Online Casinos Directory

Free Blackjack is done through flash and is offered as one of the instant play games at the aforementioned casinos as well as other online casinos that offer instant play without the download. Many players choose to play free at first to get a handle on the game to familiarize themselves with the rules and strategy the game offers. Free Blackjack can be played in many ways such as live online. Blackjack is an old casino game that generates new players all the time. It is fast paced, easy to play, and offers lots of action. Players can win big, as well as lose big; it all depends on the player and perhaps the cards too—that’s where that wonderful thing called “luck” comes in.

If you haven’t yet played Blackjack but are interested here are some simple instructions and rules to follow for the game so tat you can find the experience to be both entertaining and pleasurable. Upon playing the game of Blackjack, if playing for real money, you make your bet first, the dealer then deals you two cards, and after that you can request more to equal 21. The obvious goal is to reach 21. When your turn is over as is the other players at the table too, the dealer than deals him or herself more cards if he or she wants them. The dealer usually always requests one more card for his or herself. The player including the dealer closes to or with 21, wins. It is really that simple.

If you go over 21 your game is over for that round. Going over 21 is called going bust. A player always goes before the dealer and this can be a drag, but it is the rules and there is no way around it. In the game of Blackjack all cards are worth the value printed on them with the exception of the ace, king, queen and jack. The aces can be either 1 or 11 points, and the other face cards are always ten points. As for the aces it is up to you to choose how many points you want them to be, the 1 or 11 points, and that will depend on the hand you are dealt.

In the world of online gambling there is a lot of variation. At one time it was much more limited. If you did an online Google search, you would find a few options, but not the huge numbers that you see today. Due to overwhelming interest, companies worked overtime to capitalize on public interest. One thing is for sure, if there is a demand then gaming companies are going to create a priority to make move to meet it. Remember that the world of online gambling is competitive and only the best companies are going to make it through the gaming world. Here are some of the best games you can find at any land-based or online casino.

• Blackjack. Blackjack is one of the most popular games online and in land-based casinos. The game began in France back in the 1700s. It’s main draw is that it is a game that combines luck and skill. Just like poker, this is a game that allows for strategizing and honing gaming. The purpose is to build a hand that sums up to, but does not go over, twenty-one. Players face off against the dealer and take on his own pursuit of having blackjack.
• Craps. Craps is a game that was first developed back in the 18th century in France. Originally it began in private gambling locations, but then moved out into the real world. The game came to the US in the early 1800s. The game takes most of its popularity as a result of its simplicity of play. All you need are dice and you can have a great game. Because of its ease of play, gamers love this game and it has only grown in popularity over the past few decades.
• Roulette. Roulette is one of the most recognizeable games in the world of gambling. Everyone has at one time or another seen the black and red Roulette wheel and knows how the game is played. This is a game that began in the 17th century and was developed by Pascal, a famous mathematician. The version players participate in today began first in 1842.

Part two coming next.

Stand: When a player stands, that means that he or she does not want any more cards. The dealer then has to show their cards to the table.

Double Down: If a player is confident their hand is a good one, he or she can always double down. The players initial bet is doubled and they then are dealt one additional card. The player cannot hit after this. The player is only given the option of doubling down straight after the initial two cards have been dealt. So far example you cannot take a hit then double down.

Split: If the player is dealt two identical cards such as a pair of 5’s, a pair of kings or queens etc., then the player is given the option of spiting the initial two cards to become two separate hands. If the player does the split then the player again puts down their initial bet. Effectively the player is doubling their bet and is playing two hands against the dealer one. The player is then dealt another two cards, one for each hand, and the player then has the option of hitting or standing as they see appropriate. Some casinos do offer the option of doubling down on a split hand and others do not. Make sure you check the casino rules before you start playing so you know.

Insurance: If the dealer has one card that is an Ace, a player can make an additional insurance bet on the side. This amount is equal to half of whatever their initial wager was. The insurance bet is up for debate in the world of professional blackjack play. Most experts believe that it is a pointless bet that rarely pays off. It’s good to still know what it is though and understand when another player may try to use it.

