Blackjack is considered one of the most popular casino games, enjoying a mainstream fame unlike that of other card games especially films, TV and books.
It is believed that Blackjack, or 21 originated in Spain, due to the fact that the first references of the game were recorded recorded in a short story by Miguel de Cervantes. At the time the game was called “Ventiuna” or “21”. Players do not play against each other, and instead they play against the dealer. Played with decks of 52 cards, the objective of the game is to form the highest-value hand possible, without exceeding 21.
When it was introduced in the United States, 21 wasn’t very popular. Players only became interested when casinos started to introduce bonuses and favourable odds such as the 10-to-1 payout which included an ace of spades and black Jack. Lo and behold, this is how its name came about.
PlayFrank offers multiple versions of the game, both online and in live casino rooms. Each game is customised with different settings and features to suit different preferences.
Whether you’re still a beginner, or an expert, the rules the play are very straightforward. Your gameplay can be improved if you follow different strategies, but one of the most popular techniques is the basic strategy.
Even though rules vary from one blackjack game to another, all of them follow the same concept. The game begins when the players makes a bet. All you have to do is form a hand that does not exceed 21. The Jack, Queen and King cards are valued at 10, 2-10 keep their face value, whilst the aces are either 1 or 11.
To begin the game, choose the size of the chip, place your bet, and deal your cards. The dealer will then proceed to dealing his own hand out wherein one of the cards is face up and the other is face down. You can easily win a fortune if you play your cards right, based on the dealer’s card.
Still a beginner in the online casino world? PlayFrank still has you covered. Before opting for a live game, start familiarising yourself with online blackjack first where everything is handled by the software, and the layout of the game is structured in a way that is extremely easy to understand. To practice, you have the option to play in demo mode.
Please note: British players are no longer able to play the free demo mode unless they register. Signing up at PlayFrank does not take more than a few minutes. Once you are a member you can enjoy all our games in their demo free-play mode.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to play a game where the stakes are high, PlayFrank gives you the chance to play live blackjack games with real dealers, which are found in the live casino lobby. Playing live offers a lot different features compared to online blackjack. You get the chance to see everything from different angles, interact with the live dealer, and place higher bets while using the special VIP tables.
Besides classic versions of the game, PlayFrank offers other varieties of Blackjack including Blackjack Atlantic City, European Blackjack Gold Series, and Double Exposure amongst others. Should you want to brush up on your skills, all of these can be played in demo mode too.
In Single Deck, only one deck of cards is used. A bet is placed before the game starts and then the cards are dealt. The dealer will have one card face up, and the other face down, while you are dealt two cards both face up. Depending on what cards you have drawn, and the one the dealer has, it’s up to you to decide whether to stand or stop, hit or draw, double down, or place more bets.
The goal of Double Exposure is the same as that of a classic game of blackjack; to form a hand of 21 or higher. Only in this case, two decks of 52 cards are used. The dealer stands on soft 17, giving you better chance to increase your winnings.
Whilst Pontoon is very similar to Blackjack, there are some differences that are worth taking note of, such as the terminology.
‘Hit’ lets the dealer know that you want another card in Blackjack, whilst ‘Twist’ refers to the same action in Pontoon. If you want to ‘double down’, in Pontoon you have to say ‘buy’, to double your bet and get one more card. In this case, another difference between the two is that in Blackjack you can only double down your original cards, while in Pontoon you can have more than two.
The Five Card Trick is also a noticeable difference when playing Pontoon card game. You will need to collect five cards that add up to 21 or less. By paying 2 to 1 odds, this strategy beats a non-pontoon 21. In Blackjack, players are rewarded when they are close to totaling 21 than the dealer.
Blackjack is a fantastic game, which has been referred to on paper and on screen for years. It’s not a wonder that it is regarded as one of the most beloved casino table games. Sign up with PlayFrank and make your first bet today!