The Best Blackjack Sites In The UK

How to Play Blackjack

Blackjack is often considered as the best introductory card game for new gamblers. The rules are fairly simple and values are easy to keep track of. The goal of blackjack is to reach a hand value as close to 21 as possible.

Step 1: Know the Terminology

As with any card game, the best starting point is to get to grips with the terminology. In blackjack, you need to know the following:

• Hit: When a player requests another card from the dealer.
• Stand: When the player wishes to continue with his/her current hand without adding more cards.
• Bust: When a hand’s total value exceeds 21, the player forfeits the game.
• Splitting: When a player splits his cards and creates two separate hands. Each hand is betted upon and dealt with separately.
• Doubling Down: When a player places an additional bet and takes only one extra card from the dealer.
• Surrendering: Similar to ‘Fold’ in poker – a player admits defeat and ‘surrenders’, giving up half his/her bet and falling out of the game.

Step 2: Know the Card Values

It is important to know the value of cards in blackjack as your goal is to have a hand value of 21 or as close to it as possible:

• Face cards: These are your Kings, Queens, and Jacks and are all valued at 10 points each.
• Ace: An ace can score you 1 or 11 points.
• Other: The remainder of the cards in the deck are valued on the number displayed on them. A two of diamonds will for example afford you two points, a five of hearts will give you five points, and so on.

Step 3: Placing Bets

Players are required to place their bets before the dealer shuffles and hands every player their hand. The dealer also gets two cards and then the game begins. Each player then indicates how they would like to continue to play; hit, stand, or bust. Having blackjack pays out 3:2 (a blackjack consists of a ten and an ace, equalling 21).

Step 4: Get a Strategy

Every player needs a strategy. A great beginner’s strategy is to ‘stand’ when you reach a hand value totalled at 15. This is considered a safe bet. It gives you the opportunity to check out the competition without putting yourself in the position to go bust.

Best UK Blackjack Sites: FAQ

We’ve covered the most common questions asked by gamblers trying their hands at online blackjack for the very first time. We’ve included some general queries below.

Is online blackjack legal?

Online blackjack is 100% legal in the UK, providing your preferred casino is licenced and regulated by a leading gambling authority.

Can I play Blackjack live online?

One of the latest additions when it comes to online casino’s is the ability to play in live rooms, which includes blackjack. In fact, blackjack is one of the most popular forms of live casino game, with players often allowed to chat to others in the room, along with the dealer. Live blackjack is also preferred by many as it is seen as being more trustworthy and fairer.

Is playing blackjack online different from playing at a brick-and-mortar casino?

No! There is absolutely no difference between playing online and playing at a real site. This is the case when you play classic blackjack, of course. When playing online, you’ll have access to a wide variety of variations of this classic favourite, giving you loads more opportunities to increase your bankroll.

Can I play blackjack online for free?

With blackjack being one of the most popular card games around, there are potentially many players who wish to get involved without using their hard-earned cash first. As a result, many casino’s offer trial periods or specific games for such individuals, perfect for those looking to brush up on their skills and strategy before playing for real money.

What is card counting?

This involves keeping track of cards dealt and calculating the value of cards being dealt. The technique became popular in the 1960s but is now frowned upon. Brick-and-mortar sites and live dealers at online sites use more than one deck, making it impossible to count and predict values. You won’t be able to count cards when playing online blackjack.

What is the house edge?

The house edge in blackjack depends on the variation being played. Things to take into consideration are which rules are being followed, including whether or not you can double after splitting and whether the dealer must “hit” on a “soft 17.” The Return to Player will however always be about 99%.

What is the difference between a soft and a hard 17?

A hard 17 is a hand that has only number cards, for example, a ten of hearts and a seven of spades. A soft 17 is a hand that contains an ace (which can carry the value of one or eleven). If the dealer plays a soft 17, you stand a better chance of winning.

Is playing a live dealer game better than playing other blackjack games online?

For those hard-core blackjack players, playing live is probably going to be more thrilling. Players can interact with live dealers and other players when joining a live blackjack game. You are also still able to place bets and win real cash.

What are the limits when it comes to blackjack?

Most online platforms will set limits when it comes to bet amounts, however these will differ from casino to casino. Such limits will generally range from between £500 to £1,000, however there will be increased options for those looking for more significant earnings.

Best Blackjack Casino Sites in the UK: Final Thoughts

Our experts have worked hard in order to bring you the very best casino sites for fans of blackjack, which offer the fun, reliability and security required for all online players. Select your preferred platform based on our suggestions and casino reviews, remembering that you are free to register with more than one website. However, always be sure to gamble responsibly, remembering that playing blackjack should always be about fun.