Discover How Blackjack Works: A Beginner's Guide for Casino Gamers

There are many different card games out there, each with their own set of rules, their own strategies, and likely a large number of variations of the same game. As games spread out across the country and across the world, they change slightly, creating a new variant for people to enjoy. Though, some games remain the same, or largely the same, no matter what. For example, blackjack is one of those games that has its rules, and hasn't changed much over the years. It's true to say though that there are variations, but less so than in other card games.

If you're new to casino gaming, then you may have heard of blackjack but never played due to not knowing what to do. If you're interested in it, then all you have to do is learn. The good news is that this is exactly what we're going to be focusing on today. Down below, you will find all of the information that you need surrounding what blackjack is, how it works, and some strategies and helpful advice to make the most out of the game.

What Is Blackjack?

Blackjack is a casino card game that has been around for a long time. You may know this under a different name such as 21, but it's the same game, so don't get confused. Blackjack is the most widely played casino card game in the world, and its popularity comes from its easy rules, and fun nature.

The game is played by two or more players, usually with a maximum of around seven depending on how many decks of cards are being used.

How To Play Blackjack

The Goal

The objective of blackjack is to beat the dealer's hand without going over 21. If you manage to do this, then you win. If you bust, or if the dealer beats you, then you lose your bet.

How It Works

It's a pretty simple game at the heart of it, but we know sometimes it can look a little daunting. The dealer will deal the cards, giving you two face up cards, and themselves one face up card, and one face down card. As we said, the objective of the game is for you to get to 21 if you can, or as close as you can without going over it.

To do this, you need to look at the cards that you have been dealt, and consider the number that they make when added together. Then, you need to look at the face up card that you can see from the dealer, and make a decision as to whether you want to hit (get another card), or stand (not get another card).

There are other rules that come into play, and other plays that you can use depending on the cards that are on the table. For example, if you think that you have a good chance of winning, you can double down on your bet, increasing your winnings if you manage to win. Or, you might be in a position where you feel it's a better idea to split your cards and essentially give yourself two chances at winning, but your bet also splits in half here.

Betting Strategies In Blackjack

Basic Strategy Chart

To understand how to bet, when to bet, when to split or double, and when to hit or stand, you should consult the basic strategy chart. This is a chart that was created to show players the probability of success based on the cards that are currently facing up.

It's easy to get swept up in frustration and anger when things aren't going your way, making moves that you know are not ideal, or that you know are unlikely to bring you success at the blackjack table. But, it's not an emotional game, it's one based on a mixture of luck and skill, which is why a mathematical approach is the best you've got. That's what the basic strategy chart does for you - it has it all worked out based on chance and probability. But, this by no means guarantees that you're going to win every hand, because you're not. It's impossible to do so without counting cards which are banned at casinos.

Winning Streak Strategies

Winning streak strategies, also known as positive progression strategies, are focused on maximizing the return of a good run. The approach here is that you continue to up your bet after every win that you have, but this strategy relies on you being able to stop when enough is enough. Your good run is not going to last forever, and it will inevitably come to an end, but you don't want to have massive amounts of money in play when this happens.

As such, we advise that you set a number of times that you are willing to up your bet to make a good profit. This number cannot be too high, as the chances that your run will continue decrease with every single hand that you play. Some people decide that they want to play to a loser, but this only works if you have enough money behind to have made a profit.

Martingale System

The Martingale system is the opposite of the winning streak strategy, as it is a negative progression system. The goal is to offset any losses by increasing your bet after each hand that you lose. Eventually, you will win a hand, and you will manage to at least get even on your session.

This system does not work for those who do not have money to burn in blackjack, and are not willing to lose. With the double bets coming after every losing hand, you could quickly find yourself playing hands that are massive, and will only leave you breaking even in the end. It's important to know that it's fairly common to have a long losing streak in blackjack with 10 hands or more being the norm. If your bank balance can't handle this, you can't play this way.

