How to play Blackjack

Learn how to play Blackjack with our learning tips, rules, explanations, and betting strategies. Here we cover basic things for beginners as well as share ideas on how to win for seasoned players. We are going to guide you through the gameplay, basic strategies, and the odds to improve your chances of winning.

Please, understand that this material does not guarantee you a win. It must be used only as an educational tool to improve your blackjack skills or learn what this game is all about.

How does the game work?

The aim of blackjack is to get 21 or be as close as possible to 21 without going over and get a higher hand than the dealer. If anyone, the dealer, or you go above 21, they lose.

The idea to reach 21 (or as close as possible) is not difficult to grasp but you should get acquainted with important rules. To demonstrate how it works in real life, follow this game simulation here:

STEP 1.

Start the game.  You join a table and once all players are ready to play, the dealer will deal two cards each face up. The dealer will get two cards for him/her as well, but one will be face up and the other one face down.

STEP 2.

Decide what you do. You will have to calculate the value of your hand and having in mind the dealer’s card that is face up, analyze if you want to Hit or Stand. The idea is to try and get to as close as possible 21 without going over. So, you must weigh in your chances and the dealer’s. Here you can use your own intuition, or you must use blackjack strategy. If you play online, you could also use an educational software that could help you decide about your next step.

Hit. If you choose Hit option, that will mean that you want the dealer to give you another card. It is logical to do so if the value of your hand is quite small and the risk of going bust is lower.

Stand. If you choose this option, the dealer will move to another player. This is usually exercised when the value of your hand is quite high, for example 15.

STEP 3.

Based on your decision, it is likely that your hand value will change. You will stay in the game if your hand value is 21 or lower.

Once all players have made their decision, the dealer will open his face down card.

STEP 4.

See who is closer to 21. The player who is closer to 21 than the dealer wins. If the dealer is closer to 21 or has 21, the dealer wins.

Your win amount will depend on the type of bet you placed.

Regular win 1:1 is when the value of your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s.

Blackjack win is 3:2 when you have 21.

Other basic rules:

Dealer must hit at any hand valued 16 and below.

A player can Split when his two cards have equal value. This means a player can turn a hand of two into two separate hands.

A player can also double down the bet in the middle of a hand. In this case a player will get only one card without the option t receive another. Some of the casinos will let you double down on anything you are holding, and some will restrict this option.

Advanced options for seasoned players.

There also advanced rules for more professional blackjack play.

Insurance: If a dealer’s face up card is an Ace, the dealer will ask players to take insurance to protect them against a case when the face down card has a value of 10.

Surrender: A player can surrender mid bet if they do not like their hand.

Soft hand: A soft hand is a hand when you have an Ace in it. They call it soft foe the reason that the hand has two value readings – it can be 1 or 11, and plus any other cards. Some blackjack casinos will require the dealer to absolutely hit on a soft 17 while others require that they stand. It is important to know this particular rule in each casino you play.

Even money: In case you hit a blackjack and the dealer is showing an Ace, you can push for a tie once he also happens to have a Blackjack. To avoid risk of not  winning, you can choose to take even money. Instead of getting paid 3:2, you’ll be paid 1:1.

Important Tips to Remember

Do not split two face cards

This is a very common mistake made by beginners, who believe that splitting face cards and tens will double their profits. Our advice is – never split face cards, as you basically swap the high probability of winning with a 20 for the risk of losing twice your money once the new cards drawn are not the ones you need.

Always Split Aces & 8s

A pair of two 8s will produce you 16, so by splitting these you are banking on at least one face card showing up to give you a better hand. Even, a 2 will be a good card to draw to an 8, meaning that you still maintain good chances to make a winning hand. And the other way round when you have a pair of Aces that gives you a hand value of either 2 or 12, it’s a good idea to split them and hope that anything from 7 and upwards will show up.

HOW TO WIN TIPS:

How can I win in blackjack?

To give yourself a chance to win in blackjack, it’s worth studying some blackjack strategy guides. There are a few available online. Here is one you can visit and have a look at here: https://casinohowtowin.net You should remember that there is no 100% winning strategy and any of them will just help you increase your chances. The same goes for a software as it is still based on various mathematical models and strategies and does not guarantee you a win.

HIT OR STAND?

Understanding when to hit or stand is the core of the game. When you just start playing the blackjack it might seem that it is difficult to understand these choices. We advise that you play for fun first to learn and get a feel of the game before you play for money. At first it can be difficult to know what to do, but with practice you’ll soon learn which moves to make. You can also use various charts available online that are based on the total value of your hand and the dealer’s face up card that can help you understand whether you must hit or stand. Understanding how to play your cards gives you the best possible chance of winning, but do not forget there is also an element of luck involved.

CARDS COUNTING

Cards counting is one of the most popular blackjack strategies.

The idea is that a value is assigned to cards as they are being removed from the deck. This gives a running value of the remaining cards in the deck. That value is used to understand whether or not the deck contains bigger cards or smaller cards. There is an interesting approach to blackjack strategies described in a Hollywood movie called 21. It is a must see for any player who enjoy blackjack.