Learn About Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular card games in the world. From its origins in early seventeenth century France it has enticed players because of its straightforward rules, simplicity and almost instant result of win or loss.

The lure of its quick paced and one on one action makes the game exciting to play. The only competition is to beat the dealer by holding a hand of cards higher than the dealer’s but without going over the numerical value of twenty one.

Due to its simplicity, it became one of the first and most popular games to go online. No waiting for other players to make their decision, no delays because of complex rules and hidden strategies or team playing.

At the casino, the rules of the game are marked on the table, while the online sites will have them posted.

To play blackjack, the player is dealt two cards initially. The dealer has two cards, one of which is face up. That way, the player knows its numerical value and plays accordingly. Face cards are given a value of ten points, while the ace can have a value of one or eleven.

Blackjack’s name derives from being dealt an initial hand of a jack of clubs or spades, and the ace of spades, which score an instant and winning twenty one.

From the initial deal, the player makes a decision on whether to stand on the two cards they hold or be dealt another card. If given another card, that card’s value, together with the initial cards, must not exceed twenty one, or the player goes bust and loses. Even if the dealer subsequently busts too, the player still loses.

If the hand remains under twenty one, the dealer plays their hand. If they go bust, they lose. If neither hand busts the hand with the higher numerical value wins. If the values are the same the game is a tie or ‘push’, with bets returned.

In casinos, the game is played at a table with the dealer and up to seven players. All players are playing against the dealer, not each other. Cards can be dealt from one or two decks, from four to eight decks, from a box or from a shuffling machine.

While early versions of the game were from single decks, the realisation that the odds of winning were much higher than in other games inspired mathematicians to calculate chances, starting from simple card counting. The game soared in popularity after basic strategies were published that allowed players to significantly increase their chances. It was due to these facts that multiple deck games and frequent shuffling were introduced by the gambling houses.

In its online format, the player competes against the computerised dealer, with a random number generator to ensure fairness. However, there are up to a hundred rules variations which affect the house advantage, and of course the player’s. Those rules are essential reading, so the player is aware of all outcomes.