Blackjack: Where to Play the Famous 21 Card Game Online

Blackjack is one of the most popular card games at land-based and online casinos worldwide, including in Australia. It was derived from a French card game called Vingt-et-Un, which means “twenty-one,” which is why it’s sometimes referred to as 21. 

The aim is to get a hand as close to 21 as possible (and closer than the dealer’s hand) without going over 21. If your hand is above 21, you’ll go “bust”, meaning you lose. Getting a perfect 21 is called “blackjack”, which means you’ll be the winner. To ensure you can make a better hand than the dealer, you’ll have to decide when you hit, stand, or even double down – we’ll tell you all about the terminology in the next section. 

As we mentioned, blackjack has a strategy behind it, and although that might put casual gamblers off, it’s also why so many people love the game.

If you play your cards right, so to speak, you might walk away with a big win. This dramatically contrasts with other games like pokies, which are based on luck and luck alone. 

Playing blackjack might sound more complicated than it is. All you need to do is understand the basic rules and master some strategy, and you’ll be well on your way. 

At the beginning of the game, each player is dealt a two-card hand, face-up. The dealer is also dealt two cards, but only one faces up – the aptly named “upcard”. Based on your cards and the dealer’s upcard, you must decide what action to take. 

Here are your options:

• Hit: Take an extra card after your initial two to improve your hand.

• Stand: Stick with the hand you have, and do not take an extra card.

• Split: Split your existing hand into two separate hands to increase your chances of winning (this costs double the initial bet).

• Double Down: Increase your bet by 2x during the game if you’re confident you’ll win in exchange for one more card.

You should also note the meaning of the following as you learn to play blackjack:

• Natural Blackjack: A two-card hand that totals 21.

• Push: A tie between the player and the dealer.
• Soft Hand: A hand containing an ace.

Each card holds its face value, and picture cards like the king, queen, and jack are each worth ten points. The only card that can change value based on the hand is the ace: it’s either worth one or eleven points, depending on the other cards in your hand.

As we mentioned, you need to understand some basic blackjack strategies to give yourself the best chance of winning. Based on your cards and the dealer’s upcard, you must decide when to hit, stand, split, or double down. Here are some recommendations to bear in mind:

You should always hit on a soft 17 or less, double down on a soft 13 to 18 if the dealer’s upcard is five or six, and stand on a soft 19 or higher. 

There’s no shortage of places for Australian online casino fans to play blackjack, but we’ve listed some of the best ones for you here:

Welcome bonus: A$6,000 Bonus + 250 Free Spins

Blackjack is hugely popular at this modern online casino, where you can enjoy immersive live casino games from Evolution Gaming and Beter Live. Plenty of blackjack tables include variations like Speed Blackjack and One Blackjack.

Welcome bonus: A$750 Bonus + 200 Free Spins

From classic blackjack against the computer to interactive live dealer versions, Crownplay has it all. This is the ideal place to try First Person Blackjack, which combines live dealer elements with state-of-the-art animation.

Welcome bonus: A$5000 Bonus + 300 Free Spins

Blast off with this space-themed casino site, where you’ll find dozens of different versions of blackjack. You can even play in other languages or visit a Salon Prive table to get an exclusive experience with the dealer. 

If you’re relatively new to online casino gambling, you might not have heard of live dealer blackjack before, but you’re in for a treat. While virtual game versions can be fun, live dealer blackjack mimics being in a real casino, so it’s extra thrilling.

Almost all good Australian online casinos have a live dealer section. You can take your seat at one of these virtual tables, and a genuine dealer will run the game exactly as they would at a land-based casino. 

Everything you see on the screen is happening, as the real dealer is being streamed in HD and real-time from the game provider’s studio. The latest technology ensures that your cards will be displayed on your screen, and you can click on certain areas of the table on the screen to use virtual chips to place your bets.

Live dealer blackjack also has a social element, as you’ll be sharing the table with other real people, and you can use the chat function to speak to them and the dealer.

The best thing about live dealer blackjack is that there are so many different variations. Look out for Lightning Blackjack, which comes with multipliers; Speed Blackjack, which plays at double the pace; and Salon Prive Blackjack, which offers a private experience with the dealer. 

There are many versions of blackjack online, whether you’re playing a virtual game or a live dealer variant. Each one has unique rules, so it’s a good idea to look at the game info before spending any real money. Here are some of the main versions of blackjack:

Classic Blackjack: This is the version you’ll encounter most regularly, and it’s the one we’ve described in detail in this article. Players and the dealer each get two cards; there are usually options to hit, stand, split or double down on every hand. 

European Blackjack:  There are two main differences between classic blackjack and its European counterpart. In European blackjack, the dealer will stand on a soft 17, and it’s also played with just two decks of cards, as opposed to six or eight. 

Atlantic City Blackjack: In this version, the dealer immediately checks for blackjack if they show an ace or 10, and late surrender is allowed. The dealer stands on all hands totalling 17. 

Blackjack Switch: In Blackjack Switch, you’ll be dealt two hands rather than just one, and you can swap the second cards in each hand to increase your chances of winning.