They say the GClub house always wins…
Though there is no casino game in which the player has a greater advantage than the house, blackjack is the only game in which players can use strategies to ensure that the house has the least amount of advantage. So if you thought blackjack was simply about holding your breath and
hoping for the elusive 21, you're wrong!
This beginner's guide to blackjack will give you some insight into the history of the game, basic strategies, card counting and the various online casinos that offer this exiting card game.
The History of Blackjack
Somewhere around 1700 the French began playing a card game known as "
vingt-en-un" or "
twenty-one". The game began to gain popularity in the United States when casinos began offering
fantastic payouts to players who drew an Ace and a Jack of spades or clubs (hence the name blackjack). Though casinos today offer greater payouts to players who are dealt an Ace and a face card (King, Queen or Jack) the nickname derived from its heyday has stuck. In more recent years the game has moved online, with online blackjack becoming one of the most popular casino games available on the Internet.
Blackjack Basics
The basic premise of the game is to be dealt
cards totaling up to 21. Each player is dealt two cards. When a player is dealt a 9 or lower value card and an Ace they have been dealt
a soft hand. When the player receives no Ace cards it is known as
a hard hand. Once the cards have been dealt all players at the table, including the dealer (who keeps one card face down), each player is given the opportunity to make one of six decisions:
Requesting another card (Hit):
When a player says hit me the dealer will deal him another card, if the addition of that card makes the total greater than 21 the player will have lost and be excluded from the game, if the card pushes the total to 21 the player wins and if the total has not yet reached 21 they are still in the game.
Keeping the hand you've been dealt:
If a player is happy with the hand they will stand. Once this has happened the dealer will reveal his or her hand and the player who has accumulated 21 or the closet to 21 will win.
Doubling Down:
A player may request to double down which doubles the bet they have placed. Once you have taken this action you can only be given one more card. The specifics of doubling down are usually specified by the table or casino rules so before playing make sure you are familiar with the house rules. If you are playing at an online casino this is usually quite easy.
Split:
if a player is dealt two cards of the same value (two 8's for example) he may split them to create two different hands. If you chose to split your hand you will have to place a new bet equal to the original bet.
Surrender:
Some casinos will allow players to surrender the hand they have been dealt along with half of the original bet they placed before the dealer checks his hand. Once again it is important to ask the dealer for clarification on the table rules or check the rules section on the online casino you are playing on.
Insurance:
When the dealers face up card is an Ace players have the option to take out insurance. You will place half of the original bet before the dealer checks his cards; if the dealer has blackjack you will win the insurance bet but still lose the original sum – which is clearly better than losing the whole lot. Unfortunately if the dealer does not have blackjack the player loses the insurance. It's a risk but one that is well worth it, if used as part of a clever strategy.
Once a player has stood or gone bust by going over 21 the dealer will show his hand and will continue to deal himself cards until one of the following things has happened: if he has reached 17, a dealer will not usually draw another card if his cards total 17 due to the likelihood of going bust, if he has drawn 21 or if he has gone bust.
Basic Strategies
There are several strategy charts which will help you go from beginner to pro but the following suggestions will give you a good idea on what to do and what not do: If your
hand equals 17 or higher, but you have not gone over 21 –
Stand. If you have been dealt a hand with
two Aces or two 8's split! If you have been dealt a hand with
two tens or two face cards don't split.
Card Counting
Card counting is one of the most popular blackjack strategies; it is the ability of players to mentally count; commit the cards played to memory and to judge how many high cards remain in the deck. This strategy has been banned by most casinos but isn't really illegal as long as the player is not using a mechanical device to do so. Card counting is not possible when
playing blackjack online as the deck is usually automatically shuffled after each hand.
Playing Blackjack Online
There are several online blackjack sites that offer various forms of the game. Whether you wish to play classic, advanced or high limit blackjack or if you wish to play in an online blackjack tournament you will find an online casino offering you exactly what you want.
The only thing better than hearing the
royal1688 casino dealer shout blackjack when looking at your cards is looking down and seeing an
Ace and a Jack in one of the black suites – not only is the payout sweeter the satisfaction is far greater.
