Some players call the game blackjack and some call it 21. No matter what you call it, learning how to💴 play it in the casino is key to having fun and maybe on occasion beating the house.
The Blackjack Revolution
Blackjack likely💴 originated in 18th-century France, when it was called vingt-et-un which translates to "21." But it exploded as a popular casino💴 game after Edward O. Thorp outlined his Basic Strategy for winning in blackjack in his 1963 bestselling book, "Beat the💴 Dealer." Which, by the way, is the ultimate objective of the game. Thanks in large part to Thorp, blackjack has💴 become not just a means of entertainment but a way to quite possibly make a living as well.
All in the💴 Cards
Blackjack is a deceptively simple game played with one, two, four, six, or eight decks of cards. The cards were💴 traditionally shuffled by the dealer, but most casinos now use continuous shuffling machines. In single- and double-deck games the dealer💴 holds the cards and deals them out. In multi-deck games, the cards are dealt out of a tray-like box that💴 is called a shoe. Some casinos feature a shoe that shuffles as well as holds the cards.
In handheld games, the💴 cards are dealt face down and players are allowed to pick up their cards. In a shoe game, the cards💴 are dealt face up to the players, who are not allowed to touch them.
Basic Play
The play is the same for💴 both handheld and facedown games. The objective is always to beat the dealer, which means getting to—or as close as💴 possible to—a total point score of 21. If your cards total higher than the dealer's cards without going over 21,💴 you win. If your hand goes over 21, you "bust" and lose your bet. If the dealer busts, you win.💴 It's an interesting feature not only of blackjack but of all casino games that the house—or casino— always has the💴 advantage. Which in the case of blackjack is 5 percent (meaning for every dollar bet, the casino keeps, on average,💴 five cents). It's another interesting feature of blackjack that the dealer's bust potential is usually lower than the players'.
Card Values
Unlike💴 in poker, the suits of the cards have no effect on the game. Only their numerical value comes into play💴 in blackjack. Cards 2–10 are counted at face value—in other words, a two of hearts, spades, diamonds, and clubs always💴 equals two points, and so on up the ladder to the 10. All face cards—king, queen, jack—have a value of💴 10. An ace can count as either one or eleven.
In the play, a queen and a five would equal 15,💴 but an ace and a five would total either 6 or 16. A hand that does not have an ace💴 is referred to as a hard hand because it has only one value. A hand that contains an ace is💴 referred to as a soft hand because the value can change. If you draw to a soft hand and the💴 three cards total a number where counting an ace as 11 puts you over 21, then the hand becomes a💴 hard hand. For example, say you are dealt an ace and a three. Your hand is either a 4 or💴 14. If you then draw a 10, you now have a hard 14 because if you count the ace as💴 11 you would have 25, which would bust you.
Table Play
Blackjack is dealt on a special table that is semi-circular in💴 shape. There is a separate circle or square for each player. When you sit down you must buy chips from💴 the dealer or bring them from another table. You then put your bet in the betting circle in front of💴 your space. Only chips put in the betting circle count as your bet. After all bets are made, the play💴 begins.
For this example, we will assume you are playing a multi-deck game and the cards are being dealt from a💴 shoe. Each player is dealt two cards face up. The dealer receives one card face up and one card face💴 down, known as the hole card. After the cards are dealt, the dealer will ask each player in turn to💴 make their decision. The player to the left of the dealer acts first. This position is known as first base.💴 The position of the last person to act is called third base. You will make your decision about how to💴 play your hand based on the dealer's up card and the two cards that you were dealt. A rule of💴 thumb for the beginner is to assume the dealer has a ten in the hole. (This is not always the💴 case, but it makes it easier to place your bets by making this assumption.)
Using Hand Signals
Remember that in a game💴 dealt from a shoe you are not allowed to touch the cards. And in all cases, you should use hand💴 signals to make your decisions known. This not only keeps the game moving it also helps prevent verbal misunderstandings while💴 letting the eye in the sky keep track of the play. These signals are as follows:
Hit — To take a💴 hit means that you want to draw another card. To signal the dealer for a hit you tap the table💴 in front of you or make a beckoning motion with your hand. If you wish another card after the first💴 you motion in the same manner.
— To take a hit means that you want to draw another card. To signal💴 the dealer for a hit you tap the table in front of you or make a beckoning motion with your💴 hand. If you wish another card after the first you motion in the same manner. Stand – Once you are💴 satisfied with your cards, you signal the dealer that you wish to stand (not receive any additional cards). You do💴 this by waving your hand over the top of your cards.
