Blackjack, or 21, is a very simple game that offers thrill and excitement to players. With the use of various blackjack strategies, punters are able to enhance their gaming experiences. Also, this may lower the house edge of the game, improving one’s odds of winning.

This game is attractive due to the fact that the house is low, as mentioned earlier. You will be interested to know that this game has been played since WW1, and its origins date back to France, where it is affectionately called Vingt-Et-Un, which is French for 21. 

Today, you will be able to find blackjack at various brick-and-mortar casinos, as well as online casinos, all over the world. Of course, it comes with different rules as it has been adopted by different countries, giving birth to many blackjack variations

Objective of Blackjack

When you play online blackjack, your goal is to beat the dealer. To do that, you must get a hand value of 21, or any number as close to that as possible, without going over. The game comes with a standard 52-card pack. However, each version of blackjack carries a different number of decks, at times, as many as 8 decks of cards. Because of that, it may be really hard to count cards when playing blackjack online.

Guide to Playing Blackjack and Basic Blackjack Terminology

Now that you know the aim of the game, it’s tom ewe discuss the different words used in Blackjack, as well as understand the basic gameplay.

Card Values/Scoring

Card values are equal to their face values. However, an A may actually be a 1 or an 11, depending on the player. Also, all royal cards carry a value of 10.

Betting

Before gameplay begins, a player is required to make their bet. The betting limits vary from casino to casino.

The Shuffle And Cut

The dealer will then shuffle all the cards until they are all mixed. At this point, the player must cut.

The Deal

After placing your bet, you will be dealt a card facing up, and the dealer will also get a card facing up. The second round of cards is dealt and this time, the players’ card faces up while the dealer’s card faces down. 

Naturals

If the player’s first two cards have a value of 21 (an A and a royal), this is called a natural. At this point, if the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack, the dealer will pay the player 1,5x the bet amount. In case the dealer is the one with a natural, they will collect the player’s bet.

On the other hand, if both the player and the dealer have naturals, it’s a stand-off or a tie, in which case, the player will take back their bet.

The Play

If the player’s two first cards do not make a 21, he may decide to ‘stand’, which means not to ask for another card or hit, which is to ask for another card to be dealt to him. If the player goes ‘bust’, which means to get a hand value of over 21, the dealer will collect the player’s bet. 

If you get a combination of an A and another card, this is called a “soft hand”. In that case, depending on your card values, you may decide to make the A an 11 or a 1. 

Splitting Pairs

If the player’s first two cards are the same value, it’s up to them to whether treat that hand as two separate hands or not. If they want to split the pair, the original bet goes to one of the cards, while and equal new bet must be made on the second card. 

The hand to the left is then played first, and just like above, the playe may stand or hit. They can then play the second hand on the right. Thus, the pairs are played as two different hands and treated separately. 

Doubling Down

In the event that your first two cards total 9, 10, or 11, you can decide to double your bet. When you do that, your second bet must match the first bet, after which, you will be dealt one card. This is dealt face down and is only turned up at the end of the hand. Depending at the final hand value, you may still decide to double down, split a pair, or paly regularly.

Conclusion

As can be seen from the above, it is so easy to plat blackjack. You just have to know the common terminology, as well as know the different types of bets available. As mentioned earlier, you can also make use of various strategies. Doing so will surely improve your chnaces of winning. On top of that, you simply benefit from the low house edge that the game comes with. Of course, as you keep playing the game, you will continue to learn all the various bets.