Once the players make their moves, then the dealer has to show his or her down-card. If the dealer has a value of sixteen or lower, he or she will always hit. Seventeen is the big debate hand—if the dealer has a value of seventeen he will always stand on a soft seventeen. The totals are then tallied and the hand that has twenty-one wins, or the hand closest to it wins. Whether you are at land-based or on line casinos, the rules of blackjack are the same.

Blackjack is a lot of fun and it is a fast paced game. As blackjack players get use to the game they seem to move a little quicker than those playing poker. Blackjack doesn’t require as much thought as say poker and it shows. When playing the game, each player has to place their bets in the betting circle, or the area directly in front of them. The dealer and each player then get two cards. The dealer’s cards are one-down and one-up, while the player’s cards are up. The purpose of the game is for players to tally up their cards and come as close to the value of twenty-one as possible without going over. If no one’s cards add up to that value, then the player who is closest without going over it, or busting, wins. Of course you are playing against the dealer and you don’t want him or her to have blackjack either.

Each one of the number cards take on their face value when tallying the totals. The face cards, Jack, Queen, and King, are all worth ten and the Ace is worth either one or eleven. It depends on which value brings you closer to blackjack without going over. For example, if you have an Ace, but using it would put you over twenty-one, you can use it as a “one” instead. It is totally dependent on what you want to do with it. A hand without an Ace in it is referred to as a “hard total” and a hand with an Ace is a “soft total.” If a player or the dealer gets an Ace and a ten, then he or she is said to have “natural blackjack.” A natural blackjack automatically is deemed the winner of the game and that player then gets a bonus of three-to-two instead of the normal one-to-one for that hand.

When the cards are handed out, then the players have to fight it out for blackjack. Here are some options players can pick:

Hit: Hit means that the player is asking for another card from the dealer. So if your hand equals 9 and you say hit me to the dealer you will be dealt another card, and if the hand value increases your hand to 15 you may want to hit again. Of course if you get too close to twenty-one you want to stop because otherwise you may go over, which is called a bust.

Part two coming next.

One of the most popular games around is blackjack. If you love playing the game, then you know how exciting it can be—the dealer against you each trying to reach, without going over, twenty-one. If you have ever sat at a land-based blackjack table or logged-in to an online blackjack table, then you know full well that there is a strategy to the game that is going to help you win, or lose. The thing about blackjack is that it is equal parts luck and strategy—not all gambling games can boast the same. In fact, a lot of games are solely built on luck and that makes them frustrating. Imagine having nothing to contribute to the outcome of your game? That’s what happens with slots and video poker. The random number generator inside dictates what you get. Period.

On the other hand there are those games that involve a good dose of strategy that are becoming more and more popular in the world of gambling. Blackjack is one of them. This is a game that has a definite basic strategy, but then good players can add to that strategy and continue to hone their skill at the game. Spin3 is a leader in the world of mobile gaming and they have just introduced a new application that allows you to play Blackjack party on the Apple iPad. The company Spin3 coupled up with the famous MicroGaming to bring this new game to the market. Remember that both Spin3 and MicroGaming are leaders in the world of gambling so that means most likely this will be yet another game that takes off quickly in the industry.

If you love playing blackjack and are a fan of the iPad or iPhone, test out this game. You can track your skill level and upload your scores to a mobile leaderboard. This is great fun because you can compare your skill to those of other players participating in the overall game. One of the newest fads in online and mobile gaming is bringing back the social element of the game to players. Spin3 and MicroGaming do a great job of blending the two for the purpose of community-style gaming.

If you are at all bored with gambling, why don’t you test out some tournaments? They offer a lot of variety in gaming. When you pay a singular game, you will find that the games can grow stale over the course of play. If you are an avid gamer, it may be too much to continue playing after a few days. On the other hand, there are some tournaments you can participate in. They offer a lot of added competition and that can be enough to reinvigorate your love of online gambling.

