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When it comes to casino games, there are games of skill and games of chance.
Games of chance are those that rely on luck, the RNG (Random Number Generator) the casino has programmed into their machines, and very little if no skill at all. Games like slots, for example.
Games of skill are those that require players to learn the rules and devise a strategy. Some skill is definitely required. One of these games is blackjack.
Blackjack is a card game that gamblers can find both online (such as live dealer games) and in land-based casinos. When you play blackjack online in a live dealer game, you will be interacting with a dealer from that casino and playing against them. They represent the casino or the house.
If you want to improve your odds of winning and beat the house, it’s important that you learn the basic strategy and rules of blackjack. You canread all about the blackjack strategy in this article.
Mind you, it can take years to figure out what decisions to make during a game based on a player’s and dealer’s hands, but here we will discuss just the basics, which won’t take long to learn and implement at your next blackjack game.
Blackjack Objective
Knowing the rules of the game is first and foremost. After that, players can start employing certain tips and tricks to increase their chances of winning. Some people believe that once you learn to count cards, your chances of winning increase significantly, and they are not wrong. At the heart of it, blackjack is about making 21, or as close to it as possible, for both the player and the dealer.
How To Beat the Dealer
You can beat the dealer by either drawing cards that have a higher value than the dealer’s, by getting 21 with your first two drawn cards and the dealer does not, or by the dealer drawing cards that equal more than 21.
Conversely, the dealer will beat you if the total value of their cards exceeds yours (but is still under 21), or your total value of cards drawn is over 21.
Card Values in Blackjack
Blackjack is played with a conventional and single52-deck of cards and suits are irrelevant. Cards 2 through to 9 are face value, meaning the number displayed on the card is its actual value in the game, for example; 5 is counted as five.
Jack, King and Queen (otherwise known as Face cards), are counted as 10. An Ace can either be an 11 or a 1 depending on what is most beneficial for the hand.
Definition of Blackjack Terminology
- Hit – this is when a player wants the dealer to deal them another card. You cannot ask for another card if your hand is over 21.
- Expected Value – this is a value that is mathematically calculated. The amount that is won is multiplied by the chance of winning and the amount lost is multiplied by the chance of losing. The difference between these two is the expected value.
- Bust – when you are dealt a total value that is over 21. It is an immediate loss.
- House Edge – this is usually shown in a percentage form, and is the amount of money a player will lose in the game over time.
- Split- this is where you can split one hand to make it into two hands.
Some Basic Strategies
These can be researched as thoroughly as you would like before you feel comfortable enough to play a game of Blackjack. They are quite easy to understand and perfect if you are just starting out.
- You can split your 8’s or Aces
- Stand on all totals of 17, 19 or 20
- Do not split 5s or 10s
- Stand on 18+
Blackjack is a game that can be practiced at home if you have a deck of cards. Many online casino sites also offer free practice games, so don’t be afraid to sign up and get your head around the rules and strategies. Most importantly, have fun!
Author Bio: Vinod Gill is a writer who specializes in writing content on Sports and Gaming subjects. He is a Digital Marketing Consultant, Blogger, and Co-Founder of Journalreporter.
