How To Play Blackjack

Blackjack is most definitely one of the fastest, most strategic games on the casino floor. Because the game is so intense, many people find it a bit intimidating to learn how to play blackjack while at the casino. I remember the first time I ever played blackjack in Atlantic City – I made a few bad plays, and the rest of the players gave me a hard time about it.

The fact is, when you play blackjack with other people, the way you play also affects everyone else.

This is why it is important to learn how to play blackjack before you ever step onto the casino floor. Not only will understanding the rules of blackjack give you the ability to win consistently, but also it will ensure that you can play the game at a level that blackjack veterans are comfortable with.

You may have heard the game of blackjack referred to by another name – “21.” This is because the number 21 is a key number in blackjack: the object of the game is to collect as many cards as possible in one hand that equal 21 “points” without going over 21. Whoever is closer to 21 – you or the house – wins the hand.

At the onset of the hand, each player at the table lays out a bet for their hand. Usually there is a minimum and maximum limit at each blackjack table.

Once the bets are placed, the dealer deals each player two cards, face up. This is your starting hand. The dealer also deals himself two cards, one of which remains face-down.

Each card from 2 to 10 is worth its face value in points. Royalty cards are all worth 10 points as well. The ace can be worth either 11 or 1, depending on what is most advantageous to the player.

After the cards are dealt, each player must look at their starting hand and make a decision on what they wish to do next – to take a card, stand, double down, or split. The player’s decision is based both on how many points his hand adds up to, as well as which card is showing on the dealers hand. In most casinos, the dealer is forced to take cards up until they reach 17, meaning that if a player has 17 or more points in their starting hand, they are most likely to stay with their hand.

Below 17, players will usually take cards until they reach a hand between 17 and 21. But if they take card that equal 22 or more, they “bust” and are out of the game.

After all players are done drawing cards, the dealer flips over their other card. If the value of their hand is less than 17, they must draw cards until they either reach the 17-21 range or bust. Depending on where a dealer’s hand ends up, players can win or lose.

In addition, two other important tactics in learning how to play blackjack are the “double down” and “split” bets.

Players who have a strong, low starting hand – usually between 8 and 11 – can “double down” by doubling their bet and agreeing to only take 1 more card. This is done particularly when the dealer also has a low starting hand. The strategy is that, if a player gets a 10 or higher card, they will have a strong hand against the dealer’s low drawing hand.

The “split” bet allows players to split pairs into two separate bets. The most popular split is the 8-8 split, since, at 16, it is a dangerous hand to draw a card on, but if a player splits, they can draw two high cards and now have two 18 or 19 point hands.

These are the basics on how to play blackjack. As long as you know them and follow them diligently, you’ll do fine at the blackjack table!