Blackjack at SuperSeven
Playing Blackjack at SuperSeven.com is much like taking on dealers in the local land-based casino, with some small rule and gameplay variations and less of the felt burns from dragging your winnings back triumphantly from the table.
There is nothing too drastic, though! All the rules remain rooted in the same wonderfully exciting game of Blackjack. You can enjoy the best card game ever invented in a SuperSafe, SuperProfessional, and SuperReliable environment at the SuperSeven online casino.
If that’s an introduction that doesn’t portray our love of the game, we hope the following guide will. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the card-game stalwart – including rules, tips, and phrases that are common-place on the felt and discover where the wonderful and weird history of Blackjack originates.
A Brief History Of Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular card games of the modern-day, and for a good reason. Its simple rules combined with the ability to be the boss of your strategy and gameplay mean Blackjack is popular both in-person and online.
But what of the backstory? How did Blackjack become the powerhouse it is today?
There are many theories as to how Blackjack came to be. One story goes that Romans were the OGs – but instead of digital cards online, they used to play Blackjack with wooden blocks painted in numerals. Spare a thought for all those splintered fingers – particularly the dealers…they earned that house edge!
Another theory relates to Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes – a celebrated 16th-century figure who is believed to be one of the first figures to reference Blackjack in literature. His encounter pertains to a Spanish variant of Blackjack – Trente-un – which requires players to reach 31 using just three cards in their holding.
What is certain, though, is Blackjack was born out of Vingt-un, which translates to twenty one in French. It first came into being around the beginning of the 17th century, and by the 18th century, it was prevalent in France and Britain. But how and why was it christened Blackjack? By the turn of the 20th century, gambling dens in the United States started to give the much-talked-about European card game space on its floors. The casino bosses were looking for different ways to attract the player – and came up with the idea of adding a bonus payout if a black jack (aka clubs or spades) was dealt alongside an ace of spades. Henceforth, Blackjack was evermore.
Throughout history, thousands of card-sharks have tried to come up with ways to play Blackjack beat the dealer, and there are countless books on the subject of Blackjack strategy, such is its popularity. No amount of literature can guarantee you that sticking on 16 will land you a win, mind! But more on that later!
Blackjack- where you’ve seen it before
No Vegas based movie would dare be seen without the lure of a blackjack or poker table, and blackjack makes regular appearances across all of Hollywood-born media, such is the popularity that the game has. Whether as a central plot point or just an added scene, blackjack has been made incredibly famous by Hollywood movies and appears regularly as a high stakes high reward game.
Card counting is present in a great deal of popular culture, with films like Rain Man in 1988 displaying how math and strategy can be used against the dealer. While in this instance the film only touches lightly on the strategy and it’s more of a side plot, films like 21 in 2008 delve deeper into the idea of card counting and show why a lot of casinos don’t take too kindly to the method. Based on a real story detailed in best selling blackjack book Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich, 21 is a movie that goes deeper into the thinking behind card counting and provides a fascinating story of blackjack and the thinking behind it.
Furthermore, countless books have been dedicated to blackjack and blackjack strategy, with a huge number of authors taking their shot at selling the key to winning your bet. Perhaps the original and best-known book about the strategy of counting cards is Beat the Dealer by Edward O. Thorp. It also offers strategies for all levels of players, although it is worth noting that much of the information is now outdated, it’s an interesting read about how the game used to be in the 60’s. There’s a huge range of literature available on the game and we encourage any player who’s interested to research deeper into the topic, as well as it helping you to learn when to stand or hit when you eventually take to the felt.
Players all over the world have found the game of blackjack entertaining enough for it to be contained in media throughout the last century or so, and its balance of strategy, luck, risk and, of course, winnings is perfect for the big screen.
How To Play Blackjack Guide
Online Blackjack games at SuperSeven are designed to give you everything you need. Whether you prefer to learn the basics of playing single deck Blackjack or want more specialised Blackjack strategy tips, we have it all in this guide.
Have you heard of terms like soft 17, split, or double down and wondered what it all meant? Don’t worry – we’re on the case! Everything will be explained in our handy guide, which we have mapped out below.
The Overview Of Blackjack Rules
The aim of the game, in its very simplest form, is to get cards that add up to as close to 21 as you can without exceeding that value and going bust (the term used when your card value exceeds 21). In single deck Blackjack, you don’t play against your fellow players at the table but instead play against the dealer. The goal is simple – get a better score than your card-shufflin’ opponent to win your bet. Different tables can also use a variety of number of decks though, which is important to keep in mind. The overall aim of this deck game is very simple, which is one of the main reasons it’s so popular!
