Another name for Blackjack is 21. It is one of the most popular classic card games played both on online and physical casinos.
The aim of this card game is pretty simple. All you need to do is to ensure that you get a hand total score of up to 21 (remember it must not exceed 21), and you will end up smiling to the bank.
In this article, we’ll share with you how to play Blackjack, as well as how to place bets on the card game.
What is Blackjack?
Blackjack is a card game where players are expected to get a hand that is closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand (without exceeding 21). You can play this game with one or more decks of standard playing cards that will be shared to you and other players by the dealer.
How to play Blackjack?
- First wager your bets: Each player must stake a particular amount before the cards are dealt. You will find the minimum and maximum bets posted on the table.
- Accept your cards: Once each of the players have placed their bets, the dealer will then deal or give two cards to each player, face up.
- Choose either to hit or stand: After accepting your two cards, you can decide to “hit” and receive more cards or “stand” and hold your current hand.
- Dealer’s turn: Once all the players have had their turn, the dealer will then display their face-down card and hit or stand according to the specific rules of the deck game.
- Select the winner: If neither the player nor the dealer loses or busts, then the person with the highest hand value wins the game.
Basics of Casino Blackjack
Card Values of Blackjack
Blackjack at several casinos is usually played between 2 to 8 decks. All the numbered cards 2 to 10 represent the face value of each card. You will be awarded 10 points if your card represents a king, queen, or jack. You will be awarded with 1 or 11 points if you choose an ace card ( Note that the ace value is usually decided by the Blackjack player).
Rules of Blackjack Games
It is very important to understand the rules of this card game as it is quite different from other casino card games.
Blackjack is a type of card game between you and the house. In order to win, you must beat the dealer’s hand without scoring above 21.
The rules of the Blackjack game are as follows:
As mentioned above, the objective of this card game is as simple as ABC. All you need to do to win is have a higher hand value than the dealer ( it must not exceed 21).
Each of the players is dealt two cards. They can decide to choose to “hit” (receive more cards) or “stand” (hold their current hand). The dealer also gets two cards, but only one is face up.
As a player, if your hand exceeds the 21 score, it means “bust” and you will lose the game. However, if it’s the dealer that busts, then it means that all the remaining players win.
If none of the players or the dealer busts, then the player with the highest hand value wins.
Strategies for Winning at Blackjack
There are no certain ways of winning a blackjack game, however, there are some approaches that you can bank on to increase your chances of success.
Let’s take a look at a few of them:
- Always imagine that the dealer’s face-down card is worth the value of 10.
- If your hand value is 12 to 16, choose to hit, especially if the dealer’s face-up card is 7 or higher.
- Should your hand value be 17 or more, choose to stand.
- Consider doubling down on 10 or 11 whenever the dealer’s face-up card is 9 or lower.
- Always ensure to split aces and 8s, but avoid splitting 10s.
Blackjack’s Good Hand
A good hand in this card game simply implies a hand with a card value of 17 or more. Nonetheless, if the dealer has a face-up card of 7 or more, then you might want to consider a higher hand value of 18 or more.
Split Pairs
The best time to split pairs in blackjack is when the first two cards that you were dealt have the same numerical value. Also, your placed bet in the second hand must be equivalent to the original bet. For example, if Aces are your split pairs, then you can only have one-card draw on each hand.
Insurance bet
You can elect for an insurance bet only when your dealer’s face up card is Ace. This bet is a kind of wager where the dealer has a blackjack. It implies that you can wager on one half of your first placed bet.
Surrender
To surrender in a blackjack game means that you are letting go of one half of your original wagering amount as soon as you receive your first two cards.
Stadium Blackjack
Stadium Blackjack is not available in every casino. It can attach you with a maximum of two live table games at the same player terminal.
Stadium Blackjack allows players to place a minimum bet of 5 USD for each hand dealt. A touch screen exhibiting two colored tabs allows you to change between tables and view live outcomes from each game played.
Here, you are allowed to wager on two games at the same time by just tapping the touch screen (with the touch of your finger).
To place your bet, enter the amount that you would like to bet by touching the casino chips at the bottom of the screen. Next, touch the closest stake circle to you.
You can get to view your wagers, winnings, and credits remaining at the bottom left portion of the screen. As the game commences, all active players get a single hand of Blackjack except for the dealer, who only takes an up card.
Regardless of the players’ winnings or losses, the dealer’s hand is finalized as a result of each player’s decision.
The perfect timing to seal a hit in Blackjack
The best time to hit in a blackjack game is when your card hand value is 11 or less, or when your card hand value is 12 to 16 and the dealer’s face-up card is 7 or more.
The best time to double down in blackjack
The perfect chance to seal a double down in a blackjack game is when your card hand value is 10 or 11 and the dealer’s face-up card is 9 or lesser. Note that with a double down, you will be dealt only one extra card.
