Blackjack or 21 is the most popular casino game in the world. Blackjack's popularity can be attributed to a combination of the ease of play with the element of skill. There are many strategies and techniques for playing blackjack that make the odds of winning better for the player and an experienced blackjack player can do quite well playing blackjack.
Although the actual historical origins of blackjack are unknown, the first written reference is found in a short story by Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, written in 1601 or 1602. In this story the game is called "veintiuna" (Spanish for twenty-one), and the object of the game was to reach 21 points without going bust, and that the Ace was worth 1 or 11. As with many other popular casino games, 21 later found its was to France and eventually to the United States where it became known as blackjack for a winning hand that originally consisted of the ace of spades and the jack of clubs or spades. In the modern version of the game, to win a hand with a "Blackjack", no longer requires any black cards at all.
In a casino, blackjack is played at a traditional kidney shaped table with the dealer on the inside of the curve and the players on the outside. The dealer faces the players and deals the cards from the 'shoe", which may contain 1 to 8 shuffled decks depending on the casino. Some casinos are now using a mechanized shoe that shuffles the cards internally, thus removing as much of the human handling of the cards as possible. Bets are placed before any cards are dealt and several other bets are available after each player and the dealer have all received 2 cards each.
The object of the game is to achieve a higher card total than the dealer, without going over 21 and going "Bust". Number cards 2 to 9 count as their face value, the 10, jack, queen and king count as 10 and the ace counts as 1 or 11, at the players discretion.
The cards are dealt face up, 2 to each player, going from the dealers left to right and then 2 cards to the dealer, one face up and one face down. The face down card is known as the "Hole" card. It is important to mention that each player is playing only against the dealer and not against the other players.
The players have the option of taking as many cards as they wish to try to get as close as possible to 21 as long as they don't go bust (or over 21). If a player does go bust , they lose the hand and their bet. Each player's hand is played until the player stands (or stops taking any more cards), hits a total of 21 or goes bust. Some casinos pay a special bonus to a player making a winning hand with 5 cards. This hand is called a "5-card charlie". Casinos have also offered 6 and 7 card charlies.
After all of the players have played their hands, the dealer plays his or her hand, after turning up the hole card. If the dealer has blackjack and no player does, he or she wins all the hands on the table. Prior to dealing anymore cards to themselves, the dealer must follow some basic rules. If the dealer's hand is less than 17, the dealer must take another card or cards until they either surpass 17, hit 21 or go bust. If the dealer's hand is 17 or higher, the dealer must stand. If the dealer's hand is 17 but includes an ace, this is known as a soft-17 and each casino will have prelisted rules on whether or not the dealer must hit or stand on a soft-17.
The best winning hand is called a "blackjack" and consists of an ace and a card worth 10. This hand is made from the initital 2 cards dealt and is an automatic winning hand for the player unless the dealer also gets a "blackjack". This is known as a "Push" and results in a tie. The standard payout on most bets is 1:1 and a "blackjack" pays the player at 3:2 in most casinos.
Many volumes have been written on blackjack strategy. Some are effective and many are not. It is very important for the player to do serious research into any blackjack strategy before using it in a casino. It is also important to make sure the strategy the player intends to use is legal in the casino and the state or country in which they are playing.
Basic blackjack strategy follows carefully researched mathematical models and many books and online sites will have a simple chart that lists when to hit and when to stand or make other types of bets based on your first two cards. These charts will improve your odds of winning but are not a guarantee that you will win.
Card counting is the most successful of all legal blackjack strategies. While usually legal, many casinos will simply ask the player to leave if they feel the player is card counting. The casinos have the right to ban any player without explanation. Card counting involves the player keeping track of which cards are dealt and has different guidelines depending on the system and how many decks are in the shoe. Card counting requires strong mental faculties and takes study and effort to learn but can reduce the house edge closer to 0%. To simplfy card counting, most systems assign point values to the different cards and the player keeps track of the point values rather than each single card dealt. The card counter will usually observe quite a few hands being dealt and actually enter the game when they feel the cards are to their advantage.
How much the odds favor the house depends on the number of decks in the shoe.
Number of Decks House Advantage
1 Deck : 0.04%
2 Decks: 0.42%
4 Decks: 0.61%
6 Decks: 0.67%
8 Decks: 0.70%
In addition to the 1:1 standard payout and the 3:2 payout for a "blackjack", casinos offer several other bets and payouts.
1. THE SURRENDER BET
Some casinos offer player a chance not play out their hand and surrender half their bet. This bet will take place after the dealer has checked his hand for blackjack and is also called "late surrender" because of this.
2. THE INSURANCE BET
When the dealers face-up card is an ace, many casinos offer the player the option of the "Insurance bet". The player will be paid at 2:1, if the dealer has a blackjack.
3. THE SPLIT BET
When a player's first 2 cards are a pair, the player may place a second bet, equal to the first bet. The dealer then splits the players cards and the player plays the pair as two separate hands.
4.THE DOUBLE DOWN BET
After being dealt two cards, the player may double their bet and then the player receives only one more card, dealt face down.
5. 5 OR 6 CARD CHARLIE
If a player makes a winning hand with 5 or 6 cards, many casinos offer a bonus payout. Some casinos even offer a payout for a 7 card charlie. However this is a bonus payout and should not be a strong part of a players strategy as winning with these types of hands is very rare.
Some casinos add variations to the rules that put the odds more in the favor of the house. These types of rules should be avoided. Among these rules are:
1. Blackjack that pays even money or 6:5.
2. The dealer must hit on soft 17
3. Doubling down only on 10 or 11
4. Blackjack games that use 8 decks of cards.
5. Casinos that don't offer insurance or surrender bets.
Find a casino that uses 4 or less decks (if possible), has a good variety of bets and payouts and pays fair odds. Do everything you can to increase the odds in your favor.
With the growth of online casinos, blackjack is well on its way to equaling the success it has found in land-based casinos. The game is played following the standard rules of blackjack although many online casinos offer unique special bets to entice players. The graphical display is usually a representation of the traditional blackjack table and hands are dealt to the players first and then the dealer. Many online casinos offer the players the ability to play two hands at once against the dealer. When playing blackjack online players will receive some major benefits, including casino bonus money, the comfort of playing from home and the option to learn to play online by starting out with play money instead of real cash.
Whether you play online or in a land-based casinos, blackjack is a enjoyable and easy game to play. Have fun and always bet within your limits.