For anyone in the mood for tournament gambling, test out Blackjack Ballroom. The online casino offers regularly scheduled tournament play for its visitors. Normally there is a small prize pool and that means that the buy-ins are relatively low. That is great news for anyone with a limited bankroll who wants to still enjoy tournament gaming. Currently the casino is running a great tournament to participate in. The game Loaded is the game chosen for this promotion and the prize pool is $20,000. That’s a great amount and means that someone is going to walk away with a good chunk of cash. The leader is going to win $5,000 and then the next in line will receive $3,080, $2,100 and $1,400 in payout cash. The total of forty-five winners will share the prize pool in this game. Anyone participating will have to buy-in at $20. The great thing about a lower buy-in is that it won’t stretch your budget too much and your gaming session can still be exciting while you are gambling at the virtual casino.

The Loaded game is a great slots game and has a rap music-theme. That means that you can get the urban flavor with this game. If you love rap music, this is the premiere game for your next gaming session. The symbols you’ll see are rap music superstars and producers. You can earn a 4x multiplier throughout the game and there is a bonus game to help you move up on pay and on the leaderboard as you play. This is a great game to test out and if you are in the market for a good tournament, test your luck here at Blackjack Ballroom online casino.

If you love blackjack and are going to be in Las Vegas this weekend, be sure to visit the Las Vegas Hilton. For avid blackjack players in or around Las Vegas, next week is going to be an exciting week for you. The Las Vegas Hilton will be sponsoring a $100,000 competitive blackjack tournament from March 25th till the 27th. The best thing about this blackjack tournament is that the entry is free. Anybody of legal age to gamble can participate in the blackjack tournament and go home with the top prize of $50,000. Playing in a blackjack tournament is much different than playing a hand of blackjack, but you should still use a basic blackjack strategy to compete against other players. Remember that you can always brush up at blackjack at an online free-play website. These are great for anyone who wants to get a little extra practice for their gaming before they mosey up to a “real” Vegas table for fun. Remember that once you are at the table the game moves quickly. It’s hard to think of what to do and not to do on the spot if you are still a novice gamer. Take some time to hone your skilll and get used to the gaming rhythm. If you do decide to partake in the Las Vegas Hilton game, think of how much you could pay off with a huge jackpot of $50,000 for the top winner!  It’s a great time to jump into tournament play and see how you do.

Blackjack players that can’t make it out to Las Vegas, can still play at the various blackjack tournaments being offered over the Internet. Two of our recommended casinos, Rushmore Casino and Cherry Red Casino offer live blackjack tournaments, 24 hours per day to casino patrons. Take advantage of the blackjack bonuses that these online casinos have to offer, and use your bonuses to play in the blackjack tournaments against other skilled blackjack players. Don’t be afraid though– remember that there is still an element of luck to every gambling game…even games of skill. Take your time and then take your chances.

Here we go again with another version of the popular game blackjack. This one was developed and first played in Atlantic City– and that’s where it got its name from! This is Atlantic City blackjack. It is a great variation of the classic blackjack. It has single as well multi-hand options and both versions have similar rules and strategies. But on multi-hand Atlantic City Blackjack the stakes are much higher. When  you do some research you will find that Atlantic City Blackjack has one of the lower casino edges at the casinos. The game is played with 8 decks of 52 playing cards. Decks are shuffled after the end of every game. The dealer has two cards at the beginning and checks for blackjack, in the case he’s got it, and the game ends before the player can lose his money by doubling. A blackjack beats any hand with a total value of 21 and the dealer stands on all 17s.

