Welcome to VSO’s free online blackjack page. Here you’ll find an in-depth guide on to how to play free blackjack online.
You can try many different types of free online blackjack games right here, with no sign up or download needed. We’ll tell you all about blackjack rules, the different blackjack games, the strategies to use and how you can play free blackjack games online for fun.
Once you’re ready you can also play blackjack at one of our top online casinos.
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Blackjack is one of the most popular online casino games in the world for very good reasons. Firstly, it’s very simple to play – and once you get the idea, blackjack (once formally known as ‘21’) also offers players great odds of winning.
Blackjack is a classic casino card game and it’s not too difficult to learn blackjack rules. There are many reasons why you should play free online blackjack.
You can play free blackjack online without the hassle of downloading anything or signing up to a casino site.
The main aim for each player is to reach a 21 combined card value. But remember that you’ll still beat the dealer so long as the combined value of your cards are greater (21 or below). If you’re hand eventually goes over 21, you’re bust and have lost.
Choose your free site, a variant (type of blackjack, we recommend standard) and let your free blackjack practice game load up on screen.
In the most popular, classic version of blackjack, the dealer will dish out two cards to themselves and two to you. Face cards are worth 10, aces either one or 11. To win you need to get a hand as close to (not over) 21.
Assess your hand and decide whether to hit (ask for another card) or stand (stay with what you have). Generally, you should stand if your cards equal 16 or over but it’s up to you!
The dealer will then reveal their cards which is when you’ll see who has the better hand. If your cards are the same, you’ll ‘push’ and start again.
Think about the game, how it went and then choose another. Playing free blackjack for fun allows you to learn and improve your game without risking any cash.
Whether you play blackjack online or in a ‘real brick and mortar’ casino, it’s important you know your different terms. This will help make the game enjoyable and give you a better chance of winning.
So, let’s look at the various blackjack terms and what they mean.
When you decide to ‘stand’ it just means that you feel your hand is good enough to beat the dealer. You should obviously ‘stand’ if you have cards that equal 21, or are close to 21. But it’s always up to you!
‘Hit’ is pretty much the opposite of ‘stand’ and you may ask the dealer to ‘hit’ after being dealt your initial cards. If you want to hit its likely because you feel your hand isn’t good enough to win, and so you want more cards in your bid to get close to 21.
If a players initial two-card hand are both the same value (i.e., you’re dealt two Queens etc) then you may split the hand in two. So, basically, you’ll then have two hands running which you’ll continue with. You’ll continue to get an additional card for each hand from the dealer until you ‘stand’, ‘stay’ or ‘bust’.
The name of the game! This is basically the perfect hand – it means you’ve got a card valued at 10, and an ace.
You can ‘double’ after the first two cards are dealt. If you think you have a good hand, you can just ‘double’ your bet – but be aware it’s a risky option to take!
This is the card which the dealer owns and is ‘facing’ up for all players to see.
This is a more conservative move to make as it acts almost as insurance. If you have blackjack and the dealer shows an ace, asking for even money means your payout will be even, 1:1.
In a game of blackjack, insurance acts as a side bet. It’s usually half the value of your original bet and is offered if the dealer’s upcard is an ace. It pays out at 2/1.
A term borrowed from baseball, first base refers to the place or player to the dealer’s immediate left. They’ll be the first to receive cards in a blackjack game.
This is usually the card which is dealt face down, not showing to anyone in the game. This is revealed once everyone is content with their hand and want to see who’s won.
Having a soft hand usually means if at the start of the game you’re dealt an ace. This is because you can decide to value the ace as one or 11 depending on your other card.
A hard hand is when you don’t have an ace. It just means there are less options open to you as a player and how to progress.
The ‘house’ is essentially the dealer, or establishment you’re betting against. And house edge is when they have an advantage over players. It’s the overall percentage the house has regarding their chances to win in the long-term.
You can take the option to surrender if you’re unhappy with the two cards you’ve been dealt. And it means you’ll have to give up half your bet.
This means your combined card value has gone over 21. This means you’ve lost!
