Your Guide to Mastering Blackjack in Minutes!
21 Made Easy
Blackjack is one of the most popular games in the casino and has been for decades. With easy-to-learn rules, a simple goal, and a quick rate of play, it’s easy to see why Blackjack is a leader in table games in casinos across the country.
Whether you are a beginner who has never played or a player who wants to get better and make money, these basic blackjack rules can help any blackjack player.
How to Play Blackjack
First, let’s go over the most basic blackjack game rules - how to play the game. The player is playing against the dealer directly. The player gets two cards, both face up, and the dealer deals themself two cards, with one being face up and the other hidden face down.
The goal of a blackjack online casino is to beat the dealer's hand by reaching 21 with the value of your cards or as close to it without busting (going over 21). The player gets to decide whether to hit (take another card) or stand (keep your current value of cards) and the dealer will take as many cards as they need to get to 17 or higher before standing unless they bust.
Every card with a number is worth the amount on the card. The only thing to remember is that all face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) are worth the value of 10, along with the 10 cards. Aces are the only card in blackjack with two values, either 1 or 11, which is a choice the player can make to their advantage. For instance, if the player has an ace and a 9, they can choose to stand with a value of 20 (which is recommended), or they can hit and take another card with a combined value of 10 with a 1 for the ace and the 9.
Blackjack is achieved when the player is dealt an ace and a card valuing 10 with their first two cards. In nearly every casino, a blackjack pays out 3-2 of your bet, meaning a blackjack would pay $150 on a $100 hand. However, the dealer can also get blackjack, but you don’t lose 3-2 of your bet, just the original bet amount.
Blackjack Basic Strategy
Using the basic strategy of blackjack is the best way to make a profit. It is also easier said than done. Many players abandon basic strategy at times on a hunch or gut feeling, when millions of blackjack simulations and hundreds of professional players have proven sticking to basic strategy is the best way to play the game to make money.
When sticking to a basic strategy at all times, blackjack is one of the most profitable casino games available. The RTP (return to player) is as high as 99.5% when sticking to the blackjack basic strategy.
Tips for Winning in Blackjack
Never Take Insurance
Insurance is what many call a “suckers bet”. Insurance is offered when the dealer’s shown card is an ace. When the dealer is showing an ace, they will then ask if players want to take insurance, which means the player can place an additional bet of half their original bet amount to counteract the chance the dealer has a blackjack.
If the dealer does have blackjack, the insurance bet pays out 2-1 and covers your original bet. However, the odds are not in the player's favor. There are only 16 cards out of 52 in every deck that gives a dealer a blackjack. That means there is a 30.7% chance the dealer flips a blackjack. The casino is offering 2-1 odds on a 30.7% outcome, making it a bad bet for the player long-term.
Stick to Basic Strategy at All Times
Sticking to a basic strategy maximizes your chances of winning. To perfect the blackjack basic strategy, you can practice with a strategy card that tells you when to hit, stand, and double down, or you can look up a chart of the basic strategy. Hitting and standing based on hunches or gut feelings will only lead to losing more over time.
Keep Bet Values Consistent
It can be tempting to go for a big win on one hand, especially when you are winning on a table. However, it’s the biggest mistake you can make when playing blackjack. Combining basic strategy and consistent bet sizes is the best chance at long-term winning.
Making a bet ten times higher than your original bet amount because you won ten hands in a row is a good way to quickly lose winnings. Or worse, placing a bet ten times larger than your original bet amount because you lost ten hands in a row is a good way to lose all your money even quicker.
Double Down as Much as Possible
Doubling down is one of the best blackjack game rules. Doubling down allows the player to double their bet mid-hand and take exactly one more card. Doubling certain hands is one of the most imperative keys to playing by basic strategy and is a good way to win faster, when it is to your advantage. Many players know to double on 11, but many miss opportunities to double on values less than 11 when it is still to their advantage by the statistics of basic strategy.
Time to Play
By now, you should have a basic understanding of blackjack and are ready to master the tables. Use the tips above and remember to stick to to blackjack basic strategy and you will maximize your chances of stacking up money on the blackjack table.