– Once you are satisfied with your cards, you signal💴 the dealer that you wish to stand (not receive any additional cards). You do this by waving your hand over💴 the top of your cards. Double Down – When you double down you are allowed to double your bet after💴 receiving your first two cards. You then receive one card only on your hand. Most casinos will allow you to💴 double down on any two cards (DOA). Some casinos limit your doubling to hands that total 10 or 11. DOA💴 is a favorable rule to the player. To signal that you are doubling down you will place an additional bet💴 next to your original bet. Most casinos will let you double down for less than your original bet, provided it💴 meets the table minimum. This is foolish. You only double in favorable situations, and it is to your advantage to💴 double for the maximum.
– When you double down you are allowed to double your bet after receiving your first two💴 cards. You then receive one card only on your hand. Most casinos will allow you to double down on any💴 two cards (DOA). Some casinos limit your doubling to hands that total 10 or 11. DOA is a favorable rule💴 to the player. To signal that you are doubling down you will place an additional bet next to your original💴 bet. Most casinos will let you double down for less than your original bet, provided it meets the table minimum.💴 This is foolish. You only double in favorable situations, and it is to your advantage to double for the maximum.💴 Split a Pair – If you are dealt a pair (two cards of the same rank) you can split these💴 into two separate hands. At which point you must make an additional bet equal to your starting bet. You signal💴 the dealer that you are splitting by placing your second bet next to your first bet in the betting circle.💴 Do not put this bet on top of the original bet. Do not separate the cards. The dealer will do💴 this for you. Neither will you play each hand one at a time. The dealer will give you a second💴 card to go with the first split card. You will then decide to hit or stand. After you play out💴 this hand and stand, you will move on to the next split card and the process will be repeated. Some💴 casinos will allow you to double down on your first two cards after splitting. You would play this as you💴 would if you were doubling down on your first two cards. This rule is favorable to the player.
Achieving a Blackjack
If💴 you or the dealer is dealt an ace and a 10-value card you have 21 known as a blackjack. This💴 is a natural. If you get the blackjack you will be paid 3-to-2 for your bet, provided the dealer does💴 not get a 21 at the same time. If you and the dealer have blackjack, that's called a push and💴 your bet is returned to you. If only the dealer has blackjack, all players will lose.
Insurance
If the dealer's up card💴 is an ace, the dealer will offer something called insurance. This is a side bet that you make by wagering💴 half your original bet that the dealer has a 10 in the hole. If you make the bet and the💴 dealer has the 10, you are paid 2-to-1. You would then lose your original bet, but win the insurance bet,💴 which works out to be a push of your original bet. If you have a blackjack and the dealer has💴 an ace, you will be asked if you would like even money for your blackjack instead of 3-to-2. If you💴 do not take the even money, you will have a push if the dealer has a blackjack. Both the insurance💴 and the even money bet are sucker bets. The dealers will NOT have 10 more times than they will have💴 one.
Surrender
Some casinos will allow you to surrender your hand and give up half your bet on your first two cards💴 after the dealer checks for a blackjack. This is known as late surrender. This option is not offered in all💴 casinos, though. It is to the player's advantage when played correctly. Unfortunately, when it is offered many players surrender more💴 hands than they should, thus giving up the advantage gained by this option.
A Simple Strategy
As you can see, there are💴 many decisions that you must make when playing blackjack. If you play your hand properly you can reduce the house💴 edge to less than 1 percent. To do this you must learn basic strategy, which is a mathematically proven method💴 to determine when to hit and stand.
Here is a simple strategy to get you started:
If your first cards total 12–16💴 you have a "stiff" hand (one that can be busted with a hit).
If the dealer's up card is a 2–6,💴 it is a "stiff" hand for the dealer.
If you have 17 or better it is a pat hand, and you💴 stand.
If the dealer shows a 7–ace, he or she has a pat hand.
If you and the dealer both have a💴 stiff hand, you STAND.
If you have a stiff hand and the dealer has a pat hand you HIT.
Although this simple💴 strategy will get you by the first several times you play the game, you really should make the effort to💴 learn even more basic strategy. If you don’t want to memorize it you can bring a basic strategy chart to💴 the casino with you. Most casinos allow them at the table if your use doesn't slow down the game.
Blackjack can💴 be the best game in the casino, with the lowest house edge, if you play properly. However, if you play💴 by hunch, it will end up being nothing but a source of frustration—and disappearing funds.
