The Basics of Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world. While the game may look complicated and confusing to a newcomer, it is actually a very simple card game. The objective of the player is to beat the dealer by having a higher total value hand without going over 21. The cards are dealt from a conventional 52-card deck, and suits do not count. Numbered cards (2-10) are worth their numerical value; face cards (Jack, Queen and King) are worth 10 points; and Aces can be ranked as either 1 or 11 points.
The player can choose to hit, stand or double down in a given turn depending on the situation and their point total. Some players also make side bets in the form of insurance and surrender. The game has a very high winning potential, and is often referred to as the “king of casino games”.
When playing blackjack, players do not compete against other table members like they do in Poker games. In fact, the other hands at the table have nothing to do with the outcome of a player’s hand. In fact, if another player has a better hand than the player, this is known as a tie and neither player wins the bet. This is why unskilled patrons of the game try to fool the uninformed by claiming that it is a team sport, but it’s not.
If the player has a hand that adds up to 21, it is known as a ‘blackjack’ and it is an automatic winner. A blackjack beats any other hand that does not have a blackjack, including any ‘busted’ hands that the dealer has. In the event of a tie, both the player and the dealer will push their bets.
Unlike most casino games, blackjack offers an element of choice and players can significantly reduce the house advantage to less than one percent through a practice known as basic strategy. This strategy determines when to hit, stand, split and double down based on the player’s point total and the dealer’s visible card. However, there are slight variations in basic strategy depending on the exact rules of a given casino.
Before the dealer begins official play, players have the option of buying insurance or surrendering. Insurance is equal to the original bet and is paid out 2 to 1 if the dealer has a blackjack. Players can also place a side bet called the ‘Dealer Match’ which pays when the player’s cards match the dealer’s up card.
Once the players have played their hands, the dealer will reveal his or her own up card. The dealer will then check for a blackjack using a special viewing window in the table. If the dealer has a blackjack, the bets are paid out immediately. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, the original bets are returned to the players.