A ‘good hand’ is basically a way to understand how good your cards are, how well the cards have been dealt in your favour. It’s in your interest to understand when you have one – because you have a better chance of winning!
An Ace and any 10-value card is an instant win in all blackjack variants – so look out for this!
Any two 10-value cards will give you a total of 20. In most variants and situations, you should ‘stand’ at this point as its unlikely to be beaten!
If you get an ace and a 7, then you’ll have yourself a Soft 18. This hand gives you different play options and can be used to your advantage.
There are many different variants of blackjack and each have their own twist. But remember - the basic strategy and aim of the game is the same. The best thing is you can try them out for free, right here on VSO, so pick your favorite and start playing the free versions of blackjack online.
Here’s a quick overview of the different types of blackjack games:
Allows players to place pairs side bets to further increase their winnings. These can be placed on either the player or the dealer’s hand, and include mixed pair, color pair and perfect pair.
Allows you to play two hands of blackjack and switch cards to make better hands. Blackjack switch lets you mix and match your top cards to give yourself the best chances of winning possible.
It’s common and popular with those who run online casinos. It gives the house a slightly higher edge on its players. In this version, the dealer takes one card and gets a second after players have made their moves.
It’s probably one of the most favourable to gamers and players. The house edge is usually just 0.36%. Also known as ‘American Blackjack’, this variant’s game rules mean dealers must stand on all of their hands which equal between 17 and 21.
Spanish 21 mixes up the rules of traditional blackjack to create an exciting variation with new ways to win. There are no tens in the deck, but players always win on a total of 21, even if the dealer makes a 21 as well. There are additional bonuses for special hands, such as making a 21 with a 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 combination, all of which make this a great variant with a very low house edge.
It’s all very well knowing the basics of playing blackjack online for fun. But if you really want to succeed at the tables, then your best bet is to learn a blackjack strategy.
Play this classic casino card game to test the strategy!
Also, check out our Blackjack Strategy Guide now for access to tons of knowledge, tips and tricks that will put you at an advantage when you play real or free blackjack games.
Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing illegal about card counting. Although casinos do have the right to deny players the right to play if they think you’re gaining advantage by card counting.
There are a few different strategies that you can use to count cards, from simple techniques that even the odds between player and dealer, and complex systems for a bigger edge. While every card counting technique is slightly different, most systems follow the same basic tenants. You are required to keep track of cards that come out, noting cards that are good for you and those that are bad, such as low number cards.
If you want to learn how to count cards to increase your chances of winning, then check out our card counting guide.
Many players practice with free blackjack games before playing for real. If you’re ready to take up real money blackjack games after playing for free, it’s important to choose a legit casino site. Our best blackjack online casinos are perfect for real money games.
Valid gambling licenses from trusted authorities.
A fully stocked online casino games lobby.
A welcome casino bonus for new members.
Fast and secure payouts for all players.
And there are obviously many benefits of playing blackjack for real money.
Allows you to financially profit.
Brings the potential for wins and losses which adds excitement.
Is the true test for card counting systems.
Can help clear online casino welcome bonuses.
Allows you to win and lose together when playing with friends.
We recommend you now play for real money blackjack by choosing from our list of trusted online casinos.
There are loads of places you can play online blackjack for free. You’ll find many different options on this page.
That depends. You can choose to download apps which offer free blackjack games, or you can visit a site from your browser and just play free games without the need for download.
Yes. Blackjack games follow the same rules regardless of whether a player is playing for free or putting up their own money.
No. Playing online blackjack for free means that you won’t be putting any of your own money at stake, so you can’t profit if you win. But playing for free is a great way of being able to practice blackjack.
Yes, it is possible to win real money when you play online blackjack. The odds in online blackjack games are very similar to those in live dealer games. While the house has an advantage, it is very slight, meaning you will have a fair chance to win.
Some online gaming sites will allow you to play their blackjack games through apps that are available in the Apple or Android stores. In other cases, these sites will have their blackjack games available through browser-based platforms.
From welcome packages to reload bonuses and more, discover what bonuses you can get at our top online casinos.
Ready to learn all about online gambling? Then check out our complete guide, where we also rank the best gambling sites for 2024.
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