all pockets, everyone can play Blackjack online. In this article, we will go over some basic online Blackjack rules and we will provide you with a list of the best casinos who offer thrilling online Blackjack and Live Blackjack games.

What are the Best Blackjack Online Casinos in India?

Looking for the ideal casino to play online Blackjack? Then check out the below online casinos which come highly recommended for Indian players. They offer various games of Blackjack from RNG to Live games. Click on the links to claim your bonus and play the most exciting online Blackjack games!

What is Blackjack Online?

Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes first mentions this game in the 18th Century, where it was known as the game of ’21’. In France, a similar game was popular in the elegant saloons, until it was eventually spread by French colonists throughout North America. In 1931, the Nevada casino came up with a special payout to attract more players to sit at the tables of the game of 21. Anyone, who achieved 21 through an Ace and a Blackjack received ten times their bets, thus giving it the name of Blackjack.

It has since achieved incredible popularity and there is no land-based casino who does not offer at least a handful of tables of Blackjack. With the rise of online casinos, Blackjack was adapted for the virtual world with most casinos offering multiple online Blackjack games which vary from Virtual (RNG) Blackjack to Live Blackjack. The rules of the games are the same as are the odds and the payouts, enabling Indian players to enjoy this much-loved games either from their desktop or smartphone. 

Difference between Live Blackjack and RNG (Virtual) blackjack

Virtual Blackjack is a computerized version of the game. Designed similarly to other computer card games, the game is linked to a Random Number Generator (RNG) computer which has been programmed with the rules and odds of Blackjack. Through animation, players can still see the cards being dealt but there is no croupier managing the table and each player sits at the game on his own. Virtual Blackjack comes with two different modes: play for real money mode and play for fun. The latter is a demo version that allows players to play with fake money. The former is the real deal and players must place real money bets to play. 

Live Blackjack is the opposite of virtual Blackjack. Live Blackjack is the real deal but experienced online. Just like in a real brick and mortar casino there is a Blackjack table and a live dealer which deals the cards. The table is set in a specially designed studio that resembles an actual casino in everything. Cameras are set up in front of each table with the purpose of live streaming everything to each player’s home in high definition. The rules of the game are the same unless a different variant is played. Live Blackjack tables come with different betting limits offering something to all kinds of players regardless of their budget. 

Virtual Blackjack Online Games

Most online casinos offer numerous Blackjack games where the player plays against the computer. A number of varieties are usually also available like European Blackjack, Classic Blackjack, and Atlantic City Blackjack. 

Furthermore, as we have already mentioned, online casinos offer the possibility to play Blackjack online free. This is an excellent way for players to get familiar with the rules and practice some strategy techniques. 

Studio Live (Dealer) Blackjack Games 

This version of online Blackjack is perhaps the most innovative as it consists of live dealers in a real casino set up, streamed live in real-time. A player can place bets, choose which actions to take, chat with the live dealer, all of it in real-time. This type of Live Blackjack delivers a more authentic experience to the comforts of your home. What’s more, you can find many interesting and innovative versions of Blackjack like:

• Vegas Strip Blackjack
• Bet Behind Blackjack
• Blackjack Switch
• Progressive Blackjack
• Common Draw Blackjack
• Free Bet Blackjack

How does Online Blackjack work?

The preferred choice of many players, online Blackjack offers a modicum of control over chance. The purpose of the game is to get as close as possible to 21, and it affords certain decisions from the players that might change the outcome of the game.

Furthermore, it is very important for each player to keep in mind that playing Blackjack, means playing against the dealer.  It doesn’t really matter if there are 6 players at the table, each one is playing solely against the dealer.

The game is carried out with a standard deck of 52 cards being dealt one by one from a shoe that is manned by the dealer. Depending on which variant of online Blackjack you are playing, there could be up to 8 decks in use at once. 

Basic Blackjack Rules

Just like any other card game, online Blackjack comes with its very own rules. In this case, the rules are based on moves that the player needs to undertake for the next part of the game after the sorting of the cards. The value of the cards will determine your next move in the game; thus, it is essential to know what they count for:

• Cards 2 to 10 has their face value
• Ace can either have the value of 1 or 11, depends on what benefits the player.
• King, Queen and Joker, hold the value of 10

Apart from the value of the cards, it is also important to learn some of the basic terminology associated with Blackjack and which often describe the kind of action you can take: 

