In American Blackjack, the croupier deals two cards to the player face-up. The dealer's first card is face-up and the second card is dealt face down. The objective of the game is simply for the player to put together a stronger hand total than the dealer, without exceeding 21. If your hand total is greater than 21, you automatically lose – irrespective of the dealer’s hand total. When you go over 21, you bust and it's game over.
After your first two cards have been dealt, it's decision time. You can choose to hit (take additional cards), stand/stay (stick with your hand total), double down (take one more card and stand), split (play two separate hands when you have identical cards), or take insurance (when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace). In American Blackjack, like other variants of the game, a natural blackjack (Ace +10-value card) is the strongest possible hand. A three-card 21 or greater is not blackjack, and will always lose to a natural blackjack.
But here's the thing: You don't need 21 to beat the dealer. Any player hand total that is greater than the dealer’s hand total will win the round. In blackjack, a winning hand pays even money. Of course, if your opening two cards are blackjack – you're in the money. As soon as you have completed your actions, it's the dealer's turn to act. The dealer must draw on 16 and stand on all 17s (hard and soft). Recall that a hard 17 includes an Ace valued at 1, or no Ace at all. A soft 17 by contrast includes an Ace valued at 11. Either way, whenever a dealer has a hand total of 17+ they have to stand. Your goal is simply to beat the dealer's hand total, given these rules.
American Blackjack games are really easy to play at 888casino Canada. Now, it's decision time – how many hands will you play? You can play 1 hand up to 5 hands simultaneously. That's right folks! American Blackjack is a multi-hand blackjack game. Next, pick your bet size. There are low minimum C$ bets for casual players, and high maximum C$ bets for the high rollers. Your betting possibilities are available on the bottom right of your screen. Customized table color options are possible too. You can even switch off the background beats, and toggle Turbo mode (on/off) as you wish. Don't forget to click Save to lock in your preferences.
Get this – you can even practice American Blackjack free before you play for real. This is a great way to test your blackjack skills at zero risk of loss. Once you are ready, deposit at the cashier and play for real. Naturally, we encourage responsible gaming on every play, so set a budget and stick to it. Choose your chip value and click the bet button on the table. You must meet the minimum and maximum bet requirements for each round of play. With that out of the way, simply click the Deal button to get the action going.
Whether you’re playing 1 hand or 5 hands, the action unfolds in the same way. A single face-up card is dealt to each hand that you are playing in turn, followed by a second face-up card. The dealer's first card is dealt face up, and the other face down. You can choose how to play your hands with all of the action options available. In American Blackjack games, any hand total that exceeds 21 automatically loses. Each hand is evaluated on its merits. You'll know instantly if a hand busts, because it automatically loses and is unplayable. Once you've played all your hands, any payment due to you will be paid, and a new round of blackjack begins.
If you wish to play the same bets as the previous round, simply continue betting. You can also clear the deck and start afresh. It's worth highlighting that the dealer must draw on 16 and stand on all 17s. Sometimes, you'll be able to Double Down which allows you to double your bet for one final card. No additional betting will be permitted once you've doubled down. As always, once you've finished betting, it's the dealer's turn. While many players can participate in American Blackjack games, players compete against the dealer, not against one another.
