Blackjack is my favorite game! No matter what anyone says! And not only because it gives high chances of winning. But let's first discuss the rules.
Blackjack General Rules
The game is played at the blackjack table with standard 52-card decks without jokers. Their number can range from one to eight.
- If one deck is used, the croupier deals the cards and shuffles them after each hand.
- If several decks are used, they are placed in a particular device called a shoe.
The shoe is located on the left of the dealer. The discard tray is located on the right side. Sometimes a shuffle machine plays the role of a shoe, shuffling cards automatically.
The aim is to score twenty-one points, or the score that is at most close to this amount without exceeding it.
If a player scores more than twenty-one points, he immediately loses. In other cases, the rank of his cards is compared with the dealer's cards, and the winner is determined.
A ten-value card and an ace that form a hand are called blackjack. It is the only hand in the game with a name, and it is superior to the rank of any other cards.
Card Values in BJ
Cards from deuces to tens are worth their numerical values. The values of jacks, queens, and kings are ten points. An ace is worth either one or eleven points. This choice is made in favor of the player.
For example, if the hand is composed of an ace and a six, the player has a total of five or fifteen points. If he draws a six, the player gets twenty-one points.
At some casinos, the turn automatically moves to the next hand. At other casinos, it is announced that he has either eleven or twenty-one, so the player chooses whether to draw another card or not.
However, if the player draws a seven, it will be considered that he has twelve points instead of twenty-two.
Players and Bets in BJ
The number of players is limited by the number of boxes (betting sectors). Their traditional number is seven. Yet, this does not mean that players can place combined bets on a single box. It is important to note that their amount can not exceed the maximum limits allowed for a given table.
It is prohibited to play on one box at many casinos, so the player has to make at least two bets. Each casino establishes the maximum number of bets per player.
Blackjack Gameplay
The dealer thoroughly shuffles all the decks, separating the cards (from the fifth one to the third one) with a special plastic card and placing them all in a shoe. During the gameplay, he takes cards from it one by one and gives them to the players and himself.
Discarded cards are placed in a special discard tray and remain there until the plastic card is removed from the shoe. The hand in which it happens is announced as the final one. After it, all the cards are reshuffled.
Having prepared the cards for the game, the dealer offers players the opportunity to place their wagers. Then he stops accepting bets and starts dealing cards.
In the basic American version of the game, the croupier deals two cards to all players and himself. He reveals one of his cards.
There is also a version of the rules according to which the croupier deals himself with only one card, and the others are dealt after all players receive their cards.
If blackjack is formed on any box, the dealer's face-up card eliminates the possibility of the same combination in his hand (i.e., this card value varies between two or nine points). He immediately pays for blackjack and puts the cards in the discard tray.
- If the dealer's upcard is an ace or a ten-value card, blackjack is not paid till the showdown.
- If the dealer's upcard is an ace, he offers the player who has blackjack the so-called even money, according to the rules of some casinos. This means that he will pay 1:1 for blackjack and discard cards.
Players evaluate the rank of their hands and decide whether to hit or stand, taking into account the rank of the upcard. Any number of cards can be drawn, provided that the score does not exceed twenty-one.
The cards are strictly drawn by the game participants one by one. The first is located to the left of the dealer. As soon as the decisions concerning all boxes are made, the dealer faces up his second card. If necessary, the croupier hits and compares the resulting hands. The dealer only hits in situations provided by the rules. The croupier has to hit on a 16 or less and stand on a 17 or more.
The player cannot touch his cards. All operations with them are carried out by the croupier.
Winning hands are paid 1:1. Blackjack is paid 3:2 (blackjack made up of cards of the same suit is paid 2:1 at some casinos.)
Additional Blackjack Rules
Here are some more rules.
- Split - If the player has a pair (or even cards of the same value, i.e., a queen and a king, at some casinos), he can split them into two hands by making another bet of the same size. After that, the player can hit again. If a card of the same value is added to the hand, it can be split again. The number of available splits on a single hand varies, but it typically does not exceed three. If the user splits aces, only one card is usually dealt. Then the game moves to the next box. If an ace is dealt again, the user can opt for a split. An ace and any ten-value card formed as a result of the split are not considered to be blackjack and are treated as twenty-one points (this means that this hand loses if the dealer has blackjack).
- Double - Having received the first two cards, the player may make a double. To do this, he should double his initial bet. After that, one card is dealt from this box, and the croupier proceeds to the next player, revealing their cards.
- Triple is a valid rule at not all casinos. It allows players to make another bet equal to the initial bet after the double and receive an additional card.
- Surrender - Having received the first two cards, the player may choose to refuse play and return half of the bet. It should be noted that this rule is not valid at nearly all casinos if the dealer has a face-up ace. Moreover, it is often canceled if the dealer has a ten-value card.
- Insurance - If the dealer has a face-up ace, he offers the players the option to take insurance against a blackjack. The size of insurance is equal to half the initial bet. It is paid 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack.
In some variants of the game, there are unique rules, such as the Charlie rule.
Versions of Blackjack
There are several variations of classic blackjack. The main difference is the number of cards dealt by the croupier to himself at the beginning of the round. Besides, there are versions of rules where the croupier deals two cards. Most casinos reserve the right to adjust their rules, including surrender, double, split, and blackjack payouts, among others.
Sometimes there are bonus rules that include high additional payouts for three sevens on one hand. Some unprofitable rules can be offered; for example, the highest number of cards per hand can be limited.
Read more about this in the article Unusual Rules in Blackjack.
Read about the house edge and probability of various situations in blackjack in the article Odds in Blackjack.
| Name | Soft | Return to player | ||
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99.78% | ||
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|
99.71% | ||
|
|
99.7% | ||
|
|
99.69% | ||
|
|
99.65% | ||
|
|
99.6% | ||
|
|
99.59% | ||
|
|
99.54% | ||
|
|
99.54% | ||
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|
99.54% |
How Do You Win at Blackjack?
Keep in mind that this is one of the most complex casino gambling games. To play successfully and win often, you need to follow the recommendations of the basic blackjack strategy. Professionals can make adjustments to it to maximize results.
Experts also use card counting and other advanced techniques, but they are not applicable in all situations.
For example, in online casinos, counting cards in blackjack is almost always pointless.
If you are a beginner, proceed step by step.
- Learn the general rules of blackjack. Understand the math behind the game to gain a basic understanding of the odds. Learn how to choose the best blackjack versions. Learn basic strategy and bankroll management. Practice your skills in free mode. Only then should you head to the casino to play blackjack for real money.
You can learn about the casino advantage and the probability of various situations in blackjack on Casinoz.
Where to Play Blackjack?
Nowadays, you can play blackjack while sitting at home or even on the beach. All major online casinos offer various versions of this game, developed by reputable software manufacturers.
The reviews section on Casinoz covers all the best blackjack games available at the moment. They can be tested in free demo versions.
To bet money, register at a trusted online casino. The trusted sites are listed below.
Personal Experience
I have played blackjack extensively in the past. Most of the time, it was in offline casinos. I want to brag: I won more often than I lost, and in the end I stayed in a big plus. The secret is that I played mostly in provincial casinos, where, in the pursuit of customers, managers often introduced favorable rules for players: for example, increased payouts for a natural blackjack, gifts for three sevens, and the like.
Are you a blackjack fan? Do you play in real casinos or online? Do you often bet with real money, or do you prefer playing for free? Do you know how to play basic strategy? Have you mastered card counting? Let's discuss topics related to blackjack.
Share your opinions and experiences in the comments. Beginning players among the regular readers of Casinoz will appreciate practical advice.