Blackjack Card Values
To begin with, the dealer issues you with your first two cards, one card at a time. Their number represents card values, and every non-numbered card (Jacks, Queens and Kings) is equal to 10, also known as face cards. An ace can either represent a 1 or an 11 – it is always assumed it is 11 unless doing so would mean the hand goes bust.
Furthermore, if you get an ace and a ten-value card in your first two cards and the dealer does not, that’s called Blackjack! You win no matter what!
Having an ace in your starter cards means you possess a soft hand. A gentle hand can never go bust – it means you have an ace acting as a value of 11.
How To Win Blackjack. Two cards, one goal.
The dealer issues himself two cards while dealing, the difference being that one is face up and one will be face down, known as the upcard and downcard, respectively. The dealer must hit (which means they will receive another card) and will continue to hit until they reach a score of 17 or more. Once they get to 17 or more, the dealer must stay. In most casinos, the dealer also has to hit if he possess a soft 17 in his hand, meaning that one card in his hand is an ace and his others add up to a total of 6. You have a natural advantage because you can base your decisions on the dealer’s face-up card.
You will win if the dealer goes bust, or you end with a better total than the dealer’s hand.
We’ve outlined a few potential outcomes which display how to win at Blackjack:
- If you get Blackjack in just two cards (an ace and a ten-value card) and the dealer does not, you will win. In many cases, this outcome will also carry a bonus.
- If your card count is closer to 21 than the dealer without going bust, you win.
- If the dealer goes bust and you do not, you will win.
- If your score is equal with the dealer’s, or you both got a blackjack, then the result is called a push, and no one wins or loses – the stake is refunded. Everyone’s a win-oser (we made it make sense)!
There will sometimes be variations on the rules at different online platforms, but these are the most standard and accepted for the Blackjack game, so hit or stand your way to twenty one and beat the dealer’s hand anyway you can!
How Do I Play Blackjack?
Blackjack is a game of decision – playing Blackjack online at SuperSeven requires you to take specific actions to best advance your chances of winning. We’ve put together a list of terms and examples below:
- Hit – Request another card from the dealer.
- Stand/stick – Accept your current score and hope it will beat the dealer.
- Double down – Double your original bet in its value in exchange for receiving one more card. You can only receive a maximum of one additional card in this scenario.
- Split – If you’re dealt two cards with the same value, you can take the split action, splitting these two cards into two separate hands, where you place a second bet equal to the original bet next to the new hand, effectively doubling your bet. These hands play independently, one after the other. Not all games allow this option – but there are plenty of online Blackjack games at SuperSeven in which this option is available.
- Surrender – In some games – you can cut and run with Surrender. If you have looked at your cards and the dealer’s face-up card and believe it likely they have a better chance at winning or getting Blackjack, you can surrender, forfeiting half of your bet and having the other half returned to you.
- Insurance – So the dealer has landed an ace as their face-up card? Not great news – but you have an option to guard against the dealer’s good fortune with Insurance, a feature offered at some selected tables. Typically, you will get odds of 2 to 1 if you bet on the dealer getting Blackjack, recouping some money from your original bet. However, most live Blackjack sages would advise against this option – in the long run, it has minimal profitability.
Blackjack Basic Strategy
We’re not going to sit here and type to you that any basic strategy we part with here will help you make any money from online Blackjack – remember, there is always a house edge.
That being said, there are different techniques in certain spots that can help you make the most of certain situations. We’re going to present you with three of the most common online Blackjack scenarios and give you pointers on how you can best navigate them.*
*Please note, we are only offering a basic strategy. Do not take any decision that makes you uncomfortable.
When Do I Double In Blackjack?
One of the more simple tidbits to take on board! The consensus from most online Blackjack sages is that if your two starting cards add up to 11, you should double down on your starting bet unless the dealer’s starting face-up card is an ace. It’s OK to play it safe, too, of course, but the odds shift starkly in your favor when you have a starting hand of 11 – and we say it’s wise to capitalise on your natural advantage. It’s basic strategy 101!
When Do I Split In Online Blackjack?
Unlike doubling down, the math behind splitting cards is more nuanced. You should always split when you get a pair of aces or pocket eights, for example. The reasons are simple.
