Blackjack

Blackjack or 21 as it's known in Europe, is one of the most popular gambling games. There are quite a few variations to Blackjack, but we'll just stick to the basics for now. Just as simple as it is challenging, the whole idea of the game is to have a hand value that is closer to 21 than that of the dealer, without going over 21. A “Blackjack” or a “Natural” is when you have a two-card hand of 21, like an ace plus a ten-value card, and this, as expected from the name of it, is an immediate win.

In Blackjack, an ace can either count as a 1 or 11; cards numbered from 2 through 9 count at face-value; the 10, Jack, Queen, and King are all valued at 10. The suits of the cards have no significance; the value of a hand is simply the additive sum of the points for each card.

Unlike many games, Blackjack provides players with choice and advantage, by playing what's known as the ‘basic strategy', this amongst other strategies, is where players can actually minimize the casino advantage to a small percentage. There are different versions of the basic strategy depending on house rules and the number of used decks. Generally speaking, this strategy is based on the decisions of when to ‘hit' or ‘stand', and when ‘doubling down' or ‘splitting' is the best option. It's based on the player's total points and the dealer's visible card

Blackjack Rules

High roller players love it, because it's mainly a game of skill and therefore high level of gaming skill can be acquired in time, thus would diminish the house advantage even further.

If you receive an ace and a ten-value card as your first two cards, you have Blackjack and win one and a half times your bet. If the total value of your cards is closer to 21 than the dealer's, you win as much as you had wagered (if your bet was $10, you receive $20). If the total of your cards is more than 21, you “bust” and lose your bet. If you and the dealer have the same card total (17 and up) neither of you win and your bet is returned to you in a “push”. Blackjack beats a score of 21.

A blackjack player needs to have some basic qualities to win:

• Knowledge of the rules
• Ability to keep records
• Mental readiness
• Self control
• A gaming plan

Play rule for the dealer:

• Total: 16 or less - Dealer's action: Hit
• Total: 17 or greater - Dealer must Stand

Options for Player:

• Hit: When a player hits, he receives another card from the dealer. The player must consider the value of the cards in his hand. If he has 11 or less he can't bust, therefore always hit on a hand of 11 or less. If the player's hand is 12 or above, the player runs the risk of busting if dealt with a 10 value card.
• Stand: Not requesting another card. If the player's hand is 18 or greater the best option is to stand.

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Blackjack Terms: other options for the player

Split
If your first two cards have the same point value, you may split them into two separate hands by placing a second bet equal to the original bet. You then proceed to draw cards. You may draw as many cards as you like on each split hand, but if you split two aces, you receive only one additional card for each ace. If you receive an ace and a ten-value card in a split hand, it is counted as 21 and not Blackjack.

Double Down
After you are dealt two cards, and think that another card will allow you to beat the dealer's hand, you can increase your bet by an amount up to your original bet or “double” your bet. Your wager is doubled, and you are allowed to receive one more card. It is advised that always double down when your original hand is 11. That is because the odds of getting a 10-value card is great. (1:3)

Insurance
Insurance is considered to be a game of its own within Blackjack. If the dealer has an Ace as his up card, you'll be given a chance to buy insurance. When you buy insurance, you're betting that the dealer has a blackjack. It allows you to try and protect yourself when you think that the dealer may have Blackjack. When buying insurance, you place half of your initial bet by pressing the Insurance button. If the dealer does have Blackjack, you are paid 2 to 1 on your insurance bet. If the dealer doesn't have Blackjack, you lose your insurance bet.

10 Card Charlie
It is theoretically possible for the player to draw 10 card without going bust. In this case the player's hand automatically wins, except when the dealer has Blackjack.

Surrender
The player forfeits half of his original wager, but doesn't risk the remaining half when he has a week hand. Then the dealer takes half of the player's bet.

Virtual Blackjack Table

Payouts:

Losing Strategies:

No-bust strategy: Hit only when there is no risk in busting and stand on any hand when there is a chance to bust and hoping that the dealer will bust. This is a losing strategy because the dealer will always have a better hand when not busting than the player has and won't bust often enough to counter the losses of the player.

Imitate the dealer: Losing strategy because the bust hands of the dealer and the player are handled differently. When a player busts, he always lose his bet. However, when the player busts before the dealer completes his hand, the dealer does not lose even if he busts. That is because the player must play his hand first.

Blackjack strategy table