The most popular card game in the world is Blackjack. One of the reasons for its popularity is that players know that the game is mathematically beatable and does not require luck alone to win. Unlike roulette or slot machines, blackjack is not only a game of luck, but is also a game of skill. Most people put the origins of blackjack in France around the 1700s. At that time it was called ‘vingt-et-un’ (21). Blackjack made it to the U.S. in the 1800s. The name blackjack comes from the winning hand created by an ace of spades and a jack of spades. While the rules of the game are simple to learn, there are a number of strategies that must also be learned in order to increase your chances of winning. Blackjack requires a standard 52-deck card and every player plays against the dealer. In blackjack, the king, queen, jack and ten all have point values of ten. The rest of the cards have point values equivalent to their face value except for the ace which can either equal 11 or one (depending upon what value is best for the player’s hand).

To win in blackjack, the player must have the highest point value without exceeding 21 points. The player’s hand must have a higher point value than the dealer in order to win the dealer but the hand must not exceed a point value of 21. A hand that exceeds a point value of 21 goes bust and is an automatic loss. When the hands of the dealer and the player have the same point value, it is a tie or a push and the bet is returned to the player. In cases where the player has a natural blackjack, where his first two cards equal 21, he automatically wins one and half times his bet. Natural blackjack hands can only be made out of an ace plus either a ten, jack, queen or king. The natural blackjack hand wins every other hand except another natural blackjack hand. For example, if the player is holding a natural blackjack hand and the dealer is holding four cards totaling 21, the natural blackjack hand is still the winning hand.

The Value of Winning Hands

Winning Hand: 1 to 1

Insurance: 2 to 1

Blackjack: 3 to 1

In case you lose a deal, you only lose your bet.

Blackjack: Step by Step

1. The dealer can play against from one to seven players at the same time. After the opening bet, each player is dealt two cards. The dealer also receives two cards but his last card is placed face down on the table.

2. Players pick up their cards and check their point value. Each player then needs to decide whether he should take a hit (another card) or stand (keep the cards he has). There is no limit to the number of cards he can take). Players play against the dealer, hoping their hand will be higher than the dealer’s without going bust.

3. If you are dealt an ace, you must decide whether its value should be 11 or 1.

4. Once all of the players stand, the dealer will then show his cards. If the dealer’s hand is worth between 17 to 21 points, he must stand. If his hand is worth 16 points or lower, he must take another card until his hand reaches a value of 17 or more. If the dealer busts, the other players that did not bust automatically win but if the dealer has the highest point value without going bust, any players that have a lower point value will lose.

5. The amount of money you win is based upon the amount bet for a winning hand. If you are holding a blackjack, you can only lose if the dealer is also holding a blackjack.

Blackjack Options

Split:

If your first two cards have equal value you can split your hand into two different hands where each card becomes the first card of the new hand. When you split you must place another bet equivalent to the first bet. When you split you can draw as many new cards as you want unless you had two aces in which case you are only allowed one more card for each hand. You can also split cards valued at ten points although this is not recommended. It is recommended that you spit two aces. Most casinos will allow you to re-split your hand as well. In other words, if you receive another set of doubles after you have split once you will normally be allowed to split again. Some casinos place restrictions on the number of times you can split, so you should always check with the casino. It is recommended that you split on eights and aces.

Doubling Your Bet

If you think you will beat the dealer after you get your additional card(s), you can increase your bet by doubling it. This is known as doubling down. If you do decide to double down, you will only be allowed one more card. For example, if you are already holding a five and a six and decide to double down hoping to get a card valued at ten, you will only be allowed one more card. Different casinos have different rules about doubling down. Some casinos will only allow you to double down if the first two cards you are holding are worth 10 or 11. Other casinos will allow you to double down on any two cards. Still other casinos only let you double down on your original hand while others will let you do so on every hand. It is best to check with the casino about its doubling down rules before you sit down to play.

Insurance

Insurance gives the player an opportunity to protect himself against a possible dealer blackjack. In order to buy insurance, you simply need to press the insurance button.

If the dealer has blackjack, you will get two to one on your insurance. If the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, however, you will lose your insurance bet.