It’s still the most popular card game in casinos: Blackjack! Unlike many casino games, it requires a little 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 out if a player had the card combination of ace and 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 does not rely solely on luck, but can actively influence the course of the game. Of course, the house always has the 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, with a maximum of six 52 cards each loaded into a so-called shoe. The dealer draws cards for each player at the table. The aim is to get as close to or exactly equal to 21 as possible, but without going over. If you don’t get exactly 21, you must at least equal 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 options 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 get one card in the following round.
Doubling down is especially worthwhile if you have received two cards with a total value of 9, 10 or 11 as described above. At some tables, doubling down is only possible under these conditions. If you win the round, you get double the winnings. However, if you lose, the bank is guaranteed double the stake.
Flat
If you receive the same card twice or two cards of the same value in the first two rounds, you have the option of splitting them and continuing to play with two separate hands. In the best case scenario, this increases your chance of beating the dealer’s hand and at the same time allows you to double your winnings.
However, for the newly created second hand, you must place the same bet on the table again. If both hands are lost, the double bet is also lost. In contrast to the strategy of doubling, a split is particularly worthwhile with a hand that consists of two twos (result of four), threes (result of six) or sevens (result of 14). With this starting position, it is difficult to continue playing with one hand or the chance of winning decreases. Accordingly, a split can increase your chances of winning here.
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 actually gets a blackjack on the second round, the insurance bet will pay out 2:1, which will make up for your bet. This way, you can start the next round without any losses.
But be careful: If the dealer does not draw a face card or a 10 in the second round and you were wrong with your blackjack guess, the insurance bet will be withdrawn by the bank. You can then continue playing, but you could still lose the game and thus lose even more of your bet. 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 of your bet back. This option is common in Europe, but is not offered in the USA.
Whether you surrender depends on the constellation of your cards compared to the banker. In general, it can make sense if the dealer is dealt an ace in the first hand and you don’t want to rely on insurance, as you could end up losing even more of your bet.
Blackjack is and will always be a game of chance. However, if you know the main options, you can at least develop a certain strategy. If you are playing for the first time, you can try blackjack in demo mode in the online casino and get a feel for the game mode before placing a real bet.