Blackjack

What is Blackjack?

Blackjack is often played with six decks of standard 52 cards. All the face cards have the value 10, and number cards have that number value and Ace can either be 1 or 11. The object of the game is to get as close to 21 without getting over 21.

Blackjack is a fast speed casino game. It is part of the table and card games offered in every casino around the globe, and it is also the second most popular card gambling game after poker.
The the enormous popularity of blackjack is evident once you understand that blackjack is one of the few gambling games that are not entirely reliant on luck. This means that experienced players that master basic blackjack strategy can gain an advantage over the casino.

History

It is not an easy task to pinpoint at the origin. Most gaming historians agree that blackjack developed in the 17th century from the French game ‘Vingt et Un,’ meaning “21” or in earlier versions suggested “Twenty and A.”

‘Vingt et Un’ formed from earlier French games such as ‘Chemin de Fer’ and ‘French Ferme.’ Blackjack and ‘Vingt et Un’ are the same except for some rule variations.

The game was renamed blackjack as back then, the top winning hand consists of Jack of Spades (a blackjack card) and Ace of Spades.

How to Play?

Blackjack is played against the dealer, and the player must get a sum higher than the dealer but not over 21. If it exceeds 21, the player loses. The player wins only if the dealer exceeds 21 and the player hadn’t exceeded the limit of 21 himself or herself. Before the game begins, you have to place your bets. Winnings in Blackjack are generally 1:1.

Insurance bet

The player can take an “insurance” when the dealer draws a face-up ace, and this is just a side bet that the player wins if the dealer’s hand turns out to be a blackjack. The player will win the ‘insurance bet’ at a ratio of 3:2 but lose the original bet. Insurance is more profitable for the casinos, so it is not used in the basic strategy.

Splitting hands

When the player was dealt a pair, for example, two tens, the player can make two new sets by splitting the hand and get two new cards, one for each hand. The number of times the cards can be split depends on the rules of the particular game or the casino.

Double down

When the sum of the player’s cards in hand is 9, 10 or 11, the player can choose to double the bet in return for getting just one card. This action is called “double down.”

Surrender

Surrender is a rule used in the basic strategy, if available. The player can choose this option after the first cards are dealt with. If the player opts to surrenders voluntarily, he or she is refunded half of the wagered amount. Surrendering is the best solution when the sum of the player’s cards is 16, and the dealer’s upcard is either an ace or 9 or 10.

Basic Strategy

The winning strategy in Blackjack requires that the player play each hand in the most optimum way, and such an approach always takes into account what the dealer’s upcard is. When the dealer’s upcard is a 7, 8, 9, 10-card, or an Ace, the player must not stop drawing until a total of 17 or more is reached. When the dealer’s upcard is a, 4, 5, or 6, the player should stop drawing until he gets a total of 12 or higher. The tactic here is never to take a card if there is any chance of getting a bust. The goal with this holding is to let the dealer hit and go over 21, bust. Finally, when the dealer’s upcard is, 2 or 3, then the player should stop at a total of 13 or higher.