Online Blackjack

Online Blackjack at Europa Casino

Blackjack remains one of the most popular casino card games and there is no better place to get your black jack and ace than Europa Casino - one of the best Blackjack UK casinos. Online Blackjack at Europa Casino stays true to the classic casino Blackjack that everyone loves but also brings you a brilliant variety of internet Blackjack variations letting you play Blackjack however you want to.
As well as a variety of games, at Europa Casino we also bring you free Blackjack tips to develop your strategy, information on Blackjack rules and all the information you need to hit or stand your way to 21!

About the Game

Blackjack is a simple game that is easy to learn and exciting to play thanks to its mixture of skill and chance. The game has been played in casinos for hundreds of years and has its origins in the an early French game known as vingt-et-un (21). When the game was introduced in the USA it failed to gain popularity at first, so casino began offering greater odds for players attaining particular hands. The biggest payout was given to a players with hands consisting of an ace of spades and a black jack - thus giving birth to the name we all know and love today.

The game has continued to grow in popularity and today has a huge fan base around the world. The release of books and movies detailing efforts and techniques for card counting has also added to the popularity of Blackjack as one of the best games in which to beat the house.

Playing the Game

Blackjack is a straight forward game that a beginner can learn very quickly. The aim of the game is to obtain a hand totaling 21 or closer to 21 than the dealer. To begin the game the player and the dealer are both dealt two cards with cards 2-9 having their face value, face cards being worth 10 and aces having a value of either 1 or 11. If the player's initial two cards are an ace and a card of value 10, he has Blackjack and is paid out accordingly. If your total does not equal 21 then you have a variety of options: hit or stand, double, split and, in certain circumstances, insurance. The meanings of these are as follows:

Hit - if you feel that another card will increase your chances of beating the dealer, you can "Hit" and take another card. This can be done until you choose to stop or until your hand total goes above 21 and you are "bust".
Stand - if you are happy with your hand after the deal or after hitting, then you can choose to stand. This means that your hand stays as it is, your turn finishes and the hit or stand option moves to the dealer.
Double - when you feel that, after the deal, one more card will give you a winning hand, you can choose to "double". Your initial bet will be doubled and you will be dealt one more card to complete your turn.
Split - when you are dealt two identical cards you can choose to "split" them. The cards are split into two hands and two more cards are dealt to give two card hands. Your wager is doubled and, from there, the game continues as normal.
Insurance - after the initial deal, you can only see one of the dealer's cards. If this card is an ace you are given the option to make an insurance bet. If the dealer then has a Blackjack hand the insurance will bet will cover any losses from the game wager.

Blackjack Tips

There are many strategies and lots of advice for how to play Blackjack available. Some of these involve card counting which is a difficult process that can get you thrown out of a casino so is not recommended. However, there are strategies to follow that will increase your chances of coming out as a winner when you play Blackjack. In essence, Blackjack is a game of odds and, because of this, people have worked out strategies for the best times to stand, hit, double or split. These strategies are freely available and give a reasonable idea of times to take a chance and the times not to. However, no strategy is foolproof and these calculations do not guarantee that you will win.

We recommend that you learn the game and develop a strategy that suits you. While doing this it is also a good idea to set limits on your play so that you always stay in control.

Good luck playing Blackjack and enjoy yourself at Europa Casino.