It has been said that among all casino games, the card game known as Blackjack is the easiest for a novice to win. Unlike most other “games of chance,” such as Roulette or Craps, everything that happens at a Blackjack table is influenced by preceding events, so a player who remembers what has occurred can apply that knowledge for a winning advantage.
Besides a good memory, it is useful for a player to have a clear knowledge of the rules of the game and a good grasp of its basic strategy. Because there are so many variations of Blackjack, it is appropriate to begin by mastering the most common version, before progressing to more complicated forms.
Begin with the Basics
Blackjack is a game for two or more participants, one of them being the dealer (bank or house), whom the other players will try to beat. The game uses a standard deck of 52 cards and begins with the players making their initial wagers. Players who bet are called “in” and receive two cards each, as does the dealer. Those who do not bet are “out” for the hand.
The value of each card dealt is the number on its face for all cards 2 through 10. Face cards—the King, Queen and Jack—each have a value of ten. Aces may have a value of either one or eleven, so an Ace plus a three, for example, can be counted as either four or fourteen. The object for each player is to draw cards that total higher than the dealer’s cards without going over 21.
Once the initial cards have been dealt, one of the dealer’s two cards is turned over, facing up for all to see. If that card has a value of ten, the dealer will take a peek at the other card (the so-called “hole card”) and turn it over if it is an Ace. That means the dealer has exactly 21 and all players lose their bets except those who were also dealt a “natural blackjack,” i.e., an Ace plus a card valued at ten. Players with blackjacks simply “push” (draw or tie) and get their original bets back.
If the dealer’s hole card is not an ace, then play resumes, with players given four options in turn. They may “hit” by taking another card, “stand” by staying with what was dealt, “split” by making two new hands out of a matched pair, or “double down” by increasing the original bet and drawing just one more card. In the latter case, the player must stay with whatever comes up and may not draw again.
Sometimes available is a fifth option known as “surrender.” That means you can quit the hand by surrendering half of your bet. Another special circumstance is when the dealer is showing an Ace. You may buy “insurance” for half the amount of your initial wager. If the dealer comes up with a natural blackjack, you will keep everything you bet. If the dealer has anything else, you lose the insurance portion of your bet and play continues.
In turn, each player may draw cards, trying to improve the dealt hand until either going “bust” (a total of over 21) or deciding to stand. The dealer, on the other hand, must play according to fixed rules. Splitting, doubling, surrendering and insurance are not available for the dealer. The dealer must draw until the hand is valued at 17 or more, and then must stand. No more cards may be taken. Players who have not busted win their bets whenever their hands come closer to 21 than the dealer’s without going over, or if the dealer busts.
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