Free Blackjack Card Games

Blackjack comes from a family of games that includes baccarat, vingt-et-un and seven-and-a-half. Blackjack gained popularity in the United States during World War I as weary troops looked for interesting pastimes. Also known as Twenty-One, the game made fortunes for a number of expert "card counters" in the 1960s. These experts were able to identify points in the game when players temporarily had an edge over the house, at which time they would greatly increase the size of their bets. Casinos have since made it more difficult for players to win by adding decks and shuffling more often, but it's still a game where skillful players have a relatively good chance for a winning session.

Each player competes against the dealer, not against the other players. The object of the game is to have a higher point total than the dealer without going over 21. Each ace counts as either 1 point or 11 points, face cards (kings, queens, jacks) count 10 points each, and all other cards (2 through 9) count their face value.

To win you need to beat the dealer without busting. You bust when your cards total to more than 21 and you lose automatically. The winner is whoever has closest to a total of 21. You reach 21 by adding up the values of the cards.

If you make a total of 21 with the first two cards (a 10 or a face and an Ace), you win automatically. This is called 'Blackjack'. If you have Blackjack, you will win one and one-half times your bet unless the dealer also has Blackjack, in which case it is a Push or a Tie (or a Stand-off) and you get your bet back.

The remaining players with a higher count than the dealer win an amount equal to their bet. Players with a lower count than the dealer lose their bet. If the dealer busts, all the remaining players win. There are other betting options namely:

• Insurance: side bet up to half the initial bet against the dealer having a natural 21 - allowed only when the dealer's showing card is an Ace. If the dealer has a 10 face down and makes a blackjack, insurance pays at 2-1 odds, but loses if the dealer does not.
  
• Surrender: giving up your hand and lose only half the bet.
  
• Early Surrender: surrender allowed before the dealer checks for blackjack.
  
• Late Surrender: the dealer first checks to see if he has blackjack. If he does, surrender is not permitted.
  
• Double Down: double your initial bet following the initial two-card deal, but you can hit one card only. A good bet if the player is in a strong situation.
  
• Even Money: cashing in your bet immediately at a 1:1 payout ratio when you are dealt a natural blackjack and the dealer's showing card is an Ace.
  
• Split Hand: split the initial two-card hand into two and play them separately - allowed only when the two first cards are of equal value. Use each card as the start to a separate hand and place a second bet equal to the first.
  
• Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace, or with an Ace valued at 1 is said to be Hard in that it can only be given one value, unlike a Soft Hand. (You can value an Ace 1 or 11 to suit you).
  
• Soft Hand: A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 is called a Soft Hand.

Play this free card game here.