Blackjack is a simple card game, played by more people than they play roulette, craps and baccarat together. It is mainly a game of chance decided by chance, but there is also a strategic component. Thanks to the advice in this article, you too can challenge luck in one of the most popular casino games on the planet.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: For Absolute Beginners
Step 1. Learn the values of the cards
In Blackjack, each card has a value that remains constant throughout the game. The goal is to beat the dealer and not exceed the score of 21. Here are the values:
- Numbered cards: the number represents the value of the card;
- Figures: The value of the figures is 10;
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Aces: 1 or 11. They are worth 11 (usually) if the score does not exceed 21, otherwise they are worth 1.
- Consequently, an ace and a ten make 21, which is a blackjack.
- A hand with an ace is called "soft".
Step 2. Learn what your options are
On your turn, you have two choices:
- Card: The dealer assigns you a new card. You can hit (the exact term is hit) until you pass the score of 21.
- Sto: keep the cards you have and pass the turn. You will not be dealt any other cards during the hand.
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In certain game situations, you have additional possibilities:
- Insurance: This option is only available when the dealer has an ace up. You will place a "new" bet which will pay out 2 to 1 if the dealer hits a blackjack. You will lose the previous bet (which would have been paid 1 to 1), but you will win the insurance, ending the hand even.
- Double Down: You double your bet and get alone another card. Usually this option is only used when your starting card rank is 8 to 11, a soft 12 or a soft 19.
- Split: You can split your hand in two if you have received two cards the same. Tens, jacks, queens and kings are worth 10. If both of your hands win, you'll get a double payout. If only one is a winner, you will finish the hand in a draw. If both hands lose, you will lose double the bet. Divide hands by separating the cards and placing a second bet equal to the first.
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Quit: In many cases, you have the option (before playing and after figuring out if the dealer has blackjack) to give up half your bet without playing. This option is only advantageous when the dealer shows ace-nine and the player has a score between 5 and 7 or 12 and 16.
When the dealer has an ace, the dealer automatically checks if he has hit a blackjack. You have the option to fold early and forfeit halfway through your bet before the dealer checks for blackjack
Step 3. Start winning
To win, you must get closer to 21 than the dealer, without exceeding that score. If the player goes over 21, he is "bust". In case of a tie, no one wins. When your starting hand is ace and 10 or ace and face, it is called blackjack.
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The dealer gives the floor to the players until everyone decides to stay or fold. At that point he plays his hand, which determines the outcome of the deal. Of course, every hand is different. Usually, players follow the dealer's strategy of hitting when their score is less than 16. This is not a winning strategy.
The strategy of never busting is slightly better, but it is still a suboptimal tactic.
- The casino's biggest advantage is that the player has to act first. If one of the players "busts" (goes over 21), the casino immediately takes his bet. If the dealer were to "bust" during the same hand, the player would still have lost his money. The dealer is the last to play their hand.
Method 2 of 3: Rules and Strategies
Step 1. Get to know the "House Rules"
In most casinos, the dealer "stands" when he has a score of 17 or higher. In some cases, he will hit with a "soft 17" (6 and ace). Other casinos (but only rarely) ask for an ante like in poker (the game in these casinos favors the house by 20%). Once you have sat down to play, you will quickly understand what the rules of the table are.
Casinos have different rules on insurance, split and double down, which decide when and how you can adopt these strategies. The counter will give you the information you need if needed. For example, some casinos do not allow you to split on a third Ace, while others allow you to fold your hand only before or after the dealer's word
Step 2. Understand what insurance, splitting, doubling up and folding involve
All of these options favor the house if they are not used correctly; it wouldn't be a casino game if it didn't!
- When betting for insurance, you are betting that the dealer's hole card is a 10, a jack, a queen or a king. There are 13 types of cards in the deck, so you have less than a one in three chance of winning. The best time to ask for insurance is when you are certain that there are many high-value cards left in the deck, because you have counted which ones came out. If the dealer has a blackjack, you will get a tie; your insurance will pay 2 to 1, more than the original 3 to 2 stake!
- When you double down, you are entitled to only one card. You may not end up with a good hand. Indeed, that is the casino's hope! Never double down if the dealer has an ace or face (unless you have 11).
- Splitting can turn a terrible hand into an excellent hand and vice versa. Here are some general rules: never split 5, because your total score is 10; you will probably end up with a good hand. Always divide 8s and aces. Splitting the 8s allows you to turn a high probability of losing hand into a winning one. Splitting Aces is beneficial, but consider this: You are only allowed to split Aces once (in some cases) and you can only ask for one card for each hand (in other cases). Some casinos impose these rules because splitting aces without any restrictions is a great advantage.
