For those uninitiated with live (internet) blackjack, here is a very brief description. An actual game of blackjack is dealt by an actual dealer from a purpose built studio somewhere, and a video feed of that deal is streamed live to players' computers and embedded in an interface that enables remote participation in the game.
Casinos and software developers providing this type of game tout it as the closest thing to being at a real casino, without actually being there. The dealer is real, the cards are real, and importantly, the outcome of each card deal is determined by irrefutable random chance, rather than a random number generator and computer graphic. But live blackjack players should note that there are many different options out there, in terms of how the game is presented, applicable house rules, and deal conventions. The following touches on a few of the major points of differentiation to be aware of, as well as some key facets of live blackjack that are worth considering.
To start with, the distinction between single deal and multiple deal live online blackjack games should be made.
Generally live deal online blackjack games are offered in multi-player format where each betting round involves hands being dealt to multiple players sitting at the table. This format is similar to what you would find in most traditional casinos, where you take your place at a seven seat table and each player plays his/her hand in turn.
Not quite as common, are live deal online blackjack games where the dealer deals a single 'player' hand, albeit to many players. Under this scenario, while typical blackjack rules apply and each player is still plays their own hand, a different deal convention is used to account for different decisions made by players. As an example, you may find that despite standing on a given hand, the dealer will continue to deal cards to the 'player' hand. These are for players who have chosen to hit etc. The obvious failing of this type of game is the fact that it departs slightly from how you are dealt your hand in a traditional casino. The benefit, however, is that games are appreciably quicker than their multiplayer counterparts (particularly when the table is near full!), as each player is given anywhere up to 40 seconds to make each play.
Another key consideration is the relevant house rules. While 'standard' blackjack, if there is such a thing (ie dealer stands all 17s, blackjack pays 3:2) is the standard offering, some live online casinos offer significantly different blackjack variations. One of note is Blackjack Basic Strategy With Early Payout, which a few casinos offer. This game requires players to follow the basic strategy play with an option at any stage of the deal to surrender the hand and take an applicable payout amount.
Last but not least, an important consideration for the would-be counters out there, is the policy live casinos follow with regard to the stage at which shoes are re-shuffled. The common approach taken is to deal from an eight deck shoe and re-shuffle around mid-shoe. Having only 4 of 8 decks to play with doesn't give counters much of an opportunity to penetrate the shoe and employ an effective counting strategy.
Casinos and software developers providing this type of game tout it as the closest thing to being at a real casino, without actually being there. The dealer is real, the cards are real, and importantly, the outcome of each card deal is determined by irrefutable random chance, rather than a random number generator and computer graphic. But live blackjack players should note that there are many different options out there, in terms of how the game is presented, applicable house rules, and deal conventions. The following touches on a few of the major points of differentiation to be aware of, as well as some key facets of live blackjack that are worth considering.
To start with, the distinction between single deal and multiple deal live online blackjack games should be made.
Generally live deal online blackjack games are offered in multi-player format where each betting round involves hands being dealt to multiple players sitting at the table. This format is similar to what you would find in most traditional casinos, where you take your place at a seven seat table and each player plays his/her hand in turn.
Not quite as common, are live deal online blackjack games where the dealer deals a single 'player' hand, albeit to many players. Under this scenario, while typical blackjack rules apply and each player is still plays their own hand, a different deal convention is used to account for different decisions made by players. As an example, you may find that despite standing on a given hand, the dealer will continue to deal cards to the 'player' hand. These are for players who have chosen to hit etc. The obvious failing of this type of game is the fact that it departs slightly from how you are dealt your hand in a traditional casino. The benefit, however, is that games are appreciably quicker than their multiplayer counterparts (particularly when the table is near full!), as each player is given anywhere up to 40 seconds to make each play.
Another key consideration is the relevant house rules. While 'standard' blackjack, if there is such a thing (ie dealer stands all 17s, blackjack pays 3:2) is the standard offering, some live online casinos offer significantly different blackjack variations. One of note is Blackjack Basic Strategy With Early Payout, which a few casinos offer. This game requires players to follow the basic strategy play with an option at any stage of the deal to surrender the hand and take an applicable payout amount.
Last but not least, an important consideration for the would-be counters out there, is the policy live casinos follow with regard to the stage at which shoes are re-shuffled. The common approach taken is to deal from an eight deck shoe and re-shuffle around mid-shoe. Having only 4 of 8 decks to play with doesn't give counters much of an opportunity to penetrate the shoe and employ an effective counting strategy.