Oscar's Grind

This is another system like the one before, in which you can only really use it if you have the bank balance to support it. But, it's slightly different in its approach. When using Oscar's Grind, you keep the bet size the same if you lose a hand, but if you win a hand, you increase it by one. The goal is to win one betting unit, and then when you have achieved that, you go back to the original bet size and start again.

Understanding The Game Of Blackjack

Terms You Need To Know

There are many terms in blackjack, some of which you will hear far more than others. But, if you have any hope of being a successful blackjack player, you need to at least know the basics for now, which we're going to discuss with you:

• Hit - give another card
• Stand - stick with the cards you have
• Split - split your hand into two
• Double down - double your bet and receive one more card
• Push - a tie with the dealer
• Blackjack - a hand consisting of any Ace and another ten point card
• Bust - the hand has gone over 21
• Surrender - to give up your hand and forfeit half of your bet (not all casinos allow this)
• Hard hand - a hand that doesn't involve an Ace or when the Ace is counted as 1
• Soft hand - a hand that contains an Ace that can be used as 11 without busting

These are some of the most basic terms that you need to know, but there are more for you to study. The more you know, the higher chance you have of winning.

What Are The Rules?

The rules of blackjack are simple - you want to make 21, or get as close to it as you can, while also beating the dealer's hand.

You cannot go over 21, or you will bust and lose your bet.

You will place your bets before the hand starts. Once all bets have been placed, the dealer will then proceed to deal the cards to each player. The player goes first, deciding what move they want to make based on the cards that they have been given. When the player decides to stand, the dealer will then take their turn. At the end of this, the winner will be determined, winning bets will be paid, and the game will proceed onto the next hand.

Where Did It Come From?

Even now, it's still debated as to where blackjack actually came from. However, it is most commonly believed to have begun in French casinos around 1700. This is the belief due to the fact that it is mentioned in Don Quixote, in which it's called 'vingt-et-un-', which translates from French to '21'.

Playing Blackjack Online

Playing blackjack online has a number of benefits, but also a few potential drawbacks. Most people find it easier to play online as they are not worried about what everyone around them is doing, and they are able to focus on themselves and the dealer. As well as this, you don't have to play for money the way that you do in a casino, meaning that you can practice and get a feel for the game without any high stakes being placed on the cards.

However, playing against a computer is a little different to playing against a live dealer, so you may build up confidence here, only to find that you don't feel this way when you go to a casino.

What Is The Dealer's Role In Blackjack?

The role of the dealer in blackjack is to deal the cards, and to play against you. They represent the House, facilitating the game. They take on a huge task here, as they are responsible for dealing out the cards, managing all bets that are placed, and playing their own hand. However, they are usually under a strict set of rules of what they can and cannot do with their hands. This means that more often than not, you are up against House rules, which are likely based on strategy, rather than an individual dealer.

This is not to say that you should underestimate the dealer. You still need to know how they play, what their strategy is, when they hit/stand, and more, so you need to keep a close eye on them during the game. Doing so will give you insights that you need, and allow you to adapt and change your strategy based on what you see.

Is Blackjack Gambling?

Yes, playing blackjack is gambling. You are wagering money to win money based on chance and skill combined. If you are playing online and you're not playing for any money, then this is not classed as gambling as you're just playing a card game with no other elements involved.

The definition of gambling is wagering something of value on a game or future event to gain something else of value. So, if you're playing to win something, then yes, it's gambling. If you're not, and you're just playing for fun, then no.

Tying The Dealer - What Does It Mean?

Tying the dealer simply means that you have both stuck on the same number. What happens then is known as a push, meaning that the game pays 1:1, so you get your money back.

So, there you go. Hopefully now, you have a more solid understanding of how Blackjack works, and can use this knowledge to further your experience while playing. The more you know, the easier the game is, and the higher chance you have of successfully winning your hands. Of course, we do feel the need to point out again that there is no guarantee you're going to win, and you certainly will not win all of the time. The House always has an edge, and no matter how good you become at the game, you're never going to be able to win every single hand.

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