Thanks to films like 21 and Rain Man, blackjack has a reputation as a complicated game that requires a mathematical genius to crack it. The good news for you is that, unless you’re planning on cultivating some dodgy playing tactics, it’s an easy game to learn, and your maths skills needn’t extend beyond the ability to count to 21.

The setup is simple: place your bets before gameplay starts; once done, each player is dealt out two cards, face up, the dealer retains two cards but only turns over one. Based on the number total of your cards – and how close to 21 that total is – and the rank of the dealer’s exposed card, you need to decide whether to hit or stay. If you have a low total, you can request another card by clicking hit, or if you’re on a higher total, anything from 14 upwards, you can choose to stay.  If you choose the hit option and the total remains low – eg, you started out with an ace and a 2 and you were dealt another 2, then you have the option to click hit again and be dealt a fourth card. This is risky but it sometimes pays off. Once everyone has clicked stay the dealer will then turn over their second card. When all is revealed, whoever is closest to 21 wins the pot.

There are myriad blackjack strategies you can employ, but don’t feel pressured into learning them before you’ve mastered the basics.

Beyond the basic rules, online casinos and game providers have opened up a world of ingenuity for blackjack variations – here are some of the most common ones.

They say that variety is the spice of life, in which case blackjack must be a jalapeño, because the variations are seemingly endless! The first variations are the rules: same game but the odds are different depending on which rule you’re playing with. These rule variations can also be combined in many ways. Next we have the standard variations: Vegas Strip, Atlantic City and European. These versions are named for the places in which they are played. Finally, we have online casino variations: these are games based on blackjack that have been designed by game providers specifically for online gambling, including games like Perfect Pairs, Progressive Blackjack, Double Exposure, and Blackjack Switch.

If you’re someone who is low on time or just enjoys a fast-paced game, blackjack is ideal for you; the gameplay is quick and each round only lasts a couple of minutes. 

If you’re new to table games this is also a great game for you; the rules are easy to learn and you can get up and running within minutes. Many online casinos also offer free demos of their games and so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get your eye in.