Except for the fact that it’s played in a virtual online setting, online blackjack is essentially the same game that was played in France during the reign of the Sun King, Louis the 14th. Blackjack online offers all the challenge and excitement of real, brick-and-mortar casino play right in the comfort of your own home – and blackjack games online offer you the option of wagering real money. However, there are gaming websites offering online blackjack that can simply be played for the fun of it or for practice as well.
Once It Was Twenty-One
If you are familiar with blackjack games online or off, you understand that the point of the game is to get cards that add up to 21 – or as close as you can get to it without exceeding that number. The contest is between you and the house – as is the case in real casinos, success at blackjack games online requires that you get closer to 21 than the house in order to win.
This in fact was the original name – “Twenty-one,” or vignt-et-une. The current name for online blackjack was applied once the game had made its way to the U.S. during the 19th century. Twenty-one was slow to catch on among early riverboat and saloon gamblers initially, so those who ran the games began offering a 10 to 1 payout when a player’s hand included a “black jack,” i.e. the Jack of Spades or the Jack of Clubs. This label is still used for referring to online blackjack, even though the 10 to 1 payout is no longer offered.
How to Play Black Jack Online
If you know how to play blackjack in real life, you already know how to play blackjack online. You’ll also find some exotic – and even racy – variations of the game, such as strip blackjack, in which virtual models ranging from cartoonish to very realistic bare all for the winning player. Other types of blackjack games online include variations such as Spanish 2i, in which the 10 cards are not used, and 21st Century – also known as Vegas Style – and “Double Exposure.” Each of these forms of online blackjack offers unique challenges and require slightly different skills.
This in fact is one of the reasons that blackjack games online are so popular – unlike many casino games, which relay completely on the element of chance, online blackjack players can learn and develop skills and strategies that will give them an “edge” over the house.
But don’t take our word for it – try online blackjack for yourself today and find out what everyone is talking about!
By Wayne Hemrick
Wayne Hemrick is a longtime player of online blackjack and casino slot games. He enjoys passing on his knowledge to fellow players around the world.
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