One of the most popular casino games in the world, blackjack has acquired a devoted following in online casinos as well as in their land-based counterparts. The subject of many a novel and movie, this is a game with an almost mythical status, and you can play it right here at PlayFrank Online Casino India.
While it’s difficult to know the exact origins of blackjack, or twenty-one as it’s also known, it’s thought the game likely originated in Spain. The first reference to ‘twenty-one’, or ‘Veintiuna’ as it’s called in Spanish, can be found in a short story written by Miguel de Cervantes in the early 17th century.
Unlike many other card games where players are pitted against each other, in blackjack participants play against the dealer. Played with 52-card decks, the aim of the game is to achieve a high-value hand that is closest to 21 without actually exceeding it.
Blackjack is a favourite casino card game the world over, but this hasn’t always been the case, particularly in the US. It wasn’t until casinos began to offer more attractive odds, for example, a player getting an ace of spades and a black jack, that Americans really began to sit up and take notice of the game. After this, people were soon referring to the game as ‘blackjack’, and the name stuck, all but replacing its original moniker of twenty-one.
At PlayFrank, our players in India can enjoy access to multiple versions of blackjack. Both online blackjack and live casino blackjack are available, and each variation is customised with distinct settings and features to fit individual player preferences.
The rules of blackjack are straightforward and easy to understand, making the game accessible to beginners and experienced players alike. You can improve your gameplay with a variety of strategies, but the basic strategy is a tried and tested, and popular, technique.
Although the rules of online blackjack and live blackjack vary from game to game, they’re fundamentally the same in concept. To form a winning hand, all a player has to do is collect cards that are closest 21, but don’t exceed that number. King, Queen and Jack cards each have a value of 10, the aces are either 1 or 11, while the number cards keep their face value of 2-10.
Once you’ve made your bet, the game has begun, and you’ll be dealt your cards. The dealer will then deal their own hand, placing one of the cards face up and one face down. Depending on your hand and the dealer’s, this is a game where you could, potentially, walk away with big wins.
When you enter the PlayFrank games lobby, you’ll notice that we have online blackjack (under table games) and live blackjack (found in the Live Casino). If you’re new to the world of online casino, and the prospect of playing a live game seems a bit daunting, give online blackjack a try first. It's a great way to familiarise yourself with blackjack, and because the game is run by software, you’ll find the game layout to be well structured and simple to understand. You can even opt to play in free demo mode if you prefer to practice first before playing a real-money game.
Please note: Indian players are now required to register first to be able to play in demo free-play mode. Signing up at PlayFrank Online Casino India is quick and easy, though, and can be completed in a few minutes, after which you can enjoy all our games in free demo mode.
For those of you looking for a more authentic casino experience, where the stakes are high and the dealers real, there’s always live blackjack instead of online blackjack. Enter PlayFrank’s Live Casino lobby and you’ll see there are an extensive range of live blackjack games to choose from. When you play live, you’ll feel like you’re right in the heart of the action thanks to the different HD camera angles and the ability to interact with the live dealer. If you’re a high-roller, you can always take a seat at one of the exclusive VIP tables.
As well as the classic varieties, PlayFrank also offers players in India several other versions of online blackjack and live blackjack. These include Blackjack Gold Series, Blackjack Atlantic City, and Double Exposure, to name but a few. All of these games can be played in demo mode, so you can take some time to brush up on your blackjack skills.
In Single Deck, where only one deck of cards is used, bets are placed, and the cards are then dealt. Players receive two cards, face up, while the dealer will have one face down and the other face up. The next step is to decide whether to stand, hit, place more bets, or double down. Any decision will depend on the cards you and the dealer have each drawn.
Much like the classic versions of blackjack, the objective of Double Exposure is to achieve a hand as close as possible to 21 without going over. The main difference is that two 52-card decks are used. Also, in this variation of the game the dealer will stand on soft 17, improving a player’s winning chances.
The card games of pontoon and blackjack are closely related, although they do have distinct differences, perhaps most notably in their unique terminology.
In blackjack, when you want another card you refer to as a ‘hit’, whereas in pontoon, to request the same action you would say ‘twist’. A ‘double down’ in blackjack is to double your bet and receive an additional card, while in pontoon this would be known as a ‘buy’. Another difference is that blackjack only allows you to double down with your original cards, while in pontoon you’re permitted to have more than two cards in your hand when you opt to buy.
Finally, pontoon features the Five Card Trick, in which a player must collect five cards adding up to 21 or less. This hand beats all others, with the exception of the pontoon hand itself, where a player gets exactly 21 with two cards. Also, payouts for 21 are better in pontoon, with a two-card 21 getting you odds of 2 to 1, as opposed to the usual 3 to 2 for the same hand in blackjack.
We have a fantastic variety of online blackjack and live blackjack games available to players at our online casino India. So many, in fact, you really will be spoiled for choice! So, sign up with PlayFrank, make your first bet, and play this iconic game today.