Blackjack Rules, Bets & Odds

1. How to play blackjack – Breakdown of a round 
2. Master the Rules & Odds of Blackjack 
3. Important terms you need to know 
4. Live casinos with the best blackjack side bets 
5. Blackjack Payouts 

How to play blackjack – Breakdown of a round 

1. Learn the Rules 

The first step towards a successful casino experience is to know the game’s rules. In blackjack, you have a simple objective – get a value higher than the dealer without exceeding twenty-one. Although the objective is simple, there are betting rules and card values that govern each round. As a player, you must revisit the blackjack rules before hitting the blackjack tables in Pennsylvania casinos.

2. Fund your Balance

Once have mastered or at least become familiar with the rules, then the next step is to set up and fund your account. Pennsylvania online casinos offer players with different payment options. You can choose from credit or debit cards, bank transfer or e-wallets to deposit your money. Do not forget to set a bankroll before you start!

3. Place your wager 

Once your account has been funded, you can now join a blackjack room and place your bets. You will find top Pennsylvania online casinos, like DraftKings, that offer blackjack tables with different betting limits. In most tables, you can start with a bet of $1.00. If you have a higher risk appetite, you can go for VIP tables. Whatever your choice is, just bet within your limits and set a session limit.

4. The Dealer will now deal the cards

After you place your bets, the dealer now starts the round and deals the card. According to the blackjack rules, the players get two cards, and the Dealer receives one, for now.

The dealer gave me Blackjack! 

Congratulations, you have the best possible hand in the game! If it happens, you need to look for the last card of the dealer to check the payout. Move to the sixth step to proceed.

The dealer gave me cards that triggered my side bet(s)! 

This is another winning moment in online blackjack where you get back a part of your bet. The round continues with the following steps described below.

5. Time to make a decision!

Once the rules in card values and betting are clear to you, your next step is to evaluate your cards. In the blackjack rules, the immediate decision is whether to hit, stand, split, or double. The game’s outcome will depend on your decision.

I busted! 

You do not want to go bust in the game. If the value of the cards combined exceeds twenty-one, the game ends, and you lose your wager.

Still in the race 

If your value is close to twenty-one and asked to stay, you remain in play for the payouts. When playing, you can rely on blackjack strategies to improve your odds. One strategy is to double down, which means to double your wager in exchange for an extra card. Another strategy is to split a pair of similar cards, like 8s or Aces.

6. Dealer plays hand

After all players have made their wagers, the dealer then draws a card, and it can lead to one of the following outcomes:

1. Players remain in the game when the dealer busts.
2. You lose if your cards’ value is lower than the dealer.
3. There is a draw if your cards’ value and the dealer’s is the same
4. You win if you have a higher hand value.

7. Payouts

If your hand wins, you collect a blackjack payout. However, the amount of payout depends on your decision and the hand values.

Master the Rules & Odds of Blackjack 

In the blackjack game, players need to master the rules, the types of bets and use a few strategies to win big. Aside from the decision to hit or stand, there is also an option to split cards or double down. And there are specific tips and strategies on how you can efficiently split and double down the cards. Also, you will find different variants of the game and side bets to spice up each round.

The Objective 

Blackjack is a game against the dealer. You need to beat the player’s hand without exceeding ‘twenty-one’ to win. The rules of blackjack say that you have three ways on how to win the game: get twenty-one on the first two cards and the dealer does not collect the same value, play a hand that’s better than the dealer without going bust, or you can let the dealer go bust.

Card Values 

The odds 

Did you know that your odds of winning also depends on the number of decks of playing cards used?

Based on this image, we can that the house edge is smaller if the game just relies on or two decks of cards. As the operator adds more decks to play, the house edge increases and your odds of winning decrease.

Important terms you need to know 

To become successful in blackjack, it is equally important to know the lingo. Use the table below to master the game’s most popular terms and their meanings.

Understand all Side bets 

Aside from the standard blackjack bets, there are also side bets you can play. Here, you can expect varying blackjack side bets payouts with different rules and odds of winning. Let us look at these top side bets to play.

1. Insurance

This is offered if the player’s up card is Ace.

2. Perfect Pairs

The first two cards of the player are the same in value.

• Mixed pair : they are cards of the same value but in different suits or colors.
• Colored pair: you have a pair of the same color.
• Perfect pair: a pair of cards of the same value.

3. 21+3

This refers to a group of side bets that focus on the first two cards of the player and the dealer’s upcard. Also, you can also expect different blackjack side bets payouts.

• Flush: Cards are suited.
• Straight: The cards are in consecutive order.
• Three of a kind: The three cards are the same kind but in different suit.
• Straight flush:Three consecutive playing cards in one suit.
• Suited triple: Three of the same cards.

4. Bet Behind 

You can bet on the other player’s cards.

5. Royal match 

This side bet wins if the first two cards are of the same suit or Royal match, like King and Queen of a similar suit.

6. Over/under 13

A bet on the first two cards that it will be over or under 13.

7. Super sevens 

A side bet on the first three cards that these are from the same suit or color.

8. Lucky ladies 

You earn a payout when you have a 20-point hand.

9. Honey Bonus 

This covers your first two cards and the upcard of the dealer.

• Lucky 7: You win if you receive one, two, or three 7s in a row, starting with the first card awarded to the player.
• Lucky Lucky:  Your win is based on the dealer’s up card and your first two cards.

10. Top 3 

This is available in some blackjack tables that are used with 21+3. With this, you get huge payouts for three of a kind, three of a kind suited, and a straight flush.

11. Hot 3 

This is currently available in the Infinite Blackjack game by Evolution Gaming.

12. Buster 

You win this side bet if the dealer busts.

13. Bust it 

You win this side bet if the dealer busts with three cards.

Live casinos with the best blackjack side bets 

There are different variants and formats of blackjack available in Pennsylvania casinos. Among the different formats, the live dealer blackjack offers the most exciting and rewarding casino experience. With live blackjack, you play against a human dealer in real-time and watch the action from your device anywhere. If you want to enjoy the exciting world of live casino games, you may want to check the following casinos:

Blackjack Payouts 

Aside from the challenge and entertainment, blackjack also rewards you with lucrative payouts. The blackjack payouts depend on the outcome of the game or the type of side bets you play. You can refer to the table below for a list of payouts of specific blackjack wins.