Be it an online blackjack tournament or one staged in the ordinary bricks-and-mortar type casino, blackjack (or “21”) still reigns supreme as the most popular game for gamblers.

One reason – and it’s a good one – is because newbies never have to put in a lot of time to learn how to play, (initially, that is). Even people who are not acquainted with this kind of games can easily grasp the goal of reaching 21 and a few simple rules such as never hitting on 16, and so on… and they’ll win enough to keep going.

But blackjack represents something else altogether to the seasoned and dedicated card player: an opportunity to nudge the odds against the house into their own back yard. No other game of chance offers the possibility to increase the odds of winning just by being really good at what you do and able to think your way through a problem.

Granted, a mind that is friendly with numbers is of great advantage when playing blackjack. Even though “counting cards” is frowned upon, it’s still the true name of the game. Let’s face it, intuition and being perpetually lucky is only going to get you so far.

These days, you can go to numerous Indian reservation casinos, put up your dough, and have at it. But entering into an online blackjack tournament has great advantages.

Most online blackjack tournaments, unlike those “real” casino games, are free to enter. All you usually need to do is register online to play, hand over your e-mail address, and jump into the fray.

Normally an online blackjack tournament is played with six card decks. Players, good players, compete and win real live money at online poker tournaments. Not bad, to sit at home in your jammies and play cards!

Casino tournaments in cyberspace are really fun, too. You can pit yourself against the best of the best, if you want to, and make a little bit or – sometimes – a great big cash prize. A lot of these online tournaments function by requiring everybody to put up a “registration fee.” That money converts into the prize money and nobody loses more than whatever they put up.

If you’re really lucky, you can find an online blackjack tournament with a big payout. Some offer fabulous incentive prizes ranging from free new cars to cash bonuses up to $35,000. Some online casinos put together monthly sweepstakes and gifts, lotteries and prize drawings… just to prove how lucky you really are.

The thrill, mind games with other players and the possible gains make the game very popular. The fact that the game is easy if you play it in an amateur level but very complex at pro level makes it appealing for different kinds of players and again, increases the number of players.