• Natural Blackjack - Getting a natural Blackjack means that you are the undisputed winner of the game. This can only happen if you get an Ace and any card with a value of 10. Any other combination of cards that adds up to 21, can only be the winner if no else has a natural Blackjack.
• Stand - The decision to stand should be based on what cards you have and what card the dealer has. If you think you might go over 21 then you stand. If you think you have a value closer to 21 then the dealer, you stand. Remember though that the dealer has revealed only one card and the other is still face down.
• Hit - To hit is to ask for another card in the hope of getting closer to 21. When a player gets over 21 we say he went ‘bust’, because he loses the game and his bet.
• Double Down - When dealt a good hand, where the player is sure he can beat the dealer, he has the possibility to place another bet of the same amount as the original bet.  This can be quite profitable if his calculations are correct.
• Split - Splitting your cards up is ideal if you’ve been dealt two cards of the same value. This would require you to place an additional bet in order to receive two more cards. Each one of your first cards will be the first card of these two last additions and you’d be playing with two separate sets.
• Surrender - When you surrender, you forfeit the game. A good option if you believe you have the worst hand then the dealer or you have a total of 16 and the dealer’s card has a value of 10 or is an Ace. When you surrender you don’t lose all of your bet, instead you get half of your wager back.
• Insurance - In online Blackjack, the insurance is an additional bet, placed independently from your first bet, on the belief that the dealer has a Blackjack. This kind of bet is usually placed if the dealer’s showing card is an Ace.
• Winning and Losing - In Blackjack, you win if your combination is closer to 21 then the dealers’. You lose if your combination is less than the dealers’ or you go Bust by getting a combination higher then 21.
• Push - Push is technically a tie between the dealer and the player because they have the same total.

H3: Rules for the Blackjack dealer

To play Blackjack online, it is best to understand the rules of the dealer. The house might have the advantage, however, all dealers have a set of rules that they must follow to the letter.

• If the total is 17 or more, the dealer stands
• If the total is 16 or less, the dealer must hit (take another card)
• If the dealer has an Ace and it would add up to 17, then he stands

Dealer rules are predictable; thus, a good strategist might want to take them into account when choosing his gameplay.

The number of Decks and the House Edge (advantage)

The variant of online Blackjack you choose to play will determine how many decks of cards are used in the game. Most online Blackjack games are played with 8 decks simultaneously, although you can find variants that use fewer decks and even some which use a single deck. 

The number of decks in use influences the house edge. A game with a single deck has a lower house edge than one with eight decks as we shall see down below. 

Types of Bets and Odds

If you search online you will find many charts that delineate the kind of action to take appropriately. Thus below we have included our own chart which clearly shows what kind of action is recommended depending on the cards you’ve been dealt. The below chart can be consulted when playing online Blackjack games that use up to 8 decks of cards and follow the normal Blackjack rules.

 

What is Blackjack Strategy?

When it comes to playing Blackjack online, it is important to have at least some basic strategy. If you search online, you will find hundreds of websites and strategy charts which you can print and take with you to the casino. These charts were based on computer simulations which explored millions of hand combinations. The results enabled players to make the right moves depending on the hand they got, maintaining the favour on their side. There are of course other rules that determine Blackjack action, however, we shall leave those for our article about how to play Blackjack. 

Blackjack Side Bets

Blackjack side bets are offered by various providers and they create additional excitement in the game. Side bets are separate wagers that have nothing to do with the main bets and take place during those few seconds before each round. There are various types of Blackjack side bets and each one is made for a particular reason. The Insurance is a type of side bet as we explained further up in this guide and it is placed when it is believed that the dealer has a Blackjack

Another type of side bet is known as the 21+3. Adopted from Poker this side bet is a wager over a number of scenarios: Suited Trips (3 cards bearing an identical triplet), Straight Flush (cards bearing the numeric sequence of the same suit), Three of a Kind (different suit, same value cards), Straight (numeric sequence but different suit), and Flush (cards are all from the same suit). 

Card Counting in Blackjack Online

Card counting is a technique applied by the most experienced of Blackjack players. This technique involves counting the cards that are being dealt both to the players and the dealer in an attempt to know when the advantage shifts in their favour. This technique gives them a positive advantage over the house because now they can increase their bet if it is in their favour, or else make a smaller bet or no bet at all if they recognize that they are at a disadvantage. 

Card counting is not a difficult technique to learn, however, it requires practice before it can be used effectively. Card counting starts with the mathematical proof that high-value cards benefit the player more than the dealer. We know that once the cards are shuffled there is an equal number of high and low cards. However, this will change the moment the cards are dealt. This is where card counting is applied. Let us make a few examples: 

• Let us say that more low-value cards have been dealt at the beginning of the game. This means that the higher-value ones are still in the deck and the player has a higher probability of getting one of these next time. This also means that the player stands a better chance of getting a 21. With the probability in his favour, he would increase the next bet. 
• If the scenario is different and more high-value cards have been dealt during the first round than the player is at a disadvantage and the dealer has all the advantage. It is worth remembering that the dealer is forced to stand at 17, and thus fishing out a low-value card next time, might mean he will come close to 21 sooner, decreasing the chance of busting.  

At this point, we have to mention that casinos often forbid card counting at their premises and might even blacklist players who are caught in the act. Furthermore, it is very difficult to use card counting when playing online especially when playing virtual Blackjack, which is totally based on a computer algorithm. 

Why play Blackjack Online from India?

Playing online Blackjack as opposed to visiting a land-based casino, comes with many advantages. For one, playing online Blackjack means there are more Blackjack options to choose from than at a physical casino. You can play classic versions of the game or else go for a variant that incorporates an exciting twist in the gameplay. 