A pair of eights gives you a starting hand of 16 – or what is otherwise known as a breaking hand, which means the majority of cards next out of the deck will cause you to go bust. By splitting eights, you have a better chance of developing winning hands.
You can make the same argument for splitting a pair of sevens and sixes, although the likelihood of you losing lessens when you take a card on both starting hands.
A pair of aces adds up to 2 or 12 – splitting them gives you two chances of landing Blackjack, or at least improving upon your starting hand, hence why you should always split aces.
Some online casino Blackjack tables may restrict you from splitting aces – you should check each table’s rules before playing to avoid confusion and sharpen your Blackjack basic strategy approach.
Should I Hit On A 12 On Blackjack?
It all depends on the dealer’s face-up card! For example, were the dealer to show a 6, you should stand – it is much easier for them to go bust than for you to find the cards you would need to land a winning score.
However, were the dealer to draw a 10, you would be left with little choice but to play Blackjack and take a card. The dealer would have more than one chance to hit 17 or better, leaving your starting hand of 12 in a precarious position.
Where Do I Sit On The Table In Online Blackjack?
There is no tangible, mathematical benefit to sitting in any specific spot at the Blackjack table. However, by sitting further away from the Shoe (from whence the cards are dispensed), you are giving yourself plenty of time to consider your options and apply your newly-acquired knowledge!
If the table is empty, this slight advantage won’t matter – the action will revert straight to you. Don’t panic though! There will be no house edge.
Types Of Online Blackjack Games
A modern online casino tends to reflect the significant modernization of the Blackjack game. Humble cards have morphed into tens of different versions that extrapolate its gameplay from classic Blackjack game rules.
We will give you a brief breakdown of the types of Blackjack game you can play at SuperSeven.com.
VIP Blackjack
One for the high-rollers! Most tables have lower minimum bet limits, but high roller tables are designed for bigger bankrolls. These games tend to attract fewer players – affording more time for players to make their decisions.
Speed Blackjack
In a world where speed is everything, it seems apt one of the oldest casino games in the world has had a modern upgrade. Speed Blackjack is precisely as it sounds – the player needs to act quickly, or their turn will expire. It makes for a quicker and more immersive game, but it can mean uncomfortably rushed decision-making processes, potentially eliciting mistakes in newer, less experienced players.
Multiplier Blackjack
Form winning hands with pre-selected cards to boost your winnings with a random, predefined value. For example, the two-of-clubs is assigned a multiplier value of 5x before the game round commences. Should you win the game with the two-of-clubs in your hand, your winnings are multiplied by five.
SuperSeven Side Bets
An online Blackjack game typically has side bets available, which allows you to bet on the outcome of your starting hand alongside the dealer’s first face-up card.
Here are some examples:
Perfect Pairs
To participate in this side bet, you must first place the minimum bet requirement. Using only your first two face-up cards, you will bag extra winnings should you get a pair of any kind. The payouts vary according to the make-up of the pair.
- A Perfect Pair: Two of the same numbers from two of the same suits and pays out a whopping 25 to 1 to lucky winning players.
- Color Pair: Two of the same numbers from the same color suit and pays out at 12 to 1.
- Mixed Pair: Two of the same numbers from mixed suits of different colors.
The dealer’s hole card has no role to play in this side bet.
21+3
A popular side bet in online Blackjack that uses your two face-up cards and the dealer’s first face-up card to create a poker hand. Should you succeed, you will receive a payout.
The poker hands are as follows:
- Flush – (each of the three cards is of the same suit) – pays 5:1
- Straight – (the three cards are in consecutive order) – pays 10:1
- Three of a kind – (three of the same number) – pays 30:1
- Straight flush – (consecutively ordered cards in the same suit) – pays 40:1
- Suited triple – (three of the same card) – pays 100:1
Once again, the dealer’s hole card is not a factor in this side bet.
Why Is Blackjack Better Online?
We may be biased, but the Blackjack game has been revolutionized by operators and developers alike to create a new, slick, and exciting online interpretation of the world-famous deck game.
Advantages to playing the Blackjack games online as opposed to in casinos include:
Gambling Controls: You can use tools to keep your play to responsible levels. Check the SuperSeven responsible gaming section to put in session reminders, deposit limits, and loss limits.
Play In Your Own Time: Avoid the hustle and bustle of a busy casino floor and play at your favorable speed. It can help you focus on the key decisions you want to take without any needless distractions.
