Play Online Blackjack
People have been playing blackjack in some form or another since the early 17th Century in a variety of casino sites– and probably well before that. None other than Miguel de Cervantes (author of Don Quixote) is credited with the first written mention of this incredibly popular card game back in 1601-02, although that version was called veintiuna, the Spanish word for “twenty-one.” The name of the game changed to blackjack after it was imported to the US by French settlers.
Today, more people than ever are getting involved with this great classic game, now that you can play blackjack online for real money right here at Cafe Casino. Use this online free guide as a launching pad for all the different blackjack games we have at our casino; we’ll show you the rules of the game on how to play, and how you can use blackjack strategy to make all the right moves when you’re at the table.
Introduction to Blackjack
Blackjack is the most popular “banking” game of all the casino table games – meaning it’s you against the house. The basic standard 52-card deck is used, and often several decks are used at once. You win your bet by having a better hand than the Dealer at the casino table. Points are scored based on the value of the cards, and the general idea is to get a better hand than the Dealer at the casino table without going over 21 points.
At a brick-and-mortar live casino, you might find yourself at a casino table with several other players, all competing against the house. When you play blackjack games online at Cafe Casino, it’s just you versus the Dealer, using virtual online chips to place your bet before each play. The cards are “shuffled” automatically between hands and dealt at random. You’ll make your decisions for your next play by tapping or clicking on the button that represents your desired play – no need to learn any of the arcane hand signals that you might use at a live venue. You can even try online blackjack for free using the Practice Play mode at Cafe Casino.
Different Types of Online Blackjack Games
Most of the different online blackjack games you’ll find at Cafe Casino focus on the number of decks in the virtual shoe. For example, Classic Blackjack uses the six-deck shoe that’s most common when playing the game at US casinos. You can also play Classic Single Deck Blackjack and Classic Double Deck Blackjack, which use one deck and two decks respectively in these games.
These games are called “Classic” because they use the original online blackjack layout and design, featuring visual elements that will be familiar to live players. You can also play the “New” games of Blackjack, Single Deck Blackjack and Double Deck Blackjack, which feature a more streamlined look that newer players might prefer. There may be slight differences in the rules between the New and Classic games, so make sure to read these free rules carefully before playing online for real money.
In addition to these standard online blackjack games, you can play three other variants at Cafe Casino online that give the game play an extra twist:
This is closer to the original game of 21 that was played in Europe before settlers came to America. The main difference is the Dealer only gets a single card, face-up, before one gets one's two-card hand.
Blackjack is always more fun when one have a little action on the side. With Perfect Pairs, one gets paid out anytime you get dealt a pair – up to 25/1 if your two cards have the exact same suit as well as the same rank.
Getting dealt a 15, 16 or 17 isn’t the ideal way to start a hand of Blackjack. With Zappit Blackjack, you can hit the ZAP button and watch those hole cards get vaporized. Then you’ll get two fresh cards and a chance to start anew.
Online Blackjack for Real Money
If you enjoy our wide selection of online casino games, odds are your friends will too. Every time you refer someone new to Cafe Casino, you get rewarded with $100 in bonus cash. There’s no limit on the number of referrals either; keep ‘em coming and keep collecting. It’s that simple.
Of course, referred friends will be expected to deposit a minimum amount for you to be eligible for the $100 bonus money. It’s not very much though—as long as they’re depositing at least $20 USD, you’re in the clear and can expect to get paid 24 hours after the deposit.
To the delight of crypto bettors, USD is not the only currency we accept. Friends who deposit with Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash are especially revered in this promotion. On top of the $100 regular bonus, you get an extra $25 because we go the extra mile for Bitcoin players. Even if you’ve never personally gambled with Bitcoin yourself, you can still take advantage of this valuable Bitcoin version of the RAF promotion.
There’s no doubt that your friends will be thanking you when they sign up, as they’ll be eligible for our lucrative welcome bonuses. Two options are available for new players: the Super Play option (500% match bonus for up to $5,000) and No Max option (100% match bonus up to $1,000 with no max on cashout).
When you see that sweet bonus cash appear in your bankroll, it’s time to start working through the 35X playthrough requirement. Start spinning the reels, or facing off with the dealer—you can always consult our Wagering Contribution Chart to expediate the process. The extra time playing games could even propel you onto our weekly “Big Winners” page.
In our online casino, big winners achieve celebrity status. Our Big Winners page puts the spotlight on each weeks’ highest earners with a little blurb on the player (first name, initial for last name and home state) that says what game led to the big success. People want to know which games are paying top dollar, so that they can check them out next spin session and try to join the winners’ circle too.
Understanding the Casino’s Edge in Blackjack
Every banking game at the casino comes with a house edge attached, and blackjack is no exception. When you play online blackjack for real money, even if you make all the right decisions with your cards, you won’t make a profit in the long run – counting cards only works at the live casinos, and even then, you’ll be refused service if they catch you in the act. The house edge is how the casino gets paid for providing the games; this is why blackjack games should be played for entertainment purposes only, and not as a long-term investment of real money.
The great thing about blackjack is the low house edge compared to other casino games. By playing an optimal strategy, you can shrink that edge to as low as 0.17% for Single Deck Blackjack. The house edge goes up as you add more decks to the shoe, up to 0.64% for the six-deck game, but that’s still one of the lowest edges you’ll find at the casino – giving you the best value for your entertainment dollar.
