The game of blackjack has been around for a long time. It has its origins in the early 19th century, and is one of the most popular casino games.
It’s actually not that complicated to play, but there are some things you need to know before you take your seat at a table in a Las Vegas or Atlantic City casino.
First off, blackjack isn’t as much fun when you lose money. If you do, then it may be time to consider other gambling games. But if you just want to have fun with friends, family, and co-workers, here are some tips on how to play this fascinating game.
How to Read Blackjack Rules
To start playing, you will first have to look over the rules. The easiest way to read them is to find all the different types of cards (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs, and numbers) and put them face up so you can see what they are. Then go through each rule, reading each one completely.
Most casinos have a booklet full of rules. You may also want to check out online versions of the major card companies. They usually have the official rules online that are updated regularly. These sites will have information about house advantage, and will tell you which side of the dealer button wins more often.
If you don’t like the rules, then you can always ask the dealer or another player. They will be able to explain the situation to you and help you figure out whether you should hit or stand.
Even though there is a good chance you will get dealt an ace, you still have to decide whether to hit or stand. Aces are worth 11, so if you hold an ace and two cards, you would have a total of 21 points. If you have two cards and no aces, then you would have 20 points. There’s really no difference between hitting or standing, except that you might end up with a negative score if you stand. So, even though it’s tempting to keep playing until you get 21, you shouldn’t.
If you decide to hit after seeing your first two cards, you will choose either 2 or 3, depending on the value of your cards. If you got a pair, you would choose 2, otherwise you would choose 3. Next, you would draw from your deck until you have either 7, 10, or 12 cards left. After this, you would make a final decision based on the following guidelines:
- Hit if your hand totals 14 or less.
- Hit if your hand totals 15 or 16.
- Stand if your hand totals 17 or 18.
- Hit if your hand totals 19 or 20.
The goal is to get closer to 21 than the dealer does. And remember, you still have to hit if your hand totals exactly 21. Even if you have 21, you won’t necessarily bust because some casinos have a tiebreaker rule, which says that if you both bust on a round, then you automatically win the hand.
There are some exceptions to these rules. For example, if you are dealt a soft 17, you can stand. If you are dealt a soft 18, then you can hit. But you cannot stand after getting a soft 19 or 20. This is because the dealer must show his hole card after a natural, which means he can’t bust. However, if the dealer shows a soft number, which is something like a 6 or a 9, then you can stand.
What to Do When You Get Hit
When you get hit, the dealer will give you a new card face down. You have to decide whether you want to stick with your current hand, or switch it out for the new one. If you want to switch hands, then you have to place a bet. Depending on the rules of the casino, you may have to put a dollar amount into the pot, or you may have to buy insurance against losing your entire bankroll.
Once both players who were hit have made their decisions, the dealer will reveal the new card and add it to your hand. He will then shuffle the remaining cards in your hand, and deal out new cards face-up to everyone, starting back where you left off. You will repeat the same process for every subsequent round until someone reaches 21. At that point, the hand is over, and the winner takes everything in the pot.
You should try to avoid being dealt a hard 17, as that would mean you could only stand. A hard 18 wouldn’t be any better, since you would then be forced to stay in your hand. In these cases, you should definitely switch hands.
Playing Multiple Hands at the Same Time
One of the best strategies for winning at blackjack is to play multiple hands. The reason for this is simple – most people tend to get lucky on their first few rounds. When you get a hot streak, you are likely to continue to win. The problem is that you have to make sure you don’t overdo it. If you keep doubling your bets, then you’re going to run out of money quickly.
In order to keep your strategy under control, you should wait until you see an opportunity to play multiple hands. First, you should calculate the odds of being dealt a blackjack on your next turn. Let’s say that there are six decks in the shoe, and you are dealt a three, and the dealer doesn’t have a five. That means you have a 1/6 chance of drawing a blackjack. Your next turn, you will probably draw again, and maybe get a blackjack. Then you will win again. The changes may even improve for you as the night goes on, meaning that it will be easier to get a blackjack.
But once you see this happening, you should keep waiting until you have four consecutive blackjacks. Then, you will be able to play two hands at the same time. If you’ve drawn a seven, then you should play one hand, while the dealer plays the other. If the dealer hits, then you still have a good chance of beating him. But if the dealer doesn’t hit, then you are almost guaranteed to win.
The beauty of this strategy is that you can use it to win over a lot of hands. Once you have four consecutive blackjacks, you simply stop betting and wait for the dealer to bust. Then, you move to the next hand. In fact, you can even play multiple hands with the same person.
Other Strategies for Playing Blackjack
The basic strategy outlined above is great, but there are other ways to increase your chances of winning. The biggest mistake most beginners make is to double down whenever possible. This is a bad idea because it causes you to risk your entire bankroll. Instead, you should only double down when you have a strong hand, and you think you can beat the dealer. If you don’t, then you should pass on this option.
Another thing that makes a big difference in your success rate is to play your cards conservatively. If the dealer is showing weakness, then you should be more aggressive. On the other hand, if you are holding strength, you should try to slow down your play. If you are trying to follow the basic strategy, then you should only play the maximum number of hands you have available.
Finally, you should never bet the maximum bet allowed by the casino. You should always stick within the limits. This allows you to maintain control over your bankroll and gives you the freedom to adjust your bet to fit your bankroll.
As a beginner, you should practice these strategies until you feel comfortable with them. Only then should you start taking real risks. The reason for this is that learning the game correctly is very important, especially if you plan to enjoy it.
My name is Kenneth E. Brock. I am the author of this blog. I love to write blog posts around casinos and I love to provide reviews of new and old casinos to my readers. I’m an ardent casino player and love to stay updated with all the new casinos that are opened. I also love to write about all the casino bonuses and promotions that are launched by various casinos.
