One of the most classic casino games ever is Blackjack. Found at virtually every casino in the world, whether offline, or online, this popular card game has many variations that are played all over the world, including in India. But before you start playing, you should understand the mechanics of the game.

Blackjack Terms Every Player Should Know

Terms you will see used in a game of Blackjack include Hit, Stand, or Surrender, Natural 12, Push, Pair, Pat Hand, and Face Cards. Hit, Stand, and Surrender are the terms most commonly used. Once you receive your first two cards of the game, you have to decide what to do. If you ask for a hit you will gt another card. If you say stand it means you are happy with the cards you have and you don’t want another one. When you stand, you’ll have to reveal which cards you have. If you say surrender you are dropping out of that round of gameplay. This is typically done when you feel you are going to lose the hand.

A Natural 21 is any that includes both a Ten and an Ace card. If you hand includes an Ace, it is considered a soft hand. If it doesn’t include an Ace, it is considered a hard hand instead. In Blackjack, the Ace card either has a value of 11 or a value of one.

Push is the term used to refer to any hand in which there is no winner, making it a tie. In this case, if you also made a side bet you may or may not win it.

Having two identical cards in your hand is considered a pair. If the value of those cards adds up to between 17 and 21 it is referred to as a Pat Hand. Face Cards are simply the King, Queen, and Jack in the deck, all of which have a value of 10.

Types of Online Blackjack Games

Many online casinos give you the option of playing Live or Digital Blackjack. Live Blackjack puts you face to face with a dealer you can see and interact with, without having to travel to a land-based casino. In this version of the game you can choose to play one or several hands at a time. In addition, the dealing of the cards is always random, thanks to built in software that makes it impossible for anyone to cheat.

Digital Blackjack is simply the automated version of the game. While live games use a timer to keep things moving efficiently, you don’t have this limitation in digital games. Because you are only competing against the dealer and not other players, you can set your own pace. This is usually preferable for players who are new to Blackjack. It gives you a pressure free way to practice playing.

Blackjack Rules

Blackjack is based on the use of a standard deck that contains 52 cards. However, the majority of casinos shuffle together six packs, so that 312 cards are used for each game. While that many cards is never needed, it also ensures the game remains fair for everyone.

The game starts with a dealer handing one card to each player and keeping one card for him or herself. The first card everyone is dealt lays face up on the table. Then a second round of cards is dealt. Players’ cards are placed on the game table face up, but the dealer’s is placed on the game table face down.

Each player in the game then gets to make the decision between hitting or standing. If a player is dealt another card that puts the value of their hand over 21, they automatically lose that round. Whoever’s hand equals 21 or as close as possible, is paid out their winnings.

Common Blackjack Tips

Though Blackjack is thought of as an easy game, following some tips makes it even easier. Since the first card dealt to the dealer is face up, it pays to pay attention to their card. In general, if the card the dealer has is worth seven to 10 points, it is best to ask for another card. If that next card puts the value of your hand at 17 or higher, you are in a better position to win it.

Many players swear by using the splitting method. When you have a hand in which both cards are worth the same, you have the option of splitting them into two different hands. However, you can’t split a hand until you have already played one.

Other players swear by side bets. Any side bet made has to be done when the game starts. Not only can you place a side bet on a hand you have, you can place a side bet on the hands of your opponents too. The side bets most often placed are insurance and perfect pairs.

Where To Play Online Blackjack

Players in India have plenty of options for enjoying a game of online Blackjack. The game can be found at LeoVegas, 22 Bet, Betway Live, Genesis Casino, and Pure Casino, which exclusively accepts players from India.

Final Thoughts

Like everywhere else in the world, Blackjack is a popular game in India to play online. Whether you prefer automated or live dealer games, you can find a way to enjoy Blackjack. While it can be fun to play with real money there is something to be said for playing demo versions of the game for free. This is one of the biggest benefits of being able to access online Blackjack.

By following the rules and paying attention to the game, anyone can succeed at Blackjack. Thanks to advances in technology it is now possible to play Blackjack on almost any mobile device, making it more convenient than ever before. As a result, this game likely has a long future ahead of it.