In late March 2019, online blackjack in West Virginia became legal when act H 2934 passed into state law legalizing online casinos and all associated online casino games.

Blackjack is expected to follow the lead as it has in other states in the U.S. and around the world and quickly become the most popular of all online casino games in West Virginia, primarily due to its high-odds of winning against the house, giving online players their best chance of recording big wins and protecting their payroll for use in other casino games and sports betting.

Blackjack is thought to have piggy-backed into the United States with the arrival of French and Spanish immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries, and is now the favorite of all casino games in both land-based and gambling online in legal online blackjack casinos across the U.S.

How to Play Blackjack Online

Blackjack’s nickname, ‘21’, could not make the objective of game any clearer – get as close as you can to the cards in your dealt hand totaling 21 (blackjack) without being beaten by the dealer. Begin playing blackjack online, by learning these simple blackjack tips, giving you the fundamentals of how to play blackjack online:

  1. Choosing a bet amount from your on-screen stack of chips and click on the ‘bet spot’ on the blackjack table to place your wager.
  2. You will be dealt 2 cards by the dealer.
  3. The dealer is also dealt 2 cards; one card face up, one card face down (often referred to as the ‘hole card’).
  4. Take one of these options to improve your hand into a winning one. You can double down, hit, split or stay to get as close to 21 as possible.
  5. The dealer’s hand is then played.
  6. The hand closest to 21 without going over (‘busting’) the magic number is declared the winner and is paid out.
  7. Any player who goes over 21 and busts loses the hand and their wager automatically.

Blackjack Glossary

Learning the terminology of blackjack is essential to becoming an online player that wins at blackjack 24/7. There are a handful of terms to get to know to begin that will assist you to understand online blackjack fully;

  • Hit – To ‘hit’ (also known as drawing), is to ask to receive another card to attempt to bring your cards combined value closer to 21.
  • Stand – To ‘Stand’ is to choose to stop being dealt additional cards, and keep your current hand’s total. For totals of 18 and above, it is recommended to stand in most scenarios.
  • Double Down – Doubling down is the option to double your original wager after examining your current hand, and in return receive only one additional card to be dealt.
  • Split – You may ‘split’ a hand comprised of two cards of equal value, into two hands. Continue to play each hand separately.
  • Surrender – For whatever reason, you can choose to forfeit your hand by ‘surrending’ and retain half of your bet. Often used when a dealer’s face up card is of 10 in value.
  • Insurance – If the dealers face up card is an ace, you may insure against the dealer landing a blackjack, by placing a side bet called insurance. The insurance payout is 2-1 which means if you bet as much on insurance as your original wager – you will break even, even if the dealer lands a blackjack.

Blackjack Rules

Blackjack rules are very simple and easy-to-understand, without great variation between land-based and online blackjack casinos. Here are the basics to get you started;

  • The simple aim of online blackjack is to beat the dealer with a higher card total and finish on or closest to 21, without going over 21.
  • When your cards total exactly 21 in value, the dealer will pay you out at a rate of 3 to 2.
  • If you and the dealer both have cards that total 21, no chips change hands – a neutral result.
  • If you have a card total higher than the dealer and under 21, the dealer will pay you out, matching the amount of your chips.
  • When your card total finishes lower than that of the dealer, the dealer ‘wins’ and your bet is lost.

Blackjack Card Values

Knowing the card values is essential to winning hands of online blackjack.

Follow our easy card value breakdown that will help you put together a winning blackjack hand with little knowledge required of blackjack strategy.

  • ‘Royal’ cards – i.e. J, Q and K all equal 10.
  • 2 to 10 numbered cards are face value.
  • Aces can be 1 or an 11, whichever helps you best construct a winning hand.

Blackjack Betting Strategy

To be a successful online blackjack player over the long-term, winning frequently and protecting your bankroll, it is advised that you follow the basic blackjack strategy.

