Your Guide to Bitcoin Blackjack

Blackjack is a universally popular card game. Blackjack is the perfect combination of skill, luck, and anticipation to keep you entertained. Keep reading for your comprehensive guide to the rules, strategies, and best places to play to enhance your blackjack game.

A Step by Step Guide to Bitcoin Blackjack

If you’ve never played before, or if you just need a quick refresher, we’ll have you playing at the tables like a pro in no time.

  • First, place your bet. If you’re playing at a multi-hand blackjack table, you can occupy more than one seat at the table, and you’ll place bets at any seat where you’ll be dealt a hand.
  • You’ll be dealt two cards. Both cards will be dealt face-up.
  • Determine the value of your cards. All cards numbered 2-10 are valued equal to their number. All face cards are valued at 10 points (jacks, queens, and kings). Aces can be valued at 1 or 11 points, whichever value benefits the player most.
  • The dealer deals themself two cards. One card is dealt face-up, the other face-down.
  • Decide your action. Add the values of your two cards. The goal is to get as close to 21 points as possible, without going over 21 (which is to ‘bust’). Actions you can take are ‘hit’ (to be dealt another card), stand (to not be dealt more cards, but to hold your position), split (to split your two cards into separate hands), or double down. See more on these actions below.
  • You can continue to ‘hit’, but be careful not to bust. If you bust, it’s an immediate loss.
  • The dealer plays. The dealer must hit until they reach a certain amount of points, usually 17, or until they bust.
  • The game concludes. If the sum of your hand (not being over 21) is greater than the sum of the dealer’s hand, then you win! If the dealer busts and you didn’t bust, then you also win!

Bitcoin Blackjack Terminology

Bust – if the sum of your cards is over 21 points

Double Down – after seeing your hand, you can place a second bet and ask for another card to be dealt

Hit – an action that asks the dealer to deal another card

Stand – an action the player takes when he wants to be dealt no more cards

Split – a player can take this action if they are dealt two cards of the same value; they can choose to play each card as a separate hand and place an identical bet on each hand

Surrender – when the player gives up their hand and receives half of their bet back

Flat Bet – if a player places the same bet on each round

Face-Down Game – a version of blackjack in which the two cards dealt to players are dealt face-down

Five Card Charlie – if a player is dealt five cards without busting

Hard Hand – a hand that doesn’t use an Ace valued at 11 points

Heads Up – one player at the table playing against the dealer

Hole Card – the second card dealt to the dealer, this is the card dealt face-down

Upcard – the card placed face-up in the dealer’s hand

Even Money – if the dealer has an ace and a player has blackjack (21 points in his hand), the player can take ‘even money’; this is a type of insurance against a dealer winning with blackjack in their own hand

Insurance – a player can make a side bet (equaling half the value of the original bet) if the player has an ace in their hand. In the event that the dealer has blackjack, the player then gets the bet back as well as the value of the original bet back. If the dealer does not have blackjack in his hand, the player loses all chips that they bet.

Natural – a hand of 21 points with two cards; also called a ‘natural 21’

Paint – a slang term for a picture card

Pitch Game – a version of blackjack in which the dealer uses one or two decks

Push – when a player’s and a dealer’s hands are equal

Soft – a hand with an ace counting for 11 points

Stiff – a hand that could result in a bust if the player draws another card

Third Base – this is the name for the player seated to the dealer’s immediate right, the third base is the last player to act before the dealer

Our Top 3 Tips to Optimize Your Bitcoin Blackjack Game

  1. Try your strategies on free practice blackjack tables. You can fine tune your strategy to bring the house edge all the way down under 0.5%! But then get playing at the real tables, playing for free can be fun, but free play means no winnings.
  2. That said, there will always be a house advantage in online blackjack. Don’t get carried away chasing a loss. Know when to cash out and keep it fun!
  3. Don’t bother card counting. Online blackjack games shuffle the digital cards after each hand.

The Different Versions of Online Blackjack

Bitcoin casinos offer an exciting variety of online blackjack games. You can choose to play a game with only one deck or several. Some games offer different rules: the dealer may be required to hit at 17 or may be able to stand at 17. Payouts also vary from game to game, so make sure to take a look at the paytable. If you’re working on meeting a wagering requirement, make sure to read how much of your wagers at the blackjack table count towards the requirement. Let’s look at a few of the variations you’ll find.

European Blackjack – one of the dealer’s cards is dealt face-down; the dealer does not win automatically in this version if they are dealt a hand of 21

Blackjack Switch – this is a multi-hand version; players can play two hands at a time against the dealer

Double Exposure – all of the dealer’s cards are dealt face-up; the dealer has the advantage of winning any ties

Spanish 21 – this version is played with a deck of 48 cards. The deck includes numbers 2-9, the jacks, queens, kings, and aces. This version uses similar rules to standard blackjack, but also includes bonuses for special occurrences like a player being dealt three 7’s in a hand.

Conclusion

Online blackjack is a fun and fast game to enjoy in the bitcoin casino world. Blackjack offers the perfect exciting mix of strategy and chance. Now, with so many casinos offering fully integrated mobile options, you can play a fast game of blackjack whenever and wherever you are. Head back to our reviews to find the best blackjack tables for you.