Blackjack is probably one of the favorite table games that you will find in Las Vegas. The main reason for this is because the gambler feels as if they are in more control over this game than a lot of other games. And it is a fact that the odds of beating the house are much higher than say craps or roulette. So it would stand to reason that online blackjack would be just as popular.

There really is no reason to shy away from the online version, it can be just as fun and exciting as the off line version. Even if you have never played the game before, you should be able to enjoy the game if you know a few things about it before beginning.

For newcomers and experienced players, playing online blackjack is pretty much the same as if you were playing it in Las Vegas. It can be just as fun and exciting as any blackjack game in a real casino setting.

Sitting down at a table you will see that it is set up pretty much the same as a real table with a dealer and one to five players sitting at the table. Just like in Vegas, each table has its minimum and maximum bets. Some tables will be as low as 1.00 dollar. The maximum bets can go as high as 500.00. So they pretty much cover everyone.

Each player places their bets by clicking on their chips and then the dealer begins to deal out the cards. Bets can not be changed once the deal is in progress but they can earn more money by doubling down or splitting their hands when it is their turn.

Just like in the real game, each player plays one on one with the dealer trying to get 21 or the closest hand to it and at the same time the player is trying to beat the dealer. Should the first two cards you get equal 21 then you have a blackjack and you are automatically paid 1.5 times the amount that you bet and your turn ends. It is important to note that the dealer must hit a 17 no matter what the players have. So it is a good thing to try and judge how many cards you take and what the outcome might be for the dealer. Players always hope for the dealer to bust.

Should the first two cards you receive do not equal 21 then you must decide whether or not you want to take a card, which is called a hit or if you do not want anymore cards and that is called a stand. The player can continue to get cards trying to get as close to the number 21 as possible. Going over however; means a bust and that hand is over for them.

What a player decides to do each time the cards are dealt can change the outcome of the game. This is one of the reasons why this game is so popular off line as well as playing the online blackjack version.

Always remember if you want to stay in good standing with players at the same table, it is a smart thing then to always stand on numbers 17 through 21. No matter what the dealer is showing, these are always considered numbers that are best left untouched. Other types of hands though more thought and strategy needs to go into your decision making. Say you have 13 thru 16 and the dealer has a 2 thru 7 you should probably think of standing. If the dealer has 8 thru Ace, you should probably take a chance on a hit. If your hand totals a 12 you should take a hit if they have a 2 or 3 it is probably safe to take a hit, but if they have 4 thru 6 you might want to stand, should the dealer have 7 thru Ace, you might be lucky if you took a hit. Always take a hit if you have a hand that is 4 thru 11, no matter what the dealer shows, it is a good thing to hit. Any hand with an Ace is called a soft hand and how you hit these is different. Always stand if you have an Ace combined with an 8 thru 10. If you have an Ace plus 7 only hit if the dealer has a 9, 10 or Ace. If your hand is an Ace with any card from 2 thru 6, always take a hit.

When it comes to double downing you should be really careful with what the dealers hand is showing. First rule of thumb, you really should never double down on a 12, no matter what the dealer has. If you have an 11 always take a hit unless the dealer is showing an Ace. If you have a 10, always take a hit unless the dealer is showing a 10 or an Ace. Only hit on a 9 when the dealer is showing 3 through 6. Never double down on an 8.

If you have a soft hand, then doubling down is a bit different. If your hand consists of an Ace plus a 6 or 7, make sure to hit only when you see 3 thru 6 for dealers up card. Should you have an Ace with a 4 or 5 hit only if the dealer has a 4, 5, or 6. If your hand is an Ace with a 2 or 3 hit only if the dealer has 5 or 6.

Another way to get more money from your hand is to split them. First rule here, always split Aces and never split 5s or 10s. If the dealer has 2 thru 6 or 8 thru 9 and you have 9s, split them. Like Aces, splitting 8s is good any time as well. If the dealer has 2 thru 7 you might be safe to split your 7s and 6s. Only split 4s if the dealer has a 5 or 6. If the dealer has 2 thru 7 it might be wise to split your 2s or 3s.

Going for Insurance or Surrender is probably one thing that most seasoned players would advise against doing.

Even if the first time you play, you are not very successful. No need to give it up, after all it takes a while to perfect something. It sure will not happen overnight.