Free Blackjack: Play For Fun

How to play blackjack games for free

Nearly all top online casinos have free demo blackjack games that allow you to enjoy the fun of 21 without placing real money stakes. While live dealer blackjack is reserved to real money players, free players usually have access to demo versions of the casino’s other blackjack titles, such as Double Exposure and Blackjack Switch. This means you can experiment with a few different blackjack variations, even when you’re playing for fun.

Why play free blackjack?

Whether you’re new to playing blackjack, slots, roulette or any other casino game for that matter, it’s wise to take advantage of free games before jumping into real money casino games. Of course, free games are a great way to enjoy your favourite titles without putting real money on the line, but there are also other benefits. We’ve highlighted the advantages of playing free blackjack.

Get to know the rules

With a plethora of blackjack variations available to online casino players, free online blackjack games can help you understand the rules of each. While all games will have the same aim— get as near to 21 as possible without exceeding it— each will have its own nuances. For example, in Blackjack Surrender you can forfeit your hand and give up half your bet, while in Blackjack Switch you receive two hands and can switch the second card in each hand. Playing at free blackjack tables can help you learn the ropes to save you making any mistakes when real money is on the line.

Experiment with side bets

Perfect pairs, insurance, 21 + 3 and over/under 13 are just a few of the different side bets you can make across blackjack variations. We’d recommend you stay away from side bets when you’re playing with real money, but you can experiment with the effects these bets might have if you’re playing blackjack for fun.

Develop your strategy

Blackjack is partly determined by luck, as you’re wagering on cards being drawn randomly. However, a player’s experience, skill and strategy can help them make more calculated decisions and prevent unnecessary mistakes. While figuring out when to hit, stand, split and double may seem simple at first, it’s not always that simple. While all players should familiarise themselves with basic blackjack strategy before they play, free games are an ideal way to develop more complex playing styles with composition-dependent strategies that consider the individual cards in your hand, as well as the total. For example, your hand total may be 12, but your move will vary depending on whether this total comprises of two sixes or an eight and a four. Of course, it’s important to bear in mind that strategy will change depending on the blackjack variation you’re playing and how many decks are in play.

Understand table limits

Minimum and maximum bet limits will vary between blackjack games, and it’s important to understand how these work- especially if you’re playing with a specific strategy. If you’re playing a simple double down strategy— increasing your stake after each losing hand— you’ll need to know how many consecutive losses you can make before reaching the limit. In fact, regardless of whether you’re playing low stakes or high stakes blackjack, it’s important to know the boundaries and find a strategy that works. Playing a range of different free blackjack games can help accustom you to playing with different limits before you start risking your own money.

Blackjack rules – the basics

Even if you’re playing free blackjack games, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of the rules before you play. Luckily, blackjack is one of the simplest card games to get to grips with. The aim is to get as close to 21 without going bust- exceeding 21.

The game starts with you placing your bet before you and the dealer being dealt two cards. Often the dealer receives one face up card and one face down, but this can vary in different games. Once you’ve reviewed your hand, you’ll need to decide which move to make. The moves that come as standard in a basic blackjack game include:

• Stand – sticking with the cards in your hand
• Hit – risking the addition of another card to your hand
• Split – splitting a pair of matching cards into separate hands
• Double-down – agreeing to double your stake and stand after you draw another card from the pack

Players will continue to make these decisions until both players stand, or someone busts. Whoever gets the closest to 21 wins- it’s that simple.

Wondering how you can make up your blackjack hand? It’s pretty simple. Cards numbered 2 to 10 are worth their pip value, while Jack, Queens and Kings all have a value of ten and players can decide whether Aces are worth one or 11, depending on the hand in question.

Play free blackjack on your mobile

Wondering whether you can enjoy free blackjack on a mobile device? The answer is yes, you can! All of our recommended casinos provide a stellar mobile platform, either through a mobile-optimised website or a native app for iPhone and Android devices.

The top casino software developers also design their games to be played seamlessly across different devices, so you’ll have access to a range of top blackjack titles when playing via mobile. NetEnt is particularly well-known for its range of mobile casino games, thanks to the NetEnt Touch platform.

Ready to play blackjack for free?

Now that you understand more about playing free blackjack online, you’re probably keen to give it a go for yourself. Take a look through our list of top-rated UK casinos to find the best place to play blackjack for free. All you need to do is compare, pick out a favourite casino site and start playing. Good luck!