History and origin of blackjack
Despite its long history, the origins of blackjack remain unclear, with numerous historians offering varying theories. For instance, some researchers believe the game originated in France and Italy because the two countries had card games (Vingt-et-un for the French and Sette e Mezzo for the Italians) with similar gameplay rules. To win in the French card game, players were required to have a hand with a total value close to 21 points and not exceed – an undeniable similarity to blackjack.
With Sette e Mezzo (Italian for seven and a half), the main objective was for the player to have a hand with a combined point value close to 7½. What makes researchers believe it’s similar to blackjack is the bust rule (if your card values exceeded the 7½ limit), a rule that also applies to blackjack today.
Despite the unclear and varying findings, all researchers agree that blackjack originated in the 17th century. Years later, during the 19th century, French colonists brought Vingt-et-Un to America, and the game’s name was changed to 21. Almost three centuries after its introduction in America, the first online casino was launched—leading to the emergence of online blackjack (RNG-run and live).
Online blackjack rules
Blackjack is undeniably one of the most entertaining casino card games, thanks to the easy-to-understand rules. However, the game relies on skills more than luck. Therefore, you must first learn the game's basic rules and jargon before you start playing blackjack for real money. Please note that the game has standard rules, regardless of the gaming arena (brick-and-mortar or online)
For starters, a blackjack table can accommodate multiple players in a single round. However, participants compete only against the dealer, not each other. The blackjack online game is played with 1-8 decks, each with 52 cards, and its main objective is for the player to have a hand with a combined card value of 21(referred to as blackjack) or close to 21 points without exceeding 21 (busting).
Moreover, you must have a higher-valued hand than the dealer to receive a payout. If either the dealer's or the player's hand exceeds 21 points, the game is over. Additionally, the round ends if either the dealer or the player has a blackjack hand.
Now, the next step before playing requires you to understand what a blackjack hand comprises. Simply put, blackjack is formed by any hand with a 10-value card and an Ace card. However, if both the player’s and dealer’s cards have a total value of 21 points, the outcome will be considered a push or a tie, and your bet will be returned.
Card values
The cards used in a blackjack game have different point values assigned based on a unique system (standard worldwide). The face cards King (K), Queen (Q), and Jack (J) are each worth 10 points, whereas cards 2 through 10 represent their pip (face) values. Moreover, depending on which value gives the player the best winning odds, the Ace card can count as either 1 or 11. Therefore, the Ace is considered the most valuable card in blackjack, as it enables players to be versatile with their hands and easily form winning combinations.
Please note that suits are irrelevant in online live blackjack as they have no effect when calculating the hand's total value.
How to play blackjack online
Like in any casino game, you must place your bet before the beginning of each game round by tapping on the corresponding chip value. In live blackjack, once the set betting time lapses, the croupier will deal one face-up card to themselves and another one to you. Afterwards, another round of cards will be dealt: a face-up card to the player and a face-down card to the dealer (also known as a hole card). Your hand's total value will then be displayed next to your cards. In online blackjack titles run by RNG, cards are dealt automatically by the built-in software after tapping 'Deal' rather than by a real-life dealer.
Player's options and decisions
In a standard online blackjack game, your betting decisions will depend solely on the cards you have received and the game variation. For instance, some online blackjack variants offer options for boosting the hand value if neither the player nor the dealer has blackjack with the first two dealt cards. Nevertheless, Hit and Stand are the two main choices in a standard blackjack table. Still, other available moves are offered depending on the cards you have been dealt.
Hit
This option involves asking the dealer for an extra card to add to your hand's total. You can hit as many times as you'd like, provided your hand value doesn't surpass 21. If the extra card leads to over 21 points, it's a bust, and you'll lose your bet.
Stand
If you are content with your hand's value, you can stand and wait for the outcome. Making this move means you'll not be dealt any extra cards, and your turn will be over.
Double Down
This move allows you to double your bet by placing an equal amount to your initial wager. You'll then be dealt only one additional card to your hand.
Split
If your first dealt cards are a pair of equal value, you can split them to form two separate hands, each with an individual wager equal to your main bet. A second card is then dealt to both hands. Afterwards, you can decide to hit or stand depending on the total value of each hand. However, if you split a pair of Aces, you will be dealt only one additional card per hand with no option to hit. Some other blackjack games online allow you to split multiple times in one round.
