How to Play & Win Blackjack | Beginner Tips & Tricks
Blackjack, also known as 21, is one of the most popular casino games worldwide. The simple rules, combined with a blend of strategy and luck, makes it a favorite game. Play Now!
Let's walk through the rules, strategies, and tips to master Blackjack.
Objective
The goal is to beat the dealer by having a hand value higher than the dealer’s without exceeding 21.
Basic Terms
- Number of Players: Blackjack can be played with one or more players against the dealer.
- Deck of Cards: Played with one standard 52-card decks.
- Chips: Players place their bets using chips.
Card Values in Blackjack
- Number cards (2-10): Face value.
- Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): 10 points.
- Ace: 1 or 11 points, whichever benefits the hand more. It is normally valued 11 unless the hand score exceeds 21.
Gameplay
Blackjack is a card game where players compete against the dealer.
Dealing
The dealer deals two face up cards to each player and two cards to themselves.
One of the dealer's cards is dealt face up, and the other is dealt face down.
Betting
Players place their bets in designated area before any cards are dealt. Min betting is of 10 chips.
Player’s Turn
Players can choose from the following options:
- Hit: Take another card from the dealer, if the hand value is less than 21.
- Stand: Keep the current hand, without taking another card from the dealer.
- Double: You must put double the bet, and will receive only one extra card from the dealer.
- Split: If the first two cards have the same value, you can split them into two separate hands by putting additional bet. You can hit, stand, double or split in both hands.
Dealer’s Turn
Once all players have finished their turns, the dealer reveals their face down card and hits until they reach a total of 17 or higher.
What does a Busted Hand, Perfect Hand and Blackjack Hand look like?
Busted Hand: Hand cards having points more than 21.
Perfect Hand: Hand cards having exactly 21 points. However, the cards are more than 2.
Blackjack Hand: Hand cards having ace and 10 valued card (i.e; 10, J, Q, K). (blackjack hand is superior than perfect hand)
Insurance Bet
If the dealer's face up card is Ace, you can opt for insurance. It will cost you half of the original bet and wins if the face down card of the dealer is a 10 valued card (i.e; 10, J, Q, K). This implies that the dealer has Blackjack hand.
Winning
The dealer compares their hand to each player's hand, and payouts are made accordingly:
- Player wins: If your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer's.
- Dealer wins: If the dealer's hand is higher than player's hand but does not exceed 21.
- Push: If both hands have the same value, the bet is returned to the player.
Payouts
- Winning Hand: Paid 1:1 on the total bet. For example, a $10 bet results in $20 total ($10 bet back and $10 winnings).
- Blackjack: Paid 3:2. A $10 wager pays a total of $25 ($10 bet back and $15 winnings).
- Insurance Bet: If the dealer has Blackjack, the player loses the hand but wins the Insurance bet at 2:1. For example, a $10 hand bet and $5 Insurance bet result in a total payout of $15 ($5 bet back and $10 winnings), effectively a push overall.
Tips and Strategies for Winning Blackjack
- Memorize basic strategy charts to make the statistically best decisions.
- Avoid taking Insurance. Statistically, it does not benefit you.
- If you are on a losing streak, it is okay to stop.
- Play free online games to improve your skills.
Come this far? This is your sign to play online or offline, and enjoy the thrill of Blackjack now!