How to Play Premium Blackjack

Premium is a variant of online Blackjack that gives you a better chance of winning than in some other versions of the game, because only four decks are used. Play for real money or free!

Different to some other Blackjack games, only four 52-card decks are shuffled together and dealt at the start of each hand.

Dealers do not receive a hole card. They will stand on a soft 17 (a hand featuring an ace that totals either seven or 17). Should you hit Blackjack you will be paid at 3:2 odds.

More betting options become available as the hand progresses. For instance, players can double down on any two-card hand. This means you can double your initial bet, so long as you are committed to ‘standing’ after receiving one additional card from the dealer.

Players can also split two cards if they are paired or of equal value. So if you are dealt eight-eight, two-two, king-jack, queen-ten, or other similar combinations, you can create two hands for an additional wager of the same amount. Here are some additional rules on splitting:

• You may split twice for three hands in total
• Aces may be re-split once and receive only one card on each split hand otherwise
• You may double down on any two-card hand, including after a non-ace pair split.

Our Single Player tables allow you to play up to five betting positions (or ‘boxes’) per game round. Just click on one or more boxes to place a wager.

On our Single Player tables the action proceeds at your pace, without a timer to hurry you along. Bet sizes can be selected easily by using the chip icons, the slider or by typing the amount you wish to wager. Click on Clear to start again, or Deal to commit to the bet and start the hand. After the hand is complete, use the Re-Bet button to repeat the same wager on the next hand.

If you prefer to play with company, join one of PokerStars Casino Multi-Player tables. Here you can enjoy Blackjack in a more social and interactive setting, with a few differences in gameplay.

Unlike at our Single Player tables, at Multi-Player tables you can only occupy one betting position per game round. There’s also a timer for each action to ensure the game moves along at a suitable pace and you’re not left waiting for someone to act. Just like at Single Player tables, the bet amounts and wagers are made using the chip icons, slider and/or input field.

Players are not allowed to ‘surrender’ in Premium. But if you think the dealer is about to hit Blackjack, you can buy ‘insurance’. This means should the dealer hit Blackjack, you’ll be paid 2:1 on your bet.

The theoretical return to player (RTP) for Premium Blackjack is 99.67%.

Please note that malfunction voids all pay-outs.