It is still the most popular of all card games in casinos: Blackjack! Unlike many casino games, it requires a bit of skill as well as luck. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be ready for your next game.
Blackjack, 21, Vingt and others
Blackjack is said to have its origins in the French card game Vingt et Un, where 21 is the winning number. However, the popular card game got its name in the USA. There, an extra bonus was paid if a player had the card combination of the ace and the jack of spades. Spades are black in the French deck, and the jack is called “Jack” in English. Accordingly, the name of Black Jack is “Blackjack”.
Today blackjack is the most popular card game in the world including online casinos. Probably because the rules are quite simple and the player doesn’t just rely on luck, but can actively influence the course of the game. Of course, the bank always has an advantage, but with the right strategy you have a better chance of a successful game.
How does blackjack work?
The game is played with French decks of cards, a maximum of six 52 cards each are loaded into a so-called sled. The dealer draws cards for each player at the table. The aim is to get as close as possible to a score of 21 or even to reach it exactly without exceeding it. If you don’t get exactly 21, you must at least match or beat the dealer’s score to secure your bet or win a prize.
These options are available
Anyone who sits down at a blackjack table, whether on site or in an online casino, should know the most important rules and possibilities of the card game. With the following tips and tricks you are well prepared:
Double
This move is only allowed after the first two cards have been drawn. If you get a score of 9, 10 or 11 with the first two cards, the chance of getting a score close to 21 in the next round increases. You can then double your current bet, but you will only receive one card in the following round.
Doubling down (also called double down) is particularly worthwhile if you have received two cards with a total value of 9, 10 or 11 as described above. At some tables, doubling is only possible under these conditions. If you win the round you get double the win. However, if you lose, the bank is guaranteed double the bet.
Flat
If you are dealt the same card twice or two cards of the same value in the first two rounds, you have the option to split them and continue playing with two separate hands. In the best case, this increases the chance of beating the dealer’s hand and at the same time you can double your winnings.
However, the newly created second hand requires you to place the same bet on the table again. Of course, if both hands are lost, the double bet is gone as well. In contrast to the strategy of doubling down, a split is particularly worthwhile on a hand consisting of two twos (outcome of four), threes (outcome of six) or sevens (outcome of 14). With this starting position, it is difficult to continue playing with a hand or the chance of winning decreases. Accordingly, a split here can increase your chances of winning.
Insurance
An atypical term in gambling, but you can actually insure your bet. If the dealer gets an ace on the first round, then his chance of getting a blackjack and your loss is proportionally much higher. In this case, you can put half of your already placed bet on the table as insurance. If the dealer does have blackjack on the second round, the insurance bet is paid 2:1, which equals your bet. So you can start the next round without losses.
But beware, if the dealer doesn’t draw a face card or 10 on the second round and you’re wrong with your blackjack pick, the insurance bet will be withdrawn by the house. You can then continue playing, but you could still lose the game and lose even more stakes. Insurance is therefore controversial.
Give up
The opposite of insurance is the buyback option. If after the first hand you suspect that you will not win against the dealer, you can surrender and get half your bet back. In Europe, this option is widespread, but it is not offered in the USA.
Whether you surrender depends on the constellation of your cards compared to the banker. Basically, it can make sense if the dealer is dealt an ace in the first hand and you don’t want to rely on the insurance, because you could end up losing even more bets.
Blackjack is and always will be a game of chance. However, if you know the most important options, you can at least set up a certain strategy. If you are a first time player you can try blackjack in demo mode at the online casino and get a feel for the game mode before placing a real bet.