This article contains everything you need to know about Arkadium's BlackJack game.
Use the list below to navigate specific topics about BlackJack.
How to play
Blackjack is a truly iconic game, the ultimate casino challenge.
Goal. The goal is to win as much money as possible from the house (represented by a DEALER). The dealer, unlike you, does not make his own decisions, so it's all about your patience, luck, and careful calculation of your strategy. Enjoy the game!
Bets and Chips. First, at the start of each round, you will need to make a BET. It can be anywhere from $1 to All In.
By clicking your chips of appropriate value, you place your bet on the table (you can click the bet on the table to take the chips back).
Once cards are dealt, bets cannot be changed until the next round.
NOTE: an All-In button will bet all your money at once if you feel lucky
Deal. Once a bet is made, click DEAL.
The dealer will give you two cards, which form your HAND, and two cards to themselves. One of the dealer's cards will be hidden at first.
To win, you need to ensure the combined value of your cards is greater than that of the dealer.
Hit and stand. You can add more cards, one by one, by choosing to HIT, but be wary: you must never exceed 21.
NOTE: whoever gets more than 21 loses automatically
Once you're ready to play the hand, click STAND. The dealer will then reveal their hidden card and must always Hit if they have 16 or lower. When they have 17 or more, they will stop hitting.
Card value. An Ace can be worth either 11 or 1, automatically picked to give the best possible combination.
Any face card (J,Q,K) is worth 10, and any other card is worth the nominal value.
EXAMPLE: Queen and 10 are worth 20, while King and Ace are worth 21. Ace and 9 will be worth 20, but if a 7 is added, an Ace will become 1, for a total of 7+9+1=17
Winning. Whoever gets exactly 21, in most cases, wins.
A tie (PUSH) will simply refund the bet to the player.
Going over 21 (busting) is an instant loss.
You win by making the dealer go over 21, or by having a higher value, such as 20 against the dealer's 19. Blackjack, a natural 21 (with the two initial cards) beats any combination except another Blackjack, even a non-Blackjack 21.
Winning will reward you with double your bet.
EXAMPLE: $2000 for a bet of $1000, to $1000 of pure benefit. A BlackJack has a slightly higher payoff of 3 to 2, such as $2500 for a bet of $1000, or $1500 of pure benefit
Double and split. Unlike the dealer, you can DOUBLE your bet once cards are dealt (but before you Hit or Stand).
You will have to take exactly one more card and then immediately Stand.
If you get two cards of the same value (such as 7 and 7, A and A, or even 10 and K), you can play that hand or choose to SPLIT.
When you Split, you make two new hands, each with a bet equal to your initial bet, composed of one of your duplicate cards and one new card each.
Once Split, each new hand will be played like usual, against the same hand of the dealer, with separate win or loss. You can even Split again, if possible, up to 3 times per deal.
NOTE: both Double and Split can only be done if you have enough money in the bank to increase your bet
Insurance. Insurance is a move you can make after cards are dealt with but before any other actions.
If the dealer's revealed card is an Ace (a high chance for Blackjack), you can choose to place an additional bet, half of its original size. This bet is separate from the actual bet.
If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the insurance is lost, and the game continues. If the dealer does get a Blackjack, however, you will win double (2 to 1) of your insurance. The dealer will still win the deal, but you will make up for the loss (to even money). Use it if you think there are lots of 10-cards left in the deck.
Rules are changing. You can choose to change the rules of the game at any time, though a deal in progress will finish before the changes take effect on the next deal.
The things you can adjust:
- Will the dealer hit on soft 17 (when they have a value of 17 with an Ace+6)?
- How many full 52-card decks will the cards be drawn from?
- The more decks, the larger the pool. Do you want to allow Insurance?
- Do you want to automatically make a bet equal to your last bet on each round?
Advice and shuffle. You can use the advice to ask advice from the dealer. Based on your hand, which cards remain in the deck, and how likely you are to bust if you hit, you will be advised to hit, stand, double, or split.
Shuffling the deck occurs between rounds once less than 60 cards remain in the combined decks. If a single deck is used, it is reshuffled every round. Until shuffled, the deck will not reuse the cards that have already been dealt.
