→ Online BlackJack - All the Excitement of a Casino in the Privacy of Your Home

One ofthe most popular casino games of all time is Blackjack, and for good reason. Blackjack is one game that doesn't just rely on chance, but on how fast you think on your feet and your skill as a player. The house edge on Blackjack is the lowest house edge of any casino game -which is another great reason for its popularity. New online casinos bring the thrill of beating the dealer to your PC, in your very own home! You can play anytime you want, at your personal convenience and no longer have to travel to get to a casino.

Contrary to popular belief, Blackjack didn't originate in America - but is as French as French fries and croissants! Originally known as *v'ingt-et-un (French for the number 21), it was brought to Canada and America by French settlers in the 1Bth century. The English name Blackjack came from a special bonus of"v'ingt-et-un, which the player received when hitting 21.

For those who are not familiar with the game, in Blackjack, you play against the dealer. Your objective is to get 21 points without going over, called "busting". You are dealt two cards, and you have to add up the points and make a quick decision whether to take another card, called a "hit", or to stay where you are, called "stand". Points are determined by the face value ofthe card, with face cards counting as ten, and aces counting as either ten or one. Ifthe dealer has less points than you do and no one has gone over 21, you win. If you have less than the dealer, you lose. If both of you have the same thing, it is called a "push" and you don't make or lose anything. If either of you hit 21 in two cards (an Ace and any ten point card), this is a Blackjack and some casinos pay a premium for it. Ifthe dealer busts, you win. Sounds simple? If you take into account all the strategies that you can play, it becomes complex, and more interesting.

A simple strategy to follow if you prefer not to learn more complex ones is this: ifthe dealer has small cards (a 2 through a 6) showing, then stand even if you are at 13. Chances are the dealer will bust, and you will win even with a low hand. Otherwise, conventional wisdom holds that you should stand at 17. This is an easy way to start the game, but it becomes more challenging and fun when you start to play with more advanced methods and a more thorough understanding ofthe rules.