Alongside poker, roulette and slot machines, blackjack is one of the most popular casino games out there. It has been played in many different ways for literally hundreds of years, and many of us are familiar with it.
Thanks to Bond, we are all fairly familiar with the game and how it works and many play blackjack online for real money.
What makes blackjack a unique game is that you can apply a different strategy to each hand you play, it depends on the cards, you may apply one strategy to one hand, and another to a different hand.
The strategy in blackjack can be difficult to grasp, but the game does not really need a strategy to be as fun and exciting as it can be.
Once you understand the most basic outlines of how this game is played, you can still have fun and make money, strategy is just a bonus for lowering the house edge.
What Is Blackjack?
So, for all those who are new to how this game is played, what exactly is blackjack?
It is a card game that is played where you will go head-to-head against the dealer. You are attempting to make up 21, or get as close as you can to it without going over.
When you have a higher score than the dealer does you will win, if your score is lower than you lose. If you have a lower hand, but the dealer has gone over 21 then you win, and vice versa.
The cards will each have their own value, numbered cards 2-9 will each represent the number at face value, so 2 is 2, 6 is 6, and 8 is 8, and so on. Cards 10, Jack, Queen, and King all represent 10, and an Ace can be either 1 or 11.
You will combine the value of each of the cards in your hand to get your total, and if you get 21 this is blackjack. However, if you get 22 then you lose no matter what the dealer may have.
How To Play Blackjack Online
The dealer will have a deck of 52 cards, although sometimes they have more than one, but this doesn’t really change anything.
You must make a bet to show you are in, then the dealer will deal you two cards, and they will also receive two cards. Your cards will be face up, and the dealer will have one card face up and one face down. You act first.
You have a few decisions you can make.
You can hit, which means you take another card from the dealer. You can do this endlessly until you go bust (meaning you go over 21).
You can also stand, which means that you don’t want more cards and are happy with how you are.
You may also double down, this means that you will pay a second bet at the same amount as the first to buy another card. Winnings will be paid out based on the total of your bets. In blackjack this is the only way you can increase your bet.
You can also split, which is to split one hand into two. You will have to match your first bet for this second hand, and each hand will work as different bets. It is recommended to do this if you have 2 8’s or 2 Aces.
Once you have made your play the dealer takes their turn. The rules of the table will dictate how they play their hand.
Once the betting is done, your score and the dealers are compared and whoever is closest to 21 will win. However, in the event that you and the dealer both have the same then neither of you win, and you keep your stake. This is known as ‘push’.
What To Know About The House Edge
Every game in a casino, online or on land will be subject to the house edge.
Every game is set up to favor the casino.
In blackjack the house edge is one of the lowest there is. The house edge will vary from game to game, but in some it can be as little as 1%.
The house edge is how much the casinos keep, so a slot machine may be 97% RTP which is great, but means they will average at paying $0.97 to a player per $1 played. So they keep $0.03.
In blackjack if you adopt a strategy, playing your cards right, you can minimize the house edge by half!
