The classic casino game. Blackjack has remained popular in casinos, land-based and online, since it was first played in the 1600s.
The traditional card game is one of the most exciting games available to play in our online casino and it’s a great game for beginners and seasoned card players alike.
Blackjack Strategy
Like any casino game, there is no definitive winning formula or strategy for winning a hand of blackjack. It’s what is known as a ‘beat the dealer’ game. The aim of the game is to get your combination of cards as high as possible without going over 21.
Players actually have the best chances of winning playing blackjack compared to other casino games. The Return To Player (RTP) is approximately 99.7% on average.
There are some general rules of thumb you can play by but nothing is guaranteed.
Gambler’s Mindset
It’s advised that you take a more strategic approach when playing online blackjack. You may want to ‘go with your gut’ but in reality stats don’t lie. Try not to get carried away with the excitement and place your wagers as you see appropriate.
Hit or Stick
For example, there are a couple of situations where you know whether you should hit (take another card) or stick (hold with your current hand). If your first two cards total 8 or below then you want to hit. If your holding cards totaling between 9-16 then we would advise sticking or possibly doubling down (raising your bet). When the dealer gives you anything between 17-21 then you definitely want to stick.
Splitting the Difference
When you’re dealt two of the same card you are usually given the option of splitting the pair in most variations of blackjack. You will be dealt two new cards (one for each of the pair) giving you two hands in this round of play.
It’s a common tactic and usually the right call. There are a couple of situations when you know you should split and some where you shouldn’t. The rest is a judgement call.
You should always split Aces. If you hold two Aces you’ll be hitting on 12, meaning only a 9 will give you 21. When you’re dealt a 10 or a face card you’ll have to revert the other Ace to 1 and go back to a total of 12. If you split, you will have four chances to get 21 with either hand. You’ll be aiming for a 10, Jack, Queen or King from the dealer.
Take a similar approach if you’re dealt a pair of 8s.
On the other hand, you should never split a pair of 10s. It’s a common mistake for new players. You’re sacrificing a very good hand (20) on the small chance that you might get an Ace on your next hit.
Likewise, when you’re dealt a pair of fours you want to hold on to them. When you hit on an 8 you can’t go bust and you have a chance of picking up an Ace leaving you with a good score of 19.
Canadian Blackjack Sites
Blackjack remains one of the most popular online casino games for Canadian players. So, what should you look out for when deciding what Canadian site to bet with?
Most of our players want to play on a regulated site with a great user experience on desktop and mobile. We are regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. CanPlayCasino.com complies with the measures and regulations set out by the Abenaki Council of Wolinak and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
Our Apps are also a big hit with blackjack players. You can download our iOS and Android Apps from here. Play blackjack on the go with CanPlay Casino.