The reason why blackjack is so popular is that unlike many other casino games, it can be won using the right strategy and skills. Granted, it requires the most preparation and knowledge out of any game, but players can trust that all their efforts will be worthwhile. The more they play the game, the greater the chance they have of beating their opponent, in this case, the casino. So, there are many different strategies they can learn and try, making the whole game very interesting and challenging.
Introduction to Blackjack-Basic Rules of Blackjack
As mentioned, the basic rules of the game are not too difficult to understand, and this is why many people believe they have a good chance of winning. To do this, players need to reach the final score of twenty-one without exceeding it.
They are competing against the house, and this is why their total hand needs to be higher than the dealer. Players can also win if the dealer’s total hand exceeds 21 or if they get a blackjack against any dealer hand.
If the dealer’s hand is closer to twenty-one, or the players go over this number, the result is ‘busting’ or losing the round in simple terms. However, many casinos offer many additional options to continue the game, making it more exciting and enticing for them.
For example, when players manage to make a blackjack, they receive a bonus payout that may vary depending on the casino. Most gambling places offer bonus payouts of 3 to 2 for blackjacks, matching one and a half times the original player’s bet. A blackjack occurs when players have two cards in their hand – an ace and a card that gives them ten points.
Introduction to Blackjack-Card Values
At this point, the common question is how the cards are valued. The card system is not complicated, and it can be described as relatively straightforward. The ace is the most powerful card in the deck because it can be counted as one or eleven, and it entirely depends on the players’ ‘careful decision-making.’ A queen, king, and jack are valued at ten points, and the other cards are counted with the numeric value written on them.
In this sense, when players have a face card and an ace in their hand, they should count it as eleven to reach the exact twenty-one of Blackjack. Often, they are paid even money for their bet, except in cases when they have a Blackjack as the payout for this is 3/2. It’s worth mentioning that the payout may vary, depending on the casino and the variations of the game, which is why it’s always best to double-check it early. It is printed in large font on the table felt.
This method is called “peeking” for a blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack, they will reveal their hole card, and all players will lose unless they also have blackjacks. In general, hole-card games offer better playing conditions and achievements.
The second card dealing style prevails in European and Australian casinos. When a round of play begins, the dealer receives only one face-up card and gets their second card only after all players have completed their hands. It may seem like a small difference, but it significantly tilts the odds in favor of the casino.
For now, it’s enough to mention that the term refers to when a person posts a bet on another seated player’s hand. This option is also available online in live-dealer blackjack tables. The difference is that there is usually no limit to the number of bets that patrons behind a seated player can make.
Another thing to consider, even when playing in a land-based venue, is related to the number of decks. If a blackjack game is made with one or two decks, players will receive their cards face-up and can handle them to check their values without removing them from the table. The dealer holds the deck or decks in their hands in this case.
Games with four to eight decks are dealt from a shoe, where the dealer draws cards one by one. Players’ cards are dealt face-up, and it is strictly prohibited to handle them. The same goes for tapping your chips when you have already placed a bet. All these rules are essential for maintaining the integrity of the game and preventing cardsharps from cheating.
The games with one to two decks of cards are dealt by hand, with the dealer holding the deck of cards in their hand. Players’ cards are dealt face-up, and the dealer shuffles and deals the cards.
Introduction to Blackjack-Buying In and Playing Order
To join the game, players need to first buy some chips from the dealer at the table. The banknotes should be placed on the felt and not directly given to the dealer. House representatives are strictly prohibited from taking money directly from the players.
The dealer will spread the banknotes on the table so that the surveillance can clearly see how much the player is buying. The pit boss, meaning an employee of the casino placed in charge of blackjack tables, will also confirm the transaction.
The dealer will give the player the corresponding amount in chips. The player is now ready to make their first bet. The chips are placed inside the betting box without touching its boundaries. Players should note that they cannot change the size of their bets or even touch their chips once the card dealing has begun.
The minimum and maximum betting limits are displayed on a small plaque on the side of the table. These limits vary depending on the regulations and where you are playing. Card dealing starts to the left of the dealer and continues clockwise.
The dealer gives one face-up card to each seated player and then one face-down card to themselves. They make a second pass around the table, repeating this process, and this time, they receive their second card face up.