Getting Started With Blackjack
Most people who play online blackjack for real money are already at least somewhat familiar with the game. But not everyone knows all the different moves you can make in the different blackjack games. Blackjack isn’t just about hitting until you get close to 21 and then standing; here’s the free list of plays you have in your arsenal:
- Hit: Draw another card. Play continues if you don’t bust.
- Stand: Keep what you have and end your turn.
- Double: Increase your original bet by 2X, draw exactly one more card, and end your turn.
- Split: When dealt two cards of the same value, treat each card as a separate hand; this also increases your original bet by 2X.
- Surrender: End the hand after the hole cards are dealt and forfeit half your original bet.
- Insurance: If the Dealer’s up-card is an Ace, place a side bet (paying out at 2:1) that the Dealer has a “natural” Blackjack hand, meaning their second card is a 10-value card.
- Note that the last two plays on this list aren’t always available for every single blackjack game you’ll encounter especially for real money. Once you’ve made all your decisions and your turn is over, provided you haven’t already gone bust, the Dealer will reveal his hidden card – if it’s a natural, he automatically wins, even if you have a non-natural 21. Otherwise, he will keep drawing until he has at least 17 points, then a winner will be declared. If you win, you get paid out at even-money unless you have a natural, which pays money out at 3/2. Ties are treated as a push, and your wager is returned.
All blackjack games have its own minor tweaks when it comes to the rules. The most important one to keep in mind is whether the Dealer has to hit or stand on soft 17. A “soft” hand in Blackjack is any hand that contains an 11-point Ace; in this case, soft 17 would be a hand like Ace-Six, or Ace-Four-Deuce. That’s opposed to a hard 17 which doesn’t contain an 11-point Ace, like Jack-Seven. Make sure to read the rules carefully before playing blackjack; use the free Practice Play mode at Cafe Casino to get acquainted with your game of choice until you’re ready to play online blackjack and to win real money.
Blackjack Is a Game of Skill
Although you can’t make a long-term profit playing online Blackjack, you can narrow the house edge to a minimum by making the right moves. This is where the skill of blackjack comes into play when considering the odds. Here are two general concepts to keep in mind when you’re at the tables:
Blackjack Hit/Stand Strategy
These are the two most common moves you’ll make when you play Blackjack. Your decision will depend on your two live cards and the Dealer’s up-card. For the most part, you’ll stand when you have 17 points or more, and you’ll hit if you have 8 points or fewer. You’ll also usually stand if you have 13-16 and the Dealer’s up-card is a Six or lower, which makes it more likely the Dealer will bust, since he’ll be forced to draw at least two cards so you can win.
Blackjack Pair Splitting Strategy
The best general rule: you’ll always split a pair of Aces when you play blackjack (even though you only get one more card in most variants). You’ll also split a pair of Eights, and you’ll never split a pair of Fours. Everything else will depend on the Dealer’s up-card and the rules of the blackjack game in question.
When you’re ready to build a full-on blackjack strategy that covers every situation you’ll encounter, you can find online blackjack calculators that will pump out the optimal strategy for the game you’re playing. You can print these charts out and use them when you play online, just like those blackjack strategy cards you can get at a brick-and-mortar live casino. Make sure the charts you use come from a reliable source, and make sure you have the right rules plugged in for the game you’re playing. Most importantly, don’t forget to check out all the useful free blackjack articles we have for you right here at Cafe Casino – your No. 1 stop for the best play in online blackjack.
Refer a Friend with Online Blackjack for Real Money
If you enjoy our wide selection of online casino games, odds are your friends will too. Every time you refer someone new to Cafe Casino, you get rewarded with $100 in bonus cash. There’s no limit on the number of referrals either; keep ‘em coming and keep collecting. It’s that simple.
Of course, referred friends will be expected to deposit a minimum amount for you to be eligible for the $100 bonus money. It’s not very much though—as long as they’re depositing at least $20 USD, you’re in the clear and can expect to get paid 24 hours after the deposit.
To the delight of crypto bettors, USD is not the only currency we accept. Friends who deposit with Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash are especially revered in this promotion. On top of the $100 regular bonus, you get an extra $25 because we go the extra mile for Bitcoin players. Even if you’ve never personally gambled with Bitcoin yourself, you can still take advantage of this valuable Bitcoin version of the RAF promotion.
There’s no doubt that your friends will be thanking you when they sign up, as they’ll be eligible for our lucrative welcome bonuses. Two options are available for new players: the Super Play option (500% match bonus for up to $5,000) and No Max option (100% match bonus up to $1,000 with no max on cashout).
Big Winners with Online Blackjack for Real Money
When you see that sweet bonus cash appear in your bankroll, it’s time to start working through the 35X playthrough requirement. Start spinning the reels, or facing off with the dealer—you can always consult our Wagering Contribution Chart to expediate the process. The extra time playing games could even propel you onto our weekly “Big Winners” page.
In our online casino, big winners achieve celebrity status. Our Big Winners page puts the spotlight on each weeks’ highest earners with a little blurb on the player (first name, initial for last name and home state) that says what game led to the big success. People want to know which games are paying top dollar, so that they can check them out next spin session and try to join the winners’ circle too.
