One of the things gambling fans want to learn is how to play blackjack. As black jack tables are highly popular among casinos, knowing its basics will help you maximise your stay at a casino, whether at a brick or mortar one or an online one..
Blackjack is a popular sport that is timeless, and gains followers every time people go into a casino. Sitting at the table, you always try to outdo the dealer. So what is the secret to playing blackjack?
Mechanics of Blackjack
Blackjack is simply a game between you and the banker without going over the number of twenty-one. In fact the original name of the game was 21. It originated in France and spread soon to the US, where it became a hit all over casinos.
So, without further ado, here is how you play blackjack. Initially, you have to know the value of each of the cards.
- The numbered cards go by their usual value.
- Face card, such as the kings, queens and jacks, are valued at 10.
- Ace cards may either have a value of 1 or 11.
The game begins with the dealing of the cards. The cards that the player gets are both face up, while the dealer has one card up and one card down.
After receiving the cards, the player has the option to hit or stand. There are, however, exceptions. If the player gets two cards of the same type, they could play it as a split so tthat they could play two hands. You then can match your first bet with the new bet. This is risky, however, since you could double your winnings or losses if you are unsuccessful.
You can hit cards as much as you want, as long as you do not go over or are busted (in which case, the player would automatically lose). When the player stands, the dealer reveals the facedown card. If the value is 16 or under, the dealer would get from the deck until the the total number of his cards reaches 17 or they go over 21, whichever goes first. At that point, the winner is decided upon.
Outcomes
There are three outcomes at the end of a round of blackjack: you can either win with a perfect blackjack (face card plus ace); you can simply win (get a higher value than the dealer without getting busted or getting a perfect 21); you lose (getting busted or getting a lower value than the dealer), or getting a push, or the same value as the dealer). Money-wise, any of these can happen.
- If you win via blackjack, you get back your bet money, plus 1.5 times the bet you made from the dealer.
- If you win not through blackjack, you get back your money, plus the same amount from the dealer.
- If you lose, the dealer takes your bet money.
- If you get a push, the bet money is refunded to you, with no extra bonus.
Practise Makes Perfect
When you know the basics of blackjack, the better you will be able to play the game. As you practise more, the more you will pick up strategies and play better in the gaming table. Have fun and play responsibly!
