How to Play Blackjack Online

Fed up of asking the question ‘where can I play blackjack online?’ Stop looking and join the Clubhouse. Choose from a host of video and live blackjack tables powered by some of the biggest names in online casino software.

Blackjack, also known as ‘21’, is one of the most iconic casino table games on the planet. It’s also one of the easiest to get the hang of. Just build a hand that’s worth more than the dealer’s, without going over 21!

It’s true that the origins of the 21 blackjack game are still unclear. The most widely held view is that the game came to light in the land-based casinos of France in the early 18th century, due to its inclusion in a novel by Cervantes called Don Quixote.

Although the target of reaching 21 might seem straightforward, there are many hints and tips to consider before you get started and play for real money at The Clubhouse Casino.

First, you’ll need to decide how much you want to stake per hand. We clearly display the minimum and maximum bets allowed at all our Clubhouse blackjack tables. You’ll then be dealt your first two cards and the dealer’s upcard will be visible.

It’s at this point that you must decide to either hit, stand, double down, split or surrender:

• Hit
  
  Hitting your hand means the dealer will give you one additional card to try and improve the value of your hand.
   
• Stand
  
  If you stand your hand, it means you are happy with its value and you don’t want to risk busting by taking another card from the deck.
   
• Double down
  
  If you think one high-value card could make your hand a winner, you may decide to make a blackjack double down. This involves doubling your initial stake for one additional card only, with no option to hit for a fourth card.
   
• Split
  
  If you are dealt two cards of the same value, you can choose to split them into two separate hands. This requires doubling your overall stake by splitting it across two hands. You’ll then be dealt one additional card for each hand before you can choose to hit, stand, double down or surrender.
   
• Surrender
  
  A surrender is an option offered on select blackjack online tables. It’s usually offered in games with the smallest house edge. Surrender allows you to quit your hand after the initial deal if you believe there’s no way the hand will beat the dealer’s, based on their initial upcard. You’ll receive half of your initial stake back at this point.

It’s also important to understand what you’ll win if your hand does beat the dealer’s. Regular wins without a blackjack are paid at even money. If you bet €5, you’ll win €5, plus your stake.

If you win with a blackjack, an ace and a face card, you’ll either be paid at 3:2 or 6:5, depending on your table. If you bet €5, you’ll win either €6.50 or €6 respectively.

There’s also the small matter of insurance. This is something that every table offers. You can choose to take insurance if the dealer’s upcard is an ace, which generally increases their chances of having a blackjack themselves.

If the dealer does have a second card worth ten, your insurance bet will be paid out at odds of 2:1.

When you play at a blackjack online casino, the rules will allow the dealer to either hit or stand on ‘soft 17’. Soft 17 is ‘soft’ because it has an ace in it e.g. ace and 6. An ace can either be worth one or 11. If the dealer can hit on soft 17, they can take a free card risk-free, as their hand will be worth seven at this stage.

If they must stand on soft 17, it can only be worth blackjack 17. Be sure to check the rules of the table on this before you play, as the latter option gives a slight advantage to the player.

If you believe this game can help you make money blackjack is still a game with a thin house edge, giving casinos a small margin on every hand played.

What is Online Blackjack?

If you’re wondering what makes a blackjack online game, there are two ways to enjoy blackjack online at casinos like Clubhouse Casino.

First, you can choose to play our conventional online blackjack games. These look and play like video games and replicate the look and feel of a blackjack table in virtual format. The games are played heads-up against the virtual dealer, powered by a random number generator (RNG). It’s possible there will be demo versions of our tables that allow you to play a blackjack online game no money needed up front, with play money used instead.

All of the results of a standard video blackjack game are determined by the RNG, ensuring fair play at all times. It’s the quickest form of the online blackjack game as you don’t have to sit and wait for other human players at the table to act.

Any online casino worth their salt will also provide live dealer blackjack games, broadcast in real-time to any device. These live blackjack tables are streamed from professional casino studios, with each game managed by professionally trained dealers.

It’s the most authentic casino floor-style blackjack experience and the most sociable option too. There’s a live chat facility that allows you to chat and have fun with the dealer and the other players at your table. In live dealer blackjack, the cards are real, not virtual. They are dealt to you on-screen and the betting options will be overlaid on screen when it’s your time to act.

Best Types of Blackjack Games

If you want to know the best online blackjack tables to sample at The Clubhouse Casino, we’ve put together a brief rundown of what to expect from each game type to help you determine the best blackjack game to play:

Speed Blackjack

The perfect option if you’re short on time, Speed Blackjack gives you a fast-paced, high-octane version of blackjack online. Played with dealers in real-time, this live casino variant limits the time you have to make in-game betting decisions.

Compared to a standard game of live blackjack, it’s between 30%-40% faster. It gives you greater control over the action and there’s much less time to wait between hands.

That’s because Speed Blackjack simultaneously offers all active players their in-game betting options, allowing you to select your decisions in advance of the action being on you.

Infinite Blackjack

The live casino at The Clubhouse Casino is popular 24/7. That’s why we’ve partnered with Evolution to offer Infinite Blackjack tables that support an unlimited number of active players at the table.

How does that work? Essentially, all active players will receive the same initial two cards. From there on in, you’ll have the option to hit, stand, double down, split and surrender, just like you would with other live blackjack games.

Aside from the fact that you’re always guaranteed a seat at an Infinite Blackjack table, there are low minimum bets, which make it a great option for casual players and novices. Dealers must also stand on soft 17, which hands another small advantage in your favour.

Power Blackjack

If you’re looking to switch up your blackjack online game sessions, the best blackjack game to play could well be Power Blackjack. The biggest change to the game dynamics of Power Blackjack is that all cards with a face value of nine and ten are removed from the deck.

It also revamps the betting process, allowing you to increase your initial wager two, three or even four-fold depending on the value of your initial two cards.

The dealer is requested to stand on all 17s, both hard and soft, which is good news. A blackjack jackpot also pays out at 3:2 instead of 6:5, giving you full value for a perfect hand.

Free Bet Blackjack

Free Bet Blackjack is a quirky and entertaining twist on standard blackjack. It’s played using the same live dealer software as Infinite Blackjack, which means there’s no limit to the number of active players at the table.

The main feature in this game is the option of free bets on splits and double downs. Whenever your hand is worth nine, ten or 11, you’ll be given a free double down. You can also split all pairs for free except tens. All of which give you a risk-free shot at some more payouts.

Side bets like 21+3 and Any Pair also help to keep things interesting and add a different dimension to your blackjack gameplay.

Where to Play Blackjack Online

If you’re looking for the best blackjack Ireland-friendly site or beyond, Clubhouse Casino has got you covered. We’ve got many of the best variants under one roof that allow you to play blackjack online via your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet to your heart’s content.

You can play our RNG-powered tables that give you the best online blackjack for money, an instant-play experience. If you’d rather feel the atmosphere of the casino floor, head over to the Clubhouse live dealer casino where you can play blackjack online in real-time.

Our HD-quality streams give you a great view of the action and you can chat with the dealer and the other players at your table at your leisure. If you enjoy blackjack poker online tables can also be found at Clubhouse Casino, giving you more classic card games to savour on any device.