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Introduction to Online Blackjack

Playing blackjack online is becoming more popular as players realize how easy it is to learn and play the game. Once a player learns the basics of the game, play becomes easy and can provide hours of entertainment. At its advanced levels, online blackjack does require some analysis and skill. Players can gain a slight advantage by anticipating opponents’ moves and understanding what moves yield a higher percentage of wins. There is also the luck factor. Sometimes the cards are in a player’s favour and other times they are not. Regardless, playing online blackjack can be a lot of fun.

The Basics Of Play

The game of blackjack dates back to the 1700s, and caught on the in the U.S. when Old West saloons began to offer higher payouts if a winning player’s hand contained either the Jack of Spades or Jack of Clubs. This is where the name “Blackjack” evolved. Originally titled “Twenty-one,” in the game players are dealt two cards and can continue to draw cards until they reach 21. If a player’s cards total more than 21, the player loses. Players compete against the dealer, who must also try to reach the magic number, 21. If no player hits 21, the player with the highest card total closest to 21 without going over is the winner of the hand.

Playing Online

The game is no different online. The same rules apply but now players can enjoy the game right from their own home. There is no need to drive to the casino. Players can get in front of their computer and play online blackjack without having to leave home. Less experienced players can choose to play online blackjack for free to learn the game. As players progress and their skill level improves, they can sign up with an online casino and place wagers and play for money. A good place to get started playing online blackjack for free is http://freeonlineblackjackca.com/!

Online Blackjack Variations

While the game of blackjack is entertaining and fun, online casinos offer a number of variations of the game to keep things exciting. These variations are based on the original game, but with some added twists. Like the original game, players need to familiarize themselves with the rules and play several games for free before attempting to play for money.

One variation that players will find is Blackjack Switch. Players play two hands at one time and are permitted to switch their second card between the two hands. A player with a 10 and 6 in his first hand and a 5 and 9 in the second can switch the second cards and have two much better hands. The ability to switch hands gives players an advantage against the dealer. As a result, the dealer’s rules are slightly different and a true Blackjack pays out even money, not 3:2 as in most online casinos. Still, the game is an entertaining twist on the original Blackjack.

Another unique version is Pontoon. In this variation, players get a 2 to 1 on Blackjack, which is called a Pontoon. If the dealer gets a Pontoon, the dealer wins. In fact, the dealer wins all ties in Pontoon, which is one disadvantage for players in this variation. Players can win on a Five Card Charlie – five cards without going over 21 – no matter their point total. A winning Five Card Charlie hand scoring a 19, for example, pays out 2:1. The dealer wins, though, if he has a Five Card Charlie that totals the same.

Where To Start

Whether you have played online blackjack or not, if you want to start it’s advisable to play online blackjack for free first. There are several sites where you can play for free and learn the basics and some of the strategies that can help you become successful as a player. As mentioned above, freeonlineblackjackca.com is a good place to start, as it offers 14 variations of online blackjack for free and also has a few nice casino offers if you choose to move on to the real thing. Good luck!

Introduction to Baccarat

While modern James Bond films show the international superspy participating mostly in poker, the British secret agent’s game of choice – as established in the original Ian Fleming novels – was baccarat. That fact is enough to make many aspiring gamblers want to sit down at their casino’s baccarat table, order a martini (shaken not stirred, of course) and start betting. However, before you can live out your dreams of playing 007 for a night, you need to master the rules of his favourite card game.

Baccarat is unique among casino card games like blackjack and poker in that many people have no idea how it is played. Luckily, the gameplay for baccarat is actually fairly straightforward and you can use strategy. The game’s name, ‘baccarat,’ comes from the Old Italian word for zero. (Baccarat was invented in Italy back in the 14th century, when the words of the language were slightly different.) The number zero is relevant to the game of baccarat because it is the point value ascribed to the face cards in the deck (the jacks, queens and kings) as well as to the 10. The rest of the cards in the deck bear their face value, with aces worth a single point each. The overall goal of the game is to land a score of 9 points, or to get closer to 9 points than the dealer (also called the banker).

The gameplay of baccarat is similar to that of blackjack. The player and the banker are each dealt two cards and both are aiming for a certain number. One notable difference is that the player can bet on either his own hand or the banker’s hand, but must do so before cards are dealt. Once the hands are dealt, if the value of either hand is 8 or 9, the game is over and no further betting need take place (though draws are possible).

If neither the player nor the banker wins outright, the game may move to a third card. However, unlike blackjack, baccarat is entirely a game of chance and the player’s moves are dictated by the rules. If the player has a hand totaling 6 or 7 points, he or she must stand. If the hand value is below that, he or she must ask for another card. If the hand total goes into double digits, the second digit is the value of the hand (e.g. a hand showing 15 points is actually worth 5). Depending on what card the player draws, the dealer will face different rules on whether they stand with their current total or draw a new card.

Play Casino Games Online

Should you play casino games online? If you go back a few decades ago, you would find that locations like Las Vegas really were the only places for you to find casinos. Later, casinos developed in other towns and now they are wide spread around the world. Is it a good thing or a bad thing that these casinos are now on the web, too? Online casinos can be a lot of fun, when you know what to look for.
Contrary to what many people believe, online casinos do provide people with an ability to have fun and to win some money, assuming you place real bets with your own funds. It is also important to keep In mind that when you play at these casinos, you do have to be in charge of yourself, and responsible for your actions. Finally, you need to play at the right casinos offering security.

Play Casinos Responsibly

When it comes to playing at online casinos, there are several things that you have to keep in mind. First off, you want to select a trustworthy casino and you want to ensure that you know how to play the games you are playing there, to ensure that you have the ability to actually win money at the casino. But, you also have to take responsibility for yourself when playing at any casino, in traditional form or on the web.
In other words, protect your financial status by only playing with money that you can afford to lose. In addition, it is a good idea to set some limits for yourself. Decide on one dollar amount that you are allowed to spend when playing at the casino and when it is gone, you stop playing. This way, you protect yourself from losing a great deal of money when playing at online casinos. You can read more about responsible gambling at gambleaware.co.uk

Play Online Casinos You Can Trust

You should not trust all of the online casinos that you find. This is the same as saying that you should not trust all of the people you meet on the streets or all of the casinos you find in your favorite cities. Not all casinos are the same. However, it goes without saying that you can trust many of them if you do a few things to check them out before you start playing at the casino itself.
Check out the casino’s security. Does the security offer the level of protection that you need? It should have a secure website to protect your personal identification information. It should also have a game play that is free from glitches that end up costing you money. The bottom line is this. If you do not feel like you can trust the casino, then move on to one that you feel more comfortable playing at.

Winning Money At Casinos

Have you heard the rumor that you cannot win money at online casinos? Did you know that many people said the same thing when the huge casino complexes along the coastlines and in Las Vegas were developed? They are money pits, many said. While it may still be true that you are likely to lose more money that you make when you are playing at these casinos, there is a bit more to focus on, here too.
If you select the right casino, have a bit of skill in playing the games and you pair this with a bit of luck, you can win at online casinos and you can win big there, too. Many people find themselves in a place where they can make a substantial amount of money just by playing casino games that they already know and love. Why should you not play these casino games and win, too?