Blackjack is one of the best casino games to play. It can also be one of the worst games to play if you don’t know the strategy of the game. Before you sit down to play Blackjack you will want to learn these essentials of the game to insure yourself a better chance of winning.
Blackjack is the most popular casino table game. The game is fast and exciting. When played properly it has a house edge of less than one percent, which is the lowest house advantage of any table game. A player can even gain an edge over the casino with card counting.
Some players call the game blackjack and some call it twenty-one. No matter what you call it, the object of the game was best described in the title of Edward O Thorp's 1963 best selling book that started the blackjack revolution. The title of the book and the objective of the game is
Beat the Dealer! Here are the rules of the game.
Blackjack basic strategy is based on the mathematics of the game. It has been tested and refined through computer simulations. When it is followed correctly it reduces the house edge to the minimum, which is usually about one-half of a percent. If you want to be a successful blackjack player you will need to learn basic strategy
The Blackjack strategy chart shows you how to play your first two cards based on the dealers up card. You can print out this chart and take it to the casino with you when you play.
When you play Blackjack you have some incomplete information to base you playing decisions on. You know the value of your two cards and you know the value of the dealer’s up card. Many players wonder what percentage of time will the dealer bust based on their up card. Here are the figures.
When you are playing blackjack one of the most favorable situations arises when you have the opportunity to double down. When you double down you are allowed to double your bet after receiving your fist two cards. You should always double down in the correct situations if you want to win at Blackjack
A hard hand is two starting cards that do not contain an ace. Here is a quick reference for playing hard hands.
A soft hand is two starting cards in which one card is an ace. Here is a quick reference for playing soft hands.
Two starting cards of the same value are a pair. Some of these can be tricky to play. Here is a quick reference for playing pairs.
Some casinos are changing payout for a natural Blackjack to increase the house edge. Instead of paying $3 to $2 they are paying $6 to $5. Here is why you should avoid this game.
