Blackjack

Where does blackjack come from?

According to legend blackjack first came to light in some form in French casinos around the turn of the 18th century. It is based on the popular old French card games of “French Ferme” and “Chemin de Fer”. Blackjack was originally known as “Vignt-et-Un” (meaning “21”). Apparently, the reason for this was that when a player drew a Jack of Spades as the first card and an Ace of Spades of the second card, the payouts were much higher.

Blackjack is simple

The base rules of blackjack are possibly the easiest to understand of all games found in a casino. The aim is to have the cards exceeding those of the dealer in points, without going over 21. The higher hand wins. If you go over 21, you go “bust” and you lose your bet.

The cards

The Ace is the most important card. This can either be worth 1 or 11 – it’s up to you what combination you wish to put together. All the picture cards are worth 10 and the number cards (2-10) are worth their number. The best hand you can get is blackjack, where your first 2 cards total 21. This can only be done with an Ace and another card that is worth 10 – the picture cards or the 10. If both the player and the dealer get blackjack, this is called a push where the player keeps his bet. A successful blackjack pays out 3:2 and this is one of the most satisfying and quickest ways to win.

The betting

Before the cards are dealt, the player must put down a bet. Online casinos vary greatly in their minimum bets. This can range from 50c all the way up to $500. The bigger bets are not advisable unless you have a firm grasp of the game’s nuances and you have the money to spend. Do not go ahead and play in the big league if you are gambling with a credit card and you don’t have the money at your disposal to pay out in the event of losing. Rather gamble within your means and you’ll be more comfortable. It is not in your best interests to play when you’re nervous. Blackjack, like all other casino games, needs a cool head.

Once the bet has been placed, you will receive your cards. Two cards are dealt to all the players, including the dealer, with one card face up. Each player will then have a chance to decide what to do.

Once the cards are dealt

Your bet has been placed and all the first round of cards has been dealt. There are several options available to you as a player.

  • Hit: This is when you ask the dealer for another card. You can continue to hit until you are happy with what your cards add up to. The more you play, the more you will have a gauge of when to stand and when to hit so that you do not go bust.
  • Surrender: This allows you to withdraw from the game and lose half your bet in the process. Not all casinos allow this and this option cannot be taken if you have already taken another card.
  • Stand: You choose to stand once you are happy with your hand. This can be done after your first 2 cards or after drawing more cards.
  • Double down: You can double your bet in blackjack. However, you only get one more card. Be careful with this option. If you are sitting with a 7 & 4 as your first 2 cards, this is a good option as the chances of drawing a 10 or picture card (or close to 10) are reasonably high. However, if you draw a 2, you are stuck on 12 without the chance of bettering that.
  • Splitting pairs: If you are dealt 2 of the same card in your first 2 cards, you can split these cards and then play 2 separate hands. If you decide to split, you have to match your initial bet so that you now have 2 equal bets.
  • Insurance: If the dealer draws an Ace, the option of insurance will be offered to the players at the table. This allows you to bet up to half of your initial bet against the dealer getting blackjack. If the dealer does indeed get blackjack, the initial bet is lost, but you will be paid out double your insurance bet. In short, this can cover your lost bet.

A winning hand will pay you out 1:1. Blackjack pays 3:2 and insurance gets you 2:1.

The dealer

The dealer must hit until his cards total more than 17 or until the dealer goes bust. It’s quite straightforward. A dealer who draws an Ace must always use the value as 11 unless this will cause the dealer to go bust. If this is the case, the Ace can be worth 1. The dealer is also not permitted to double down, split or take insurance.

Go and play

The more you play, the better you will get. Although there is an element of luck in blackjack, a lot will depend on your gut feel and strategic mind. You’ll learn to judge when to draw a card and when to stand. You’ll see the other cards have been drawn and be able to make a calculated decision. For example, if no high cards have been drawn by the other players, the chances of you drawing a high card are somewhat higher. You can either play blackjack online or in a land-based casino. If you’re still not comfortable, you can play for fun in many online casinos. Once you get your confidence up, give it a try according to your wallet’s limits.