To begin to use the basic blackjack strategy, you’ll to use a blackjack strategy chart to follow the best possible in-game actions (until you’ve memorized the choices).

By learning the basic strategy, you’ll be playing perfect blackjack regularly, winning often and lowering the house edge on a consistent basis.

Basic Strategy

The simplest method to win at blackjack on a long-term basis is to use the basic strategy chart. Strategy charts are founded on three different aspects: what action you should take, based on dealer’s face-up card, and your hand.

Even for players with sharp, analytical minds and a knack for calculating mathematical probability, knowing when to hit, double down, split or stay requires plenty of practical experience to learn. For most of we mere mortals without those super powers, the basic blackjack strategy will help you win on a regular basis. By using and following the strategy chart below, you can lower the house edge to as little as 0.5%.

The strategy chart outlines precisely what action you need to take for every potential combination of dealer and player hands. By playing blackjack online, you have an intrinsic advantage, in that can take your time in consulting the chart as you memorize each action through practice. Print the strategy chart below or have it opened in another internet tab to consult as you begin the learn the basic steps in blackjack strategy.

Basic Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack Tips

  • Practice – Most online casinos offer the possibilities to experience their online casino games for free. Playing online for free is a great way to practice, learn blackjack rules, memorize the basic strategy, and develop your own playing style.
  • Money management – Protect/maximize your bankroll, by learning when to increase or decrease your wagers using the strategy chart.
  • Always double down on an 11-value ace or a 10-value card.
  • Always split your Aces and 8’s to increase your winning chances by creating two potential winning hands.
  • Never take Insurance – It is never a mathematically sound decision to take insurance when faced with the risk that the dealer may sit on a blackjack. The risk is no more than 30% that the dealer’s second card is a J, Q, K or 10.

Free Blackjack Games

Every online blackjack player has a different favorite online blackjack game. To discover which is your favorite blackjack game for free, take advantage of the free blackjack games online.

All the best quality online casinos usually offer the opportunity for players to play their games for free, for game familiarization and practice purposes.

It is highly recommended to take advantage of the many possibilities to play online blackjack games for free to practice before moving on to play for real money.

Online Blackjack Games

In West Virginia’s online casinos, a number of different online blackjack variants are available, all with slightly different house edges and a contrasting set of rules. The most common blackjack games in West Virginia’s online casinos are Atlantic City, European, Double Exposure and Classic Blackjack Gold Series Multi Hand;

  • Atlantic City Blackjack – Atlantic City blackjack utilizes 8 full decks of cards as you play directly against the dealer.
  • European Blackjack – European Blackjack was created as a way to eliminate card-counters. The dealer cannot see the hole card, you are permitted to double down on 9, however, you cannot split 5’s or 10’s. With the rule changes, the raise the house edge is increased.
  • Double Exposure – In Double Exposure, he dealer’s cards are dealt face up. In theory, it should give an edge to the player, however, the edge actually returns to the house. In Double Exposure, blackjack only pays out at 2-1 instead of the usual 3-2, making the house edge higher than traditional blackjack.
  • Classic Blackjack Gold Series Multi-Hand – The most common of all online casino blackjack types and unique to internet casinos. Up to 5 hands can be played simultaneously making multiple chances to win and dynamic gameplay action

Best Blackjack Casino

Some online blackjack games are enjoyed by some more than others and it’s a matter of personal preference. There’s no definitive method to assess one online blackjack game as better than another.

At Play-westvirginia.com, we can assist you in determining the best online blackjack games, and provide information on which online casinos offer you the best welcome deals, deposit and withdrawal choices/processing times and customer service outcomes. We cut through the internet information overload for you with our;

  • Online blackjack game reviews/previews and playing guides;
  • Thorough online casino review service;
  • Explanations on how online casino welcome bonuses and the merits of each for you.

Find links to our recommended online casinos below. All choices offer fantastic entertainment with the best in the latest release online blackjack games available in West Virginia.

Enjoy your online blackjack play to the fullest – and good luck!

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