Blackjack may seem like a game of chance, but with proper knowledge and strategy you can increase your odds of victory and increase the likelihood of victory. Here are a few pointers to get you going in your Blackjack adventure:
Basic rules of blackjack are straightforward: both you and the dealer are dealt two cards and aim to reach 21 without going over without exceeding it; in contrast, their goal is 17 or greater hands; once either hand reaches this goal or busts, play concludes.
If you feel confident about your chances of beating the dealer, doubling down can be one of the best blackjack strategies. But be wary: don’t risk more than you can afford to lose.
Splitting is an option in blackjack when you hold two identical cards of equal value, such as two nines or two threes. A second bet must be placed of equal value to split each hand until it becomes either stay or bust; always split aces and eights; consider splitting nines, sevens, sixes, or threes when dealing with dealers who display face two or face three faces on their card decks.
Tracking how many cards have been distributed from a deck in blackjack requires the essential skill of counting cards, an essential aspect of blackjack strategy. You can practice by dealing yourself a single deck of cards and adding up their values as you go – beginning with a running count of 0, then increasing by one per card dealt – but as your proficiency grows you should progress onto true counts, which provide more accurate odds calculations.
When playing at a table with posted limits and you have a higher hand than the dealer, he or she will pay your wager according to those limits and collect your cards. Conversely, if both hands equal out at zero then it’s considered a draw and neither win nor lose are determined.
Insurance may be offered if the dealer displays an ace when you have bets placed. Unfortunately, taking insurance can cost twice what your original bet cost you; should she turn out a 10-card underneath, she will win any insurance wagers as well; should she not, the player wins their original bet and the game resumes as normal; if she turns out a blackjack, however, all insurance bets will be returned along with the winner of any blackjack-winning insurance bets paid out before her ten card reveals itself in special viewing windows in the table and resumes as usual – as will any insurance bet made against her own 10-card which she will reveal her ten card underneath and the game will resume as normal –