Keep Track Of Your Losses: You must track your money when you play Blackjack. It can be harder to do that in a real-world casino, but you can find all your transactions, winnings, and losses at SuperSeven with the click of a few buttons.
A Blackjack Glossary
At SuperSeven, we’re all about the community! The last thing we would want is for a player to feel left behind by misunderstanding terms and phrases that regularly crop up in the online Blackjack game sphere.
We’ve put together a brief overview of useful expressions that will help you navigate the exciting, choppy waters of HMS Blackjack and play Blackjack with full confidence in your knowledge:
- Blackjack: The name of the game! It’s the hand that combines any ace with a card value of 10. The only occasion it isn’t a winner is when the dealer gets it too!
- Box – Not the sport with gloves! This is the area in which you place your bets!
- Bust -It’s never good news if you see this term unless it’s about the dealer. It means your hand has crept over 21.
- Card Counting: We have all seen the movies – counting cards is a strategy whereby a player and a spotter gather around a Blackjack table to keep track of the cards to help inform their decisions. Card counting is impossible in the online sphere, though, so don’t get any ideas!
- Hard Hand – Any two face-up cards that do not contain an ace, or where the ace must represent one and not eleven, form what is appropriately called a Hard Hand, referred to as such because it only has one overall value. The opposite of a soft hand.
- Hole Card – Buried in the felt is the dealer’s face-down card, commonly known as the Hole Card. You will have no clue as to what value is attributed here.
- House Edge: The House Edge refers to the natural advantage the dealer holds over the player. Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of all the live casino games, ranging from 1.5% upwards.
- Perfect Play – When you toe the widely-accepted Blackjack strategy line, you will have made the Perfect Play. Pat yourself on the back if you achieve such grandeur.
- Shoe – The dealer rummages around the Shoe to deal the cards. The Shoe feels like a mundane name for the gateway to success and failure, excitement and dread, glory and failure!
- Soft Hand – Any hand in which an ace makes an appearance and can still act as either an 11 or a 1 without the hand going bust.
- Face cards – Any one card represented by a picture rather than a number.
Blackjack And The Secret Of SuperSeven
Now you may have spent hours reading books on strategy and studying a table to see every expression on a dealer’s face, but in this section I’m going to convince you to throw all that knowledge and finely tuned strategy to one side and bet on this simple idea- seven is the best number you can get in a hand. Split sevens will win you the biggest return on your wager for one reason- they’re undeniably lucky. Blackjack is a game rooted in luck and between a 3 and a 7, which would you pick? Therefore, split sevens is the best starting hand you can find, since it’s two of your favourite number!
Imagine this- the dealer gives you your hand and it reveals two sevens, but you decide not to split. Instead, you double down on your wager, because you have balls of steel and doubling down on a 14 is just how you start your day, and the dealer gives you your last card. You lay eyes upon yet another glorious seven, beckoning you towards your goal of 21 as you realise that, you’re already there. 3 7’s? That’s 21 already.
At this point in time, it’s probably worth reiterating that the strategy given in this guide is always circumstantial, sometimes more than others, and you should play any way you want to win at any online casino.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Types Of Blackjack Can You Play At SuperSeven?
There are multiple tables and games of online Blackjack at SuperSeven – ranging from classic versions to modern twists. Versions with differing number of decks are available as well as games with different side bets.
Can I Play Blackjack On Mobile?
Yes – all mobile devices are optimized to support playing Blackjack with SuperSeven on the move, wherever you are in the world.
What Is Blackjack?
One of the oldest casino games in existence today – Blackjack is best surmised as a card game where your objective is to get as close to 21 as possible without going bust. All playing cards in the game are of face value, except for the ace (1 or 11) or picture cards (10).
Can I Play Blackjack For Free?
You can try Blackjack for free at SuperSeven.com using the demo mode.
Is Blackjack Fun?
Yes – provided it’s done safely and responsibly. Ensure you set limits to stay in control of your play.
Is there a house edge in blackjack?
There does exist a house edge, but through utilising proper strategy and playing your hand right, you can lower the dealer’s advantage to a tiny 1.5% – one of the lowest in any casino card game.
Can You Count Cards At SuperSeven?
It is impossible to count cards online at SuperSeven, and it is illegal in all land-based casinos.
What Else Do I Need To Enjoy Blackjack?
Nothing, you’re good to go! This guide can’t guarantee you a pair of aces in every hand but, armed with the knowledge you now have, no dealer will be prepared for you. Click here to learn about other areas of the online casino world