Cash out and score. Once you believe you've set a record, use Cash Out to claim your high score! This will conclude your game… Or you can make a new bet to try and win even more. It's a risky game, but fortune favors the bold.
Your progress is saved if you quit, so come back later to continue. Should you run out of money, try again: there's no limit on attempts! We wish you a gambler's lucky streak!
Tips
Online Blackjack offers players the chance to experience the excitement of the classic casino card game from the comfort of their own homes. To help you become a skilled online Blackjack player, we've assembled a list of essential tips that will elevate your gameplay and improve your winning potential.
1. Learn the Basic Strategy:
Understanding the basic strategy is fundamental to your success in Blackjack. Familiarize yourself with the optimal plays for each hand you're dealt, based on the dealer's upcard. Memorize it, and stick to it consistently.
2. Know When to Double Down:
Doubling down is a powerful move that can maximize your potential winnings when used correctly. The best opportunities to double down are when you have a total of 10 or 11, and the dealer's upcard is a low-value card (2-6).
3. Master the Art of Splitting:
Splitting can be advantageous or disastrous, depending on the situation. Always split Aces and 8s, as this improves your chances of receiving a strong hand. Conversely, never split 5s or 10s, as you already have a strong total.
4. Consider the Dealer's Upcard:
The dealer's upcard is a vital piece of information that should influence your decision-making. If the dealer has a low-value upcard (2-6), they're more likely to bust. In this case, play conservatively and avoid taking unnecessary risks. If the dealer has a high-value upcard (7-A), play more aggressively to try to beat their potential strong hand.
5. Say No to Insurance:
Insurance is a side bet offered when the dealer's upcard is an Ace. While it may seem tempting, the odds are not in your favor. In the long run, insurance bets will cost you more than they save, so it's best to avoid them.
6. Keep Emotions in Check:
Emotional decision-making can lead to poor choices and decreased winnings. Stay disciplined, adhere to your strategy, and accept the inevitable ups and downs of the game.
By implementing these tips, you'll be well on your way to mastering online Blackjack. Practice and persistence are key to honing your skills and developing a winning strategy. Stay focused, have fun, and remember that the more you play, the better you'll become. Good luck, and may the cards be in your favor!
Settings
In order to access the settings menu in BlackJack, click on the menu icon on the top right of the game.
This will open the settings menu, which will have several options for you to customize your game. All of them are named for ease of access.
Close. This will close the menu tab.
Sound. This will turn the sound of the game on and off.
Dealer Hits On Soft 17. This will switch whether the dealer will hit or stand on soft 17.
Insurance. You can turn Insurance on and off with this option. Read more about it in the How To Play section.
Repeat Last Bet. With this option turned on, the game will automatically store the last bet's value into the next one, so you don't have to repeat it every time.
Auto-Advice. This option will provide frequent advice for beginners at the game.
Decks. You can choose whether you want to play with 1, 2, 4 or 6 decks with this option. As said, it will only apply on the next deal.
Help. Click here if you need a refresher on the game.
Cash Out. You can click here to quit the game and keep your current winnings.
Fairness
We investigated how fair our game is, and here are some takeaways:
- 52% of all hands played resulted in losses.
- 39.5% result in wins.
- 8.5% result in pushes (ties).
- 49% of all hands played resulted in losses.
- 42.5% result in wins.
- 8.5% result in pushes (ties).
Arkadium BlackJack numbers are in line with the global statistics. Our percentage pushes match exactly, but our loss ratio skews 3% higher than the average.
Scoring
General formula:
Final Score = Payout + Rank Bonus
Payout. The payout score is equal to the amount of cash won above the starting allowance of $1,000. If the cashing out is less than $1,000, the payout score = 0.
Rank Bonus:
| Rank | Score |
|---|---|
| House Wins | 0 |
| Draw | 1000 |
| Bronze | 1001 |
| Silver | 2500 |
| Gold | 10 000 |
| Platinum | 25 000 |
| Diamond | 100 000 |
| Star Diamond | 250 000 |