Blackjack for Dummies

Blackjack is most commonly a gambling game, originally known by the name of its highest point value: twenty-one. Blackjack is one of the easiest card games. It’s a real “hit”, even with beginners.

Blackjack Basics

The game of Blackjack is contested between a player and the dealer and is tracked by points, wherein the player must reach 21 or more without exceeding the number and beat the dealer’s total in order to win. If a player or dealer exceeds 21, it’s known as a “bust”. Here’s a Blackjack breakdown:

• Dealing - Cards are dealt facedown, and the player is immediately allowed to view his or her hand.
• Hitting – A hit (or “hitting”) is a signal to the dealer that you wish to take another card. A player can hit after their hand is dealt.
• Standing – If a player “stands”, then he or she is satisfied with the current hand. There is a specific “standing” gesture that signifies this to the dealer in land-based casinos, whereas in online casinos it’s as simple as clicking the appropriate button.
• Doubling – This refers to doubling down on a bet. Some casinos determine their own unique rules regarding doubling; however, players can typically double after their first two cards.
• Splitting – You may splittwo cards of the same rank or value into two separate hands. However, you must wager the same amount on the second hand as you’ve made on the first.

House Rules
Blackjack is frequently played in-house at a casino; however, it’s now quite common to play Blackjack online. The rules for Blackjack will depend on the house (or virtual house) as well as the game type. A casino or virtual Blackjack game may use up to eight decks of cards.

In land-based casinos, the house may also choose how the cards are dealt: hand shuffling or continuous shuffling machines. Online table games frequently use shuffling algorithms known as Random Number Generators.

Hand Values

So, how does it all add up? The cards all have point values, as follows:

• Face Value – All numbered cards, 2–10 are valued by the number. Suit does not affect the value.
• Face Cards – Kings, Queens, and Jacks all equal 10, respectively.
• Aces – Blackjack players may value an ace as either 1 or 11.

When it comes to a hand, there are two types: “hard” or “soft”. A hard hand has a concrete value; therefore, the hand doesn’t contain an ace, which can change a hand value in the two ways stated above. A soft hand contains an ace; therefore, the value of the hand may change based on how the player values the ace.

Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack is all about the numbers. Learning to recognize when it’s best to hit and/or stand is the best strategy to take. For example, a hand value of 12–16 could go either way if you decide to hit – remember you don’t want to exceed 21. However, a value of 17 or higher is generally a good hand to stand with since it is fairly high and hitting again is likely to cause you to bust.

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