Blackjack is a popular casino game that is played all across the world with a community of millions of die-hard fans. Having a sunny and lucky day combined with a pinch of strategy is the key to unlocking the doors of financial heaven in blackjack. The origin of blackjack, which is also called twenty-one, dates back centuries ago in Europe. It has taken the hearts of gamblers by storm in a short period with quite easy-to-learn gameplay. In this article, we will provide you with everything you need to learn to master blackjack.
What is blackjack?
Blackjack is a comparing game played with deck of cards counting the total value of the cards dealt by the dealer. In blackjack, players play against the dealer, unlike in some other games where players play against each other. The objective of the game is to have a hand with a higher total value than the dealer’s hand without exceeding 21, which is called a bust in blackjack.
Blackjack cards value:
A deck has 52 cards consisting of four suits, diamonds, spades, hearts, and clubs, each with the same value. Each suit has 13 cards from Ace to King, and 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, Jack, & Queen in between. Cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value, while Jack, Queen, and King are worth 10 points each. Ace takes either 1 or 11 in different situations depending on what is the best hand for the player.
Blackjack value counting:
The counting value of the hand requires four-grade math. For example, the total value of a queen and a 5 is 15. When it comes to Ace, things get a little fuzzier. For example, having an Ace and a 5 has a total value of 16 (Ace acting as 11), but when a player asks for another card and is dealt a 9, his hand’s total value exceeds 21 and he busts. Ace changes its role and acts as one in the previous example to make the total value of the hand 15 and avoid a bust.
How to play blackjack?
It is time to be in the trenches and play some blackjack. You can play blackjack online or in a land-based casino with beautiful blackjack tables with greedy dealers who do not want you to win. Upon joining the table, there are different seats to choose from; however, sitting on any chair does not affect the odds. You can play one-on-one with the dealer, or there can be as many as 7 players on the table. The dealer starts dealing two cards face-up to each player clockwise and only has one of his cards face-up and the other face-down (hole card).
The player adds up the value of his cards to decide to take action. The dealer starts with the first player to his left once finished dealing the first round of cards. There are different options depending on the card’s total value. Let’s take a look at them.
Hit: The player asks for another card by tapping his finger on the table. Having a low-point hand, the player asks for additional cards to add up the total value of his hand with the bust in mind. For example, hitting is a good idea with a hard 16 hand against the 7 of the dealer.
Stand: The player is satisfied with his current hand and does not want any additional cards by waving his hand over his cards, his palm facing down. For example, standing is suggested when having a soft 20 (Ace & 9).
Double down: It is when the player doubles his initial bet, and the dealer gives only one more card. It is usually only allowed when the total value of the player’s hand is 9,10 or 11 points with the initial two cards. The player mostly doubles down in the hope of getting a 10 to double his potential payout.
Split: It is only allowed when the player has two cards with the same point value. The player makes a V shape with his two fingers and puts an additional bet next to his initial bet to indicate he wants a split. For example, having two 8s makes it eligible to ask for a split and have two separate hands increasing the odds of winning. The two separate follow the same rules of two independent hands until they win or lose.
Blackjack payouts:
Standard payout: The payout for winning a hand in blackjack is 1:1, it simply means you will receive an equal amount to your original bet. For example, if a player bets 30$, he will get back his original stake and another 30$ as a winning profit.
Blackjack payout: When a player has a blackjack (an Ace and a 10) in his initial two cards, the payout will be 3:2. For example, if a player bets 50$ and wins the hand with a blackjack, he will get back his original stake of 50$ and 75$ as the winning profit.
Insurance: It is a side bet, that is only allowed when the dealer’s up-card is an Ace, which protects players from a potential blackjack. Players can place half their original bets as insurance, and receive double their bets if the dealer happens to have a blackjack and lose the bet otherwise.
Even money: The dealer offers even money when he has an Ace as an up-card, and the player has a natural blackjack to mitigate the potential risk of a push for the player. The payout is 1:1 which is instantly paid to the player.
Conclusion: In conclusion, blackjack is an exciting game that takes a little bit of time to master, but is worth the hard work. One can beat the casino down by learning and applying basic strategy. One more card please, because I am just warming up!