- Once you have "folded" your hand, the dealer's actions are not important (to you). If the dealer goes bust, you won't get any advantage.
Step 3. Learn to count cards
You don't have to literally count the value of all the cards. Some players (if they are very good) count the "value" of the deck, or more specifically, how many aces and tens are left. If there are still a lot of face cards to come, they increase the stakes, knowing that the probability of hitting a good hand is higher.
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Casinos know this trick and almost always use multiple decks in the shoe, cut the deck, or use both of these tricks. With six decks in play and some cards not present, it is not easy to calculate the number of desirable cards in the shoe.
For the reasons mentioned, card counting is not described in this article. Read this article on how to count cards if you are interested in the details
Method 3 of 3: Casino Play and Etiquette
Step 1. Sit down at an open table
When the hand is done (if you are not alone at the table), ask the dealer to exchange your money for the chips you want. At this point, place your bet in the space reserved for it and start playing!
If you are not an experienced player, avoid sitting to the left of the table. Since this is the seat just before the dealer, you will get comments from other players if the dealer rolls a 5 or a good card, or you will get compliments if he goes bust. While of course these are not logical findings, people and gamblers in particular are often very superstitious when they are at the table
Step 2. Play your hand
At the blackjack table, it's not unusual to be silent; you don't need to say anything to play. In fact, you'd be less conspicuous if you didn't open your mouth.
To ask for a card, tap your fingers on the table or swipe the edge of the cards across the cloth. To stand, place the chips on top of the hole cards, or move the palm of your hand over the cards horizontally. To split the hand, add another bet and indicate the cards with two fingers. To double down, add another bet and point to the cards with your finger
Step 3. Assume the dealer has a ten
Statistically, the dealer's hole card is more likely to be worth 10 than any other score. If the up card is a 6 or lower, you can hopefully go bust. This is the basic strategy.
You should consider your cards and those of the dealer. If you have a 16 and the dealer shows a 6, stand. He must hit unless he has an ace. However, if you have 16 and the dealer is showing a 7, you have to decide what to do. If you are alone at the table or with a group of friendly people, you can ask the dealer or other players for advice
Step 4. Know when to leave
As in poker, there are also hot and cold tables in blackjack. You don't need to be a professional to understand this; you will notice when you are running out of chips! If you have a good sense of observation, you will probably be able to tell which table is warmer just by looking at it.
A good rule of thumb is to increase your bets gradually. If you win two bets of € 5 and lose one of € 10, you are still tied! When the winning streak ends, resume from the minimum bet
Win at Blackjack Step 2 Step 5. The basic rules are as follows:
always stand with 17 or more, never stand with soft 17, double up hands A-2 and A-3 against a 5 or 6, double A-4 and A-5 against a 4 or 6, A-6 and A-7 against a 3 or a 6.
Advice
- In blackjack games with friends, the last player to make a blackjack is the dealer. This may sound incorrect, but here's the reason: the dealer can lose to multiple players at the same time. He risks a lot more with each hand and must abide by strict rules on when to hit.
- 11 is a good score for doubling.
- Don't hit if you have a score of 17 or higher and don't have aces. Hardly any casino allows the dealer to hit with a score of 17, so standing is usually a winning choice.
- Many people mistakenly believe that in the event of a tie, the dealer wins. This rule only applies to the friend version of blackjack. In the case of a tie, no chips are exchanged at the casino.
- Avoid card counting if you are unwilling to invest a year of your time in this technique. Thanks to this method, the casino advantage of 0.36% is converted into a 0.5% advantage for you. This means that if you placed 1000 € of bets in an hour, you would win an average of 5 €, assuming that you are able to make no mistake. Furthermore, this strategy is undermined by the presence of many players at the table, because it is quite easy to notice a player counting the cards. Playing alone, you would be even more conspicuous. The best choice is to have fun by adopting a simple strategy; with a little luck you will be able to win something.
- If the dealer's face-up card is a face or ace (especially the latter), consider folding. If your score is 15 or 16, you will probably go high. If the dealer shows an ace, no matter how unlucky his first card is, he will always have a chance to take another one. This gives him an incredible advantage.
- Try not to hit if you have a score of 12. 30% of the time you would bust and lose your hand, so avoid doing so, especially if the dealer is showing a 4 or a 6.
- Learn basic blackjack strategy. If you follow it perfectly, the house will have an advantage over you of just 0.36%. This percentage drops to 0.2% if you play with your cards in mind as well.
- If you don't have enough chips for a double or split, ask the dealer to change you some money. When you don't take advantage of the opportunities to use these rules, the house edge goes up to 1.9%.