Now, everyone at the table has two cards and can make their playing decisions. Decision-making starts from the player seated to the left of the dealer and continues clockwise, in the same order of card dealing.
Each player must add the values of their first two cards to determine the strength of their hand and decide how to play it. The dealer is the last person to play their hand. They reveal their hole card and complete their hand based on the confirmed rules outlined by the house.
Introduction to Blackjack-No Decision-Making for Blackjack Dealer
Dealing blackjack can be a tedious job since no decision-making is involved in the process. Instead, blackjack dealers follow house rules when playing out their hand. There are two common variations of the dealer’s standing rules, the first one being “The dealer must draw to 16 and stand on all 17s.” Once the dealer reaches or exceeds 17, they must stand pat and cannot draw any more cards to their hand.
The second rule requires the dealer to draw to 16 and hit soft 17. This rule slightly tilts the winning odds in favor of the house. Contrary to popular belief, a total of 17 is not considered strong enough in blackjack. Therefore, a dealer hitting soft 17 gets the opportunity to increase their hand’s value and outdraw the players.
Introduction to Blackjack-Glossary of Blackjack Moves
Aside from the rules of the game itself, there are also some actions that indicate how players should act during the game. For example, talking at the table is not recommended, and to indicate their next move, they need to use specific actions. However, before explaining them in detail, there are some terms used in the game that should be familiar to every gambler.
In Blackjack, players ‘hit’ when they want to take an additional card and ‘stand’ when they want to finish their turn. ‘Split’ is when two cards have the same value, and therefore, they are separated to create two independent hands.
Players need to make a second bet equal to the value of their original bet before they can split a pair. The dealer automatically takes one card for each split to complete it. The two hands are then played sequentially.
‘Doubling down,’ as the name suggests, is a move where the player places a double bet, gets one more card, and finishes their turn. This move is recommended only in some specific situations and against specific dealer cards. The same goes for splitting.
Players, realizing at some point in the game that they are certain to lose, can ‘surrender,’ meaning they give up half of their bet to fold their bad hands. It’s worth noting that some casinos do not allow this move as it can be highly advantageous in certain situations.
If possible, late surrender is more common. This is when a player can only fold their hand after the dealer determines if they have a blackjack when their face-up card is an ace or ten.
On the contrary, early surrender is when a player can withdraw from the round before the dealer checks their face-up card for a blackjack. Early surrender is pushed to extinction due to the massive advantage it provides to players. The rule is still available online in some selected variations of blackjack.
Introduction to Blackjack-Hand Signals for Blackjack Playing Decisions
Since this is only the theoretical part of the game, the next step is to clarify how these rules are actually applied in the game. To hit, players need to tap the table with their fingers, and to stand – wave their hands over their cards.
They can split by placing additional chips next to their original bet and spreading their index and middle fingers in a V-shape. To double down, players need to post additional chips equal to the size of their original bet and place them next to the chips for the first bet but not on top.
As for surrender, players need to draw a horizontal line behind their betting position using their index finger. Useful to note is that soft-footed dealers sometimes make mistakes in hand signals for surrender, including it with the tap signal. To avoid such mistakes, players are advised to always state their decisions along with making the corresponding hand signals.
Also, it’s crucial to know that when you have placed your bet but are still waiting to be paid, the chips should not be handled in any way. Another very important thing is that players should avoid increasing their bet if they are losing because it will only contribute to losing more money in the long run.
Introduction to Blackjack-What Does Dead Hand Mean in Blackjack?
If you’re a fan of playing or watching poker, you’ve probably heard commentators talking about “dead” hands. The term is used for hands removed from play due to a violation of table rules. The hand is “dead” because it is not valid due to the violation. The term “dead” hand is also used in blackjack, but it’s a misnomer in this case.
It refers to situations when all players at the table go over the maximum total of 21, automatically losing the round. When this happens, the dealer will only reveal their face-up card for surveillance purposes, place the players’ cards in the discard tray, and collect the lost bets from the felt.
They will not take any hits even if their total hand is less than 17. There is no point for the dealer to complete their total and waste additional cards because they have already won the round against busted players. This is one of the main reasons why the house has an advantage over blackjack players, even if it’s small. We’ll discuss this topic later in this guide.