Furthermore, providers, both for virtual Blackjack and Live Blackjack, offer multiple tables with different betting options. Players on a budget could sit at a table that offered an affordable betting range, while high-rollers could join a VIP Blackjack table that accepts only large bets. 

But these are only a few of the advantages that come with playing online Blackjack. Below we are going to go into further detail about some of the benefits that come with playing online Blackjack.

Play from your home

Playing online Blackjack is not only flexible but also convenient. Now there is no need to travel hundreds of miles for a few rounds of Blackjack, instead, you can settle comfortably anywhere you might be, log into your account and start playing your favourite Blackjack game, regardless what time it is. 

Play on multiple seats at the same time

This is certainly something that you do only when playing online! While playing at your favourite casinos you can join multiple Blackjack tables all at once. They don’t necessarily have to be of the same variant, but you can choose different Blackjack games depending what you feel like. 

Receive Blackjack Online bonuses from India 

Since Blackjack is such a popular game, online casinos often include it in their promotions. Thus, let’s take a look at what the best casinos have to offer for online Blackjack players;

Royal Panda Lucky 21

Since Blackjack is known as the game of ‘21’, Royal Panda casino is holding a special promotion on the 21st of every month. Play Live Blackjack or Live Blackjack VIP, and if you get a Blackjack you enter a random draw with the chance to win one of three prizes of £210 each in cash. So, what are you waiting for? Mark it on your calendar for the next 21st of the month.

---

---

Access to live casino promotions

Live Casino games have become increasingly popular, especially amongst Indian players. That is why these days, online casinos India offer a Live Casino bonus, both as a welcome offer and as a regular promotion for Live Casino enthusiasts. These bonuses are a great way for Live Blackjack players to play their favourite game for free while still having the opportunity to win real money. 

---

---

---

Variants of Online Blackjack

As we said at the beginning of this article Blackjack is a staple of casinos, thus it is one of the most in-demand games amongst the online casinos, who have made it their business to come up with variety and options for their players. Below are some of the Blackjack variants you can enjoy while playing with an online casino 

Classic Blackjack

Classic Blackjack is the original version fo the game and it is also known simply as Blackjack. There is no land-based or online casino that does not offer Classic Blackjack. The rules of the game are fairly simple and as long as you have an idea of the basic rules, you can join and have fun.

Spanish 21

Spanish 21 or as it is also known Spanish Blackjack, saw its origins in the mid-1900s, although some argue that a similar version of this variant was played as far back as the 15th century. The game is played with standard decks of cards but with all 10 value cards removed. The concept of classic Blackjack applies and the cards still hold the same value. However, there are some minor differences in the rules that might vary from casino to casino. 

Blackjack Switch 

As the name suggests this Blackjack variant allows to switch cards if you are dealt a weak hand. In Blackjack Switch, players are dealt two hands instead of one. After you’ve had time to review the hands you have, you can swap the second card of each hand. To be able to do this you have to place two bets, one for each hand. 

Infinite Blackjack

Infinite Blackjack is one of those Blackjack variants with a twist. One thing that sets it apart from other Blackjack variants, is the unlimited number of seats attached to this table. Moreover, each player receives the same exact cards and it is up to each and every individual player to react to their cards and make the next move.

Free Bet Blackjack 

Free Bet Blackjack is perhaps one of the most recent versions of Blackjack. Invented by the same person who gave us Infinite Blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack requires players to only place the initial bet. There is no need to place additional bets to split or double down, as these are actions that can be undertaken for free. 

Is Online Blackjack legal in India?

The legality of gambling in India is a slightly complicated matter as most of the country deems this activity as illegal, with the exception of Goa and Sikkim. On the other hand, current legislation does not cater to online gambling at all, leaving players free to join an online casino operating offshore. Players are, thus, free to play online Blackjack and the many variants. 

Are Blackjack Online games rigged?

Virtual Blackjack games are linked to an RNG computer which determines the result of the game without human interference. It is still important, however, to choose a casino with a license, which features games by well-known providers whose reputation have been built on the authenticity and fairness of their games. Furthermore, the best game providers would also have achieved a license from a gambling jurisdiction, which would regulate them on a regular basis. The providers themselves ensure that their RNG computers are always functioning appropriately and might even hire auditing companies for independent evaluation. 

With regards to Live Blackjack, it is very difficult for the dealer to rig the game, especially since a number of cameras film every little movement with players watching attentively as the game progresses. It is always advisable to play with operators who are not only licensed but have an excellent reputation in a number of markets. 

Play free Blackjack Online from India!

Playing with an online casino also means that you can play free online Blackjack. Most virtual Blackjack games offer players the opportunity to play either for real money or for fun. The play for fun mode is a demo that enables players to play with fake money. This is a great option for beginners who are still getting used to the game and are still testing their strategies.

Regretfully, the same thing cannot be done for Live Blackjack. Live dealer games require an actual person to man the table and given the limited resources, including a demo option is not possible. However, players who prefer Live Blackjack can find tables that require only a very small bet to join making it possible to enjoy this popular game without breaking the bank.

---

---

---

---