Blackjack and Roulette

The aim of blackjack is to hit a total that’s as close to 21 as possible (or 21 exactly). In doing this, you’re trying to achieve a better score than the dealer. There will be situations when you can beat the dealer with a score that’s not very close to 21. This is where blackjack basic strategy comes into play.

Before we get into that, here’s how a round of online blackjack plays out:

• You place a bet and receive two cards face up. Note: Six to eight decks are typically used in blackjack. Cards are worth their face value, but picture cards are worth ten and aces are worth one or 11.
• The dealer receives one card face up.
• You can hit (take another card for free) to improve your total or stick with what you’ve got.
• If you’ve been dealt a starting total of 11 or lower, you can double down. This requires you to put in a second bet equal to your first. When you double down, you’ll receive one card only.
• If you’ve been dealt a pair (two matching cards), you can put in a second bet equal to your first and split them. This divides the cards into two separate hands which are then played as normal.

All forms of online roulette will have a general set of rules that include:

• Bet amounts must be equal to or greater than the table minimum and not more than the table maximum.
• Betting limits will vary. Limits are typically lower for inside bets than outside bets.
• You have to make your bet before the croupier calls time.
• Once you’ve made a bet, you have to wait until the croupier clears the table before collecting your winnings (only matters live).

If you are new to roulette, read our dedicated article Roulette Types: A Complete Beginners Guide for an even better understanding of the rules. In practice, the rules of roulette are fairly simple. As long as you stick to the