Blackjack Articles

Blackjack Game Overview

The game of Blackjack is built on both luck and strategy. You have to get the right cards, but you also have to know when to stop. The objective of the game is to get a better hand than the dealer: your only opponent, without going bust (going over the number 21).

First, you will be dealt two cards, face up, as the dealer is dealt one card face up and one card face down. You continue to “hit” until you are satisfied with the number, in which case you “stand”, or until you bust, in which case you lose. Once you stand, the dealer will reveal his face down card and continue to hit until he either gets a better hand than you, in which case you lose, or until he busts, in which case you win.

You can choose to “split” when you are dealt two of the same cards. This will split the pair up and each will be played as a separate hand. So essentially, you are playing two different hands at the same time, but your bet will double as well. If you win one hand, you will come out even. If you win both hands, you will double your money.

After you are dealt your first two Blackjack cards, you may choose to double your bet. In this situation you can only be dealt one more card. You can also bet on the dealer to have Blackjack by taking insurance when he is showing an Ace. Lastly, remember that Aces can be both 1 or 11 and all face cards are counted as 10. Enjoy your game!

General Rules For Playing Blackjack

The game of Blackjack takes a lot of knowledge on when to hit, when to stand, and when to double, take insurance, or split a pair into two hands. This can mean the difference between playing blindly and losing or playing smart with a strategy and winning. There are simple rules to the game that are very easy to follow.

In Blackjack you and the dealer start with two cards. Yours will be face up and the casino dealer will have one face up and one face down. You are allowed to hit until you are comfortable with your number or until you bust. This is also the time when you decide to double, take insurance, or split a pair. After that time it is then the casino dealer’s turn. They can hit until they have beat you or until they bust. You then take your earnings, or not, based on who had the best hand.

You may double after you receive your first two cards. If you choose this, you are only allowed one more card, no more. The dealer, however, can continue to hit to try and beat you.

You may take insurance before the game starts if you see that the dealer’s showing card is an Ace. You are really betting against yourself because you are betting on the dealer having Blackjack. So if they do have Blackjack, you lose the hand but win something for taking insurance. If they do not have Blackjack then you lose what you bet on insurance, but win if you have a better hand than the dealer. You may also split if you are dealt a pair.

Blackjack is a game of luck and skill. There are several gambling choices and sometimes, as with insurance, you can win even if you lose. Knowing the rules and tips on when to hit and stand will help you become a better player and maybe even a winner.

Blackjack Playing Tips and Strategies

There are lots of Blackjack tips surrounding the game, as hitting, standing, or splitting certain hands can give you a great chance of winning. There is a tip or strategy for every possible card combination in Blackjack, but here we will group many of them together and only point out the most important few.

A “soft” hand is one where there is an Ace. This is because an Ace can go either way, as a 1 or 11. A “hard” hand is where there is not one.

Always hit on a hand of 16 or less because there is little to no chance you will bust and the dealer will always have a better hand if you don’t.

Hit on soft 17.

Hard 17 is more complicated and your decision should be based on the casino dealer’s showing card.

Hit if the dealer has 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, or A. Otherwise stand and cross your fingers that the dealer will bust.

Soft 18 is also complicated and should be based on the casino dealer’s showing card. If the dealer has 9, 10, J, Q, K, or A then you should hit, otherwise it would be best to stand.

Stand on hard 18.

Always stand on 19 and 20.

Blackjack is one casino game, such as Poker, when a solid strategy may actually give you a greater chance of winning. Your only opponent is bad judgment. Hopefully these tips and strategies will help you win the next time you are gambling on the game of Blackjack.

The Advantages of Playing Blackjack Online

Blackjack is one of the most popular card games in gambling history. Now you don’t have to go all the way to Las Vegas to play blackjack for fun or real money, because many Internet casinos offer online blackjack. The advantages of playing blackjack online are numerous, and some gamblers enjoy online play even more than live casino play. Here are just some of the advantages of playing blackjack online.

One of the advantages of playing blackjack online is the convenience. You can play online blackjack 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because that’s when online casinos are open. Whenever you’re ready to play online blackjack, there will be a game waiting for you. You don’t have to leave your house and stand around in a smoky casino waiting for a table to open up. Online blackjack is available right from your home computer, and you will never have to wait for a seat.

Choice of play is another one of the advantages of playing blackjack online. One of the great things about the game of blackjack is that it relies far more on skill than luck. Many reputable Internet casinos will let you play online blackjack for free as often as you like, so you can get plenty of practice in and sharpen your blackjack skills before you start playing for money. You can also play any of the different variations of blackjack when you play at an Internet casino, and shop around for the rules that are the most favorable, such as blackjack tables where the dealer does not have the soft 17 rule, or where the DOA (Double On All) and DAS (Double After Split) rules are in effect. These are just a few of the advantages of playing blackjack online!

History of Blackjack

Blackjack - also known as 'twenty-one' and 'pontoon' - is a card game that nowadays is often found in a casino with people trying their luck on achieving the elusive '21'. It is widely believed that the game originated in France during the 17th century. However, as with most other gambling games the precise evolution of the game remains a mystery: suffice to say it has probably been around forever.

Blackjack was introduced to the United States following the French Revolution, but the game didn't become popular in the gambling dens until the casino offered payouts as a bonus. This was the only method that seemed to get people gambling on blackjack. One variation on the bonus payout was for a player to make '21' with the black jack card (worth 10 points) and an ace (worth 11 points). With the increasing popularity of the game the payouts were phased out but the name 'blackjack' remained.

Blackjack isn't just about achieving an outright '21', but the primary challenge is to beat the dealer without going 'bust'. The casino obviously has an advantage over the gambling players in the long run, but with blackjack the player retains an element of choice.

Since 1931 when America first legalized gambling, blackjack has become a classic casino card game. Furthermore, it is the combination of both skill and math used in blackjack that has made the game hugely popular. Blackjack provides an attractive proposition to any scientist, mathematician or gambling player wanting to research the strategy of the game.