Insurance
When the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, you can buy an insurance bet to compensate for the possibility of the dealer having a blackjack hand (even when you have blackjack). The insurance bet amount equals half your main stake and is settled independently of the bet on your hand. Once you've set an insurance bet, the dealer will peek to check if they have blackjack. If they don't have it, the game round will proceed and follow the standard rules. If the dealer's hand is a blackjack, you'll be awarded a payout, but only if you had placed the insurance bet.
Surrender
This option allows you to forfeit your hand if it's unlikely to beat the dealer. Please note that if you make this move, you'll lose half of your initial stake and not play any further in that round. In addition, the Surrender option is not offered in all online blackjack variations.
Blackjack dealer rules
Although players have the freedom to choose what actions to take with their two initially dealt cards, the dealer must adhere to a different set of rules. This ensures the game's consistency and protects its house edge in the long run. Therefore, you must learn and understand the dealer rules to make the best tactical moves and maximise your wins.
To begin with, the dealer must hit if their hand's total value is 16 or less and keep hitting until the value of their hand reaches at least 17 or until they exceed 21 points. Moreover, they must stand on soft 17 (an Ace worth 11 and a 6 card). Lastly, if the dealer's hand value is between 17 and 21, they must stand, and no further cards are drawn.
Online blackjack variations
Thanks to the game’s popularity in the gambling world, numerous game studios have pushed innovation to the next level and created different exciting online blackjack variations. Notably, you’ll encounter different variants depending on your preference (RNG-run titles or live dealer tables).
You’ll find VIP Blackjack titles with varying high-stakes limits for high rollers, others with multiple in-game side bets that provide exciting payouts, and others that offer random multiplied payouts to the lucky players. Regardless of the variation, the main objective of all blackjack titles is standard.
Side bets in online blackjack
In addition to the standard blackjack bets, you can place numerous side bets, which vary based on the online blackjack gambling game. One notable feature of side bets is that they offer higher payouts than the main bet, but are riskier to bet on. Please note that you must wager on the main bet before betting on the side bets in your preferred blackjack online game. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular side bets in online blackjack in Kenya.
Perfect Pairs
To win with this bet, your first two dealt cards must form a pair. For instance, if your initial cards are two Queens, two 7s, or two Jacks, you’ll be awarded the respective payout, which is usually determined by your type of pair. There are three types of Perfect Pairs in online blackjack, i.e., Perfect Pair, Coloured Pair, and Mixed Pair. The payout ranges between 6:1 and 25:1.
21+3
Your first dealt cards and the dealer's face-up card will determine whether you’ll receive a payout on this side bet or not. The winning combinations for the 21+3 side bet are similar to poker combinations. These include Suited Trips, Straight Flush, Three of a Kind, Straight, and Flush. The payout for this side bet ranges between 5:1 and a whopping 100:1.
Perfect 11
You’ll receive a payout for this side bet if your first two cards dealt have a combined value of 11 points or a blackjack. Like Perfect Pairs, there are three types of pairs for Perfect 11. These are 11 Points (Suited), Any 11 Points, and Blackjack. The highest payout for this side bet is 21:1, whereas the lowest is 5:1.
Online blackjack odds
Odds are percentages representing the likelihood of an outcome (win or loss) when playing blackjack online in Kenya. However, these odds depend on various factors, including game rules. For instance, the player's odds are increased by 0.48% if a single-deck variant is played and decreased by 0.18% if the player is allowed to double down on 10 and 11 only. Regardless of these factors, the standard odds in an online blackjack game in Kenya are computed based on a classic blackjack game round and the assumption that the cards are dealt from an eight-deck shoe.
In this regard, the dealer has the highest statistical probability of winning, with odds of 49.1%, whereas the player's winning odds are 42.22%. On the other hand, the possibility of a Tie outcome is significantly low, with odds of 8.48%.
Online blackjack payouts and RTP
Depending on the bet type and your playing variant, online blackjack has an RTP (return to player) percentage range of 94.77% and 99.56%. The optimal theoretical RTP percentage for a classic blackjack game is 99.56% for the main blackjack bets.
On the other hand, the payout for a winning blackjack hand is 3:2, whereas the payouts for the player and insurance bets are 1:1 and 2:1, respectively.
Conclusion
The long existence of blackjack is a true testimony to its popularity in the gambling world. The appeal of the blackjack game can be attributed to numerous factors, including the fact that a player’s betting strategy can partly influence a round’s outcome and the game's easy-to-apply rules that accommodate both novices and experienced players. In this article, we have extensively covered the game, providing relevant details such as the origin of blackjack, the game rules and payouts, dealers' rules, and the various actions to take when playing Blackjack in Kenya.