When considering the staples of a casino, blackjack is likely one of the first names that comes to mind. Since its creation, this classical card game has been a favourite amongst players; therefore, it should come as no surprise that online blackjack is just as popular. This strategic title now has more variations than ever before, thanks to the innovative technologies that now grace the iGaming space.
When it comes to the online blackjack offerings we have specifically here at BoyleSports Games, the variety of titles we have in our collection offers their own unique features, all while embodying the tried and tested gameplay formula that has made the game what it is today. From digital versions all the way to live titles, the diversity when it comes to online blackjack is vast.
If you are unfamiliar with online blackjack, you may be questioning how it works exactly. This classic casino game sees the player pitted against a dealer, with the overall objective being to have a hand value closer to 21. However, in the attempt to do so, players must do so without actually exceeding this number, with this being one of the main reasons why this table game has simply been coined as ‘21’ over the years.
The game is broken down into hands, each one beginning with the player receiving two up-facing cards. At the same time, the dealer also gives himself two cards; however, only one of these is up-facing initially. All of the cards in online blackjack have their own values, with number cards between 2-10 having their face value. However, when it comes to the royals, which are Jacks, Queens, and Kings, all possess a value of 10. The Ace is the most unique card in blackjack as this could either possess a hand value of 1 or 11, with this depending on the other cards that have already been dealt to the player.
At the beginning of each hand in online blackjack, the player begins by selecting their bet stake, much like they would in online slot games and all other live casino games. Once the player's initial 2 cards have been dealt, they can now make a number of decisions. These are as follows:
Hitting: This allows the player to receive an additional randomly selected card for their hand.
Standing: The player sticks with their current hand, receiving no further cards.
Doubling Down: The player doubles their initial stake, receiving one final card in return.
Splitting: If the player is dealt a pair of matching cards, they can choose to split these into two separate hands, doubling the stake in the process.
These are the main betting options in online blackjack; however, there is also a collection of side bets which players could potentially choose to make use of in this table game. These are essentially optional bets which could be placed alongside the players' main wager, often relating to the first cards the player is dealt.
For example, 21+3 is an especially popular side bet in online blackjack. This combines elements from online poker, taking the players' 2 dealt cards and the dealer’s up-facing card and putting these together in one 3-card hand. The aim of this side bet is to aim and form a poker hand, with things like flushes, straights, three-of-a-kind, straight flushes, and suited triples, all having their own respective odds.
Perfect pairs are another of the side bets commonly available in online blackjack. As could potentially be deciphered from its name, these give players the option to place an additional bet on their 2 initially dealt hands containing a pair. Mixed pairs refer to the cards having the same value, coloured pairs have the same value and same colour, and perfect pairs are the exact same 2 cards.
Online blackjack, like its physical counterpart, also gives players the option to place insurance bets as well. This is offered to players should the dealer's up-facing card be an ace. If the other card turns over and has a value of 10, this could see the player's full stake returned.
Although all of these elements can help you understand how to play online blackjack, it is worth noting that some titles will have their own innovative features and alterations that may differ slightly from one title to another. This is also applicable to online roulette; however, it is these additional mechanics and changes that have helped online blackjack games become so popular!
Nowadays, there are more online blackjack games currently out there than ever before. As we have already said, these innovate in their own unique ways; however, the general base game concept remains constant throughout all of these titles. As a result of this, we have selected some of the best blackjack games out there, factoring in the gameplay, authenticity and any extra mechanics they may have.
Starting off with Premium Blackjack, this is a digitised version of the traditional table game. All of the classical gameplay found in other online blackjack games can be found here, with a green felt table filling the play screen in this release, much like that of an actual blackjack table. Across this, all the side bet odds are clearly displayed next to the dealer's card shoes, which is a nice touch by Playtech. All the betting options are designed in the fashion of casino chips, too, with the overall user interface remaining clean and concise, allowing gameplay to take centre stage here.
Another of the best blackjack games is BoyleSports Blackjack Live. This game includes live dealers and real-time gameplay, all of which are situated within a professional studio. Through its high-quality live stream, this game is not only interactive but also immersive, with multiple players being able to play alongside one another simultaneously in this release.
The Mega Fire Blaze Blackjack Live variation is another of the best blackjack games that makes use of real-time gameplay through live streams. This game is one of the online blackjack games that we mentioned that includes some more innovative design features and mechanics. Throughout the play, players have the option to place additional side bets relating to different conditions. Should these be met, this could trigger the titular Mega Fire mechanic found in many online jackpot slots, with this potentially being able to reward multipliers valued between 1x and 1000x!
The releases we have discussed are just a handful of examples of the impressive online blackjack games currently out there, with all of these, plus many more alternatives, all being housed at BoyleSports Games. The fan-favourite table game formula is just as interactive and immersive as in the real-life versions, with both the digital and live variations all embodying the popular elements that have made blackjack the fan favourite it is today.