Atlantic City Blackjack you has a unique Late Surrender option. Two cards with the same denomination or value can be split. If you split a pair of Aces or any pair of cards with a value of 10 and draw then a card with a value of 10 or an Ace respectively, it is not considered a blackjack, though the value of the hand will be 21. The player can split up to three times to make four hands. But he can split Aces only once. If a pair of Aces is split, one card is dealt to each Ace, and the hand stands automatically. Once the first two cards have been dealt the player can choose to double. The doubling bet is the same as the original bet. It is possible to double down after the player has split his hand. If the player has a blackjack he can’t double down. The rules aren’t that different, but they do make for a more exciting game of blackjack if you are looking for some variety in your gaming. Test out Atlantic City blackjack and see for yourself how much fun this game is. The slight differences do change the odds and make the edge just a little better for you, the player.

Again– blackjack tops the list of the best games out there. It offers a great game of strategy with a potentially good payout. There are more variations of the game for you to enjoy. Here are two- European and Vegas Downtown to test out for yourself. First there is European Blackjack. This is a variation played with two decks of 52 cards. Decks are shuffled after every game has been completed. Otherwise the rules are quick to learn. Blackjack beats any hand with a total value of 21. The dealer must stand on all 17 and draws on all 16. Split is possible up to 3 times. The player can split hands with the same card denomination but not with the same value. A double is possible if you have a hand with a value of 9, 10 or 11. The doubling bet is the same as the original bet. After doubling down only one card is dealt and the hand stands automatically. The player can’t double after split. Like above if dealer’s face-up card is an Ace the player can make insurance that costs half the original bet. The player can’t make insurance after a split, or a double.

Vegas Downtown Blackjack is yet another single and multi-hand variation. It is played with 2 decks of 52 cards. Decks are shuffled after every game has been completed. A Blackjack beats any hand with a total value of 21. The dealer hits on soft 17. You can split up to 3 times to make four hands. Aces can be split only once. If a pair of Aces is split, one card is dealt to each Ace, and the hand stands automatically. After first two cards have been dealt you can double. The doubling bet is the same as the original bet. It is possible to double down after the player has split his hand. As typically found, if the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace the player can make insurance that costs half the original bet. Insurance doesn’t cover a second hand on a split, or a double bet. Either game you pick is going to offer you hours of gaming fun. Test them out for yourself and see how much excitement they can each be.

There are many different types of blackjack. There is a reason why the game is popular in the first place– it has found millions of gamblers and given them many hours of wagering fun. The great news is that there are variations that will keep them busy for hours to come. One variation is UK blackjack. UK Blackjack is also played with 6 decks of 52 cards like standard blackjack. Decks are shuffled after the end of the game. The dealer must stands on all 17. With this version you can split to 3 times to make four hands. The player can’t split 4s, 5s or 10s. Only one card is dealt to split aces. A split hand with a value of 21 is not considered a blackjack. You can double your hands only with the Value of 9, 10 or 11. The player can double after he has split the hand. If the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace the player can make insurance that costs half the original bet.

Then there is blackjack surrender. Blackjack surrender is a variation that is played with 6 decks of 52. The major difference is that the late surrender option is available for the player.  The decks are shuffled after the end of every game. The dealer stands on all 17s. You can still split your hand. If a pair of Aces is split, only one card is dealt to each Ace. If you split a pair of Aces or any pair of cards with a value of 10 and draw then a card with a value of 10 or an Ace respectively, it is not considered a blackjack, though the value of the hand will be 21. Once the first two cards have been dealt you are allowed to double. It is possible to double down after the player has split his hand. If the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace the player can make insurance that costs half the original bet.

Finally, there is progressive blackjack. Expect to find the same amount of excitement with this game as you would with a progressive slots game, versus a regular slots game. There is also progressive blackjack. Before you start this game you have to make a side bet that allows you to get additional payouts. Also the player can win money or a percentage of the jackpot if he has different hand combinations. For example:

Hand – Pays
4 suited aces – Jackpot
3 suited aces – 5 000x
4 unsuited aces – 2 500x
3 unsuited aces – 250x
2 suited aces – 100x
2 unsuited aces – 50x

Whatever game you pick to play, remember that they all keep the same amount of excitement and fun that blackjack is known for. Test your luck at variations and see how great these games are.