Playing blackjack online for free can help you devise a playing strategy without risk. You don’t have to download any software or even sign up with a website. All you need to do is choose a blackjack variant and start playing. One section of this article is dedicated to the different types of blackjack.
Differences to real blackjack
Free blackjack makes it almost impossible to practice card counting. This is because the RNGs continuously shuffle the cards. If you choose a live dealer game, you could count cards online as the dealer uses a real 52-card deck. However, live dealer blackjack can rarely be played for free.
Rules of the game
You and the dealer each get two cards in a standard game. The aim is to beat the dealer by getting as close to the score of 21 as possible. Aces are worth 11 points or one point. Any face card will get you 10. There are two options: stand or hit. Standing means you keep your cards and hit means to draw a new one. You lose if you get more than 21.
A push is where you and the dealer have the same score, and your bet is returned if you’re playing real money blackjack.
Most popular types of blackjack
While the basic purpose is the same, the different variants each have their own twist. It’s a good idea to try them out for free before you start playing for real money.
Blackjack Switch
You are dealt two hands when the game starts and can switch the best two cards. There is a push if the dealer gets 22.
Blackjack Surrender
Players can get half of their bet back by folding their hands. This can help you make the most of a bad starting hand.
Perfect Pairs
You can place side bets on the dealer or the player’s hand to win more. Options include perfect pair, color pair, and mixed pair.
European
European blackjack is very popular despite its slightly higher house advantage compared to American blackjack. You lose your bet if the dealer has blackjack and you double down after a split.
American
This version lets players surrender and uses a full eight decks. The dealer has to stand if the hand total is from 17 to 21.
Single Deck
A single 52-card deck is used for this variant. Card counting is easier because there is just one deck, and the house edge drops to just 0.3%.
Double Exposure
Last but not least, this variant lets you see both the dealer’s cards. The improved odds are balanced by the payout of 1:1 instead of the standard 3:2.
Best starting hands
The best hands to have at the start of a game are Hard 20, Soft 18, and Traditional 21. With the hard, you’ll get 20 from any two 10-value cards. The soft combination of a 7 and an Ace provides various playing options, which you can use to your advantage.
With Traditional 21, any 10-value card and an Ace bring a win.
Final thoughts
Software developers have released a number of apps to play blackjack for free, including against friends. You play without having to provide any personal data and risk cash. You can test most blackjack strategies on free versions.
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