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Blackjack, or 21 as it was originally known, can trace its earliest roots back to Spain, when the game was first referenced in a short story by Miguel de Cervantes. In Spanish, the game was called ‘Veintiuna’ (21). Unlike many other card games, players do not play against each other, rather they play directly against the dealer. Using decks of 52 cards, the object of the game is to get a hand closest to 21 without actually going over.
It may come as a surprise that 21 wasn’t all that popular when it was first introduced to the United States. It wasn’t until casinos began offering bonuses and favourable odds that players started to show more interest in the game. One of these desirable odds was the 10-to-1 payout, which comprised of an ace of spades and a black Jack – and so the name blackjack was born.
There are multiple versions of blackjack available at PlayFrank Online Casino New Zealand. You can play both online blackjack and live blackjack, with each version of the game featuring different settings and features to suit player preferences.
The rules of blackjack are pretty straightforward, making the game easy to understand whether you’re a beginner or an expert. There are a variety of strategies that you can employ to improve your gameplay, however, the basic strategy is a tried and tested one and has proved popular among players.
Although blackjack rules can vary from one game to another, every game follows the same general concept. Once the players have made their bets, the game has begun and all they have to do is get a hand that is closest to, but does not exceed, 21. King, Queen and Jack cards are valued at 10, aces can be either 1 or 11, while number cards keep their 2-10 face value.
The game begins once you have placed your bet and the cards have been dealt. The dealer will then deal their own hand wherein one card is placed face up and the other face down. If you play your cards right in relations to the dealer’s, you could be in for some big wins.
If you’re still a beginner in the world of online casino, PlayFrank has you covered, because players have the option of playing online blackjack first, where the game is run entirely by software, before jumping into a live game. The online blackjack version of the game allows players to familiarise themselves with the game in a structured and easy to understand manner. You can even practise by playing online blackjack in demo mode if you don’t feel ready to play for real money yet.
Please note: Players in New Zealand must now register first to be able to play in the free demo mode. Signing up at PlayFrank is quick and easy and doesn’t take more than a few minutes. Once you’re a member, all our games are available for you to enjoy in their demo free-play mode.
For players looking for that authentic casino experience, where the stakes are high and the dealers real, PlayFrank offers live blackjack in its live casino. Playing live provides players with a unique set of features compared to online blackjack. You’ll find a variety of live blackjack games in our live casino lobby, giving you the chance to see all the action from different angles, interact with the live dealers, and place higher bets at the exclusive VIP tables.
At PlayFrank we don’t only offer the classic versions of online blackjack and live blackjack, we also have many other varieties available, including European Blackjack Gold Series, Blackjack Atlantic City and Double Exposure, to name but a few. And if you want to brush up on your blackjack skills first before playing with real cash, these games can all be played in demo mode.
As the name suggests, in Single Deck one deck of cards is used. When the bets have been placed, the game can begin and the cards dealt. Players will be dealt two cards face up, while the dealer will have one card facing up and the other facing down. Any decision on whether to stand, hit, double down, or place more bets will depend on the cards you and the dealer have drawn.
Just as with any classic game of blackjack, the aim of Double Exposure is to form a hand of 21 or lower. The difference in this game being that two decks of 52 cards are used. Also, the dealer will stand on a soft 17, giving you an increased chance of boosting your winnings.
Pontoon and blackjack are very similar to one another, although there are a few distinct differences between the two worth mentioning, most notably the different terminology.
In blackjack, the term ‘hit’ tells the dealer you want another card, while in pontoon, the term for the same action is ‘twist’. To double your bet and receive one more card in blackjack you would ‘double down’. However, in pontoon you would instead say ‘buy’. Also, in blackjack, you can only double down using your original cards, whereas in pontoon you can have more than two cards in your hand.
Then there’s the Five Card Trick in pontoon, where you need to collect five cards adding up to 21 or less. This strategy beats a non-pontoon 21, because it pays 2 to 1 odds. In the case of blackjack, players are rewarded when they’re closer to 21 than the dealer.
Casino table games don’t come much more famous than blackjack, and whether you’re playing online blackjack or live blackjack, they all have an air of excitement and anticipation that’s hard to beat. Sign up at PlayFrank today and you could be playing blackjack in no time at all.
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