The game of Blackjack remains one of the most popular card games found in casinos around the world. Even as technology has evolved and new games developed, this classic game of comparing cards has stood the test of time.
Since the shift to online play, a newer form of Blackjack has gained in popularity that combines elements of the digital and physical casino. Live Blackjack is an online game that features a live dealer rather than a computer algorithm, so let’s take a look at how gameplay works in this hybrid format.
Blackjack basics
Before we get into the live dealer elements, first it’s good to brush up on how any standard game of Blackjack works. The core of the game rests on players aiming to get a hand total closer to a value of 21 than the dealer, without going over that number.
At the start of a game each player is dealt two cards, with the dealer being dealt one card face up and one face down. Play then proceeds around the table as each player decides on the actions they want to take, whether that’s taking additional cards or keeping their hand at its current value.
Numbered cards all count for their face value, with the Jack, Queen and King all valued at 10 points. Only Aces have a variable value, counting as either a one or an 11, depending on which would benefit the overall hand more.
How a game of live Blackjack works
In many ways, a game of live Blackjack works much as a game played in a land-based casino would. The major difference here is that the players are not in the same physical room as the dealer, connecting to the game via an online interface.
Live Blackjack games also vary from other online offerings in some crucial ways, mainly in the fact that players can connect to an instance mid-game. This means that entering players may need to wait for the dealer to finish the current round before they can engage in any gameplay themselves.
Once a player joins the game and a new round begins, the dealer will deal out the cards to each player and themselves. These are relayed to players through the high-quality cameras that capture every aspect of the physical Blackjack table.
Through the user interface on their device of choice, players can choose which actions to perform on their turn. Depending on the value of their initial hand, they can opt to stand (keeping their hand as is) or hit (taking an extra card to potentially boost their hand value).
Their decisions are communicated to the dealer through the game interface, allowing them to deal out any additional cards as requested and manage the physical cards and table.
Once each player has taken their turn the dealer will reveal their face down card. If their hand value is lower than 17, they will hit until they reach at least that number, creating the possibility for them to go bust if they draw a high-value card.
When the final value of the dealer’s hand is determined they will compare it against each remaining player. At this stage, any player with a better value hand who hasn’t gone bust will receive their payout.
If you understand the basic rules of Blackjack then it’s a simple step to figure out a live dealer game.
