Blackjack is one of the most celebrated online casino game, probably ranked after slots and roulette. In fact, it’s the most played table game at the online casinos and has some excellent odds. It has a very low house edge of around 0.5%, and they could even be lower if you used some of the blackjack strategies.
This is just about the best odds that you will find in any online casino game, and as a result, making this game very lucrative and enjoyable to players who are willing to put in a little effort in learning how to play blackjack in casino using the various strategies.
Amazingly, the majority of the players won’t make this effort. From my experience as an online casino player, I have never seen any player who is well familiar with the basic blackjack strategy.
By fumbling with the proper strategy, they are already giving the online casino a 2% house edge – meaning they are losing four times as much. This is throwing away your precious. In my opinion, it would be wise to learn how to play black jack at the casino before you place any money on the game.
How to Play Black Jack at Casino?
Black jack is sometimes referred to as black jack 21. To learn how to play black jack 21, you have to ensure that you have followed all the rules written below. Proper practice will see you reduce the house edge significantly while also increasing your edge on the house.
Black jack 21 Objective
The black jack 21 objective is usually misstated as “trying to get a hand value that is close to 21 without exceeding the value.”
However, the real objective that you should focus on while playing blackjack is Beating The Online Casino Dealer regardless of your hand value. You can work your way out and beat the online casino dealer with a card value of 12, a figure which is very far from the 21.
Once you’ve started playing by the rules, you will find yourself beating the dealer quite a number of times. For now, all you need to remember is you have to beat the dealers hand at whatever cost.
The Bets & The Deal
Between one and seven players are usually in the same pit and game. Each and every player will usually have their chips placed in a circle in front of him/her. Once everyone has the chips, the dealer will deal two cards to each player, including himself.
One of his cards (the dealer) will be facing up so that you can judge your hand against his. When playing, the other player’s cards don’t matter as you are competing against the dealer and not them.
The Play
When learning how to play blackjack, always remember that the play will always begin with the right most player and will proceed player by player to the left.
Additionally, you will have to ensure that the value of your hand is higher than the dealers without going past 21. If both of you (the dealer and you) bust, you lose the bet. This is one of the factors that makes the online casino have an advantage in black jack.
Once it reaches your turn, you will have the following choices to make:
- Hit: This a word used to mean taking a card. You have an option of hitting as many times as you wish without going bust.
- Stand: End your turn and passing it to the next player.
- Doubling down: This implies doubling your bet and taking an extra card and then ending your turn.
- Splitting: this option is only applicable if you have two cards of the same value. For example, you may have two 8’s and decide to split them. By doing this, you shall be playing them as different hands. Once you split them, you can hit or stand in each of the split hand. However, you will have to place another bet since you shall be playing two different hands.
- Surrender: This option is more popular in most casinos. In fact, some casinos have completely abolished this option. Just as the name suggests, surrendering allows you to bow out of your hand and to lose half the bet you placed. This option is viable if you predict a loss. For example, if you have a hand of 16 and facing a dealer’s card of 10.
Once you are done playing your hand that will be it. The play will not come back to you. Every player at the table gets a turn to play per hand. You can decide to hit as many times as you want but once you are done hitting, that will be it.
After each and every player is done playing, the dealer plays his/her hand. She then flips the hole card (the covered card) so that everyone can see the cards.
If he/she has a card value less than 17, he/she must continue hitting until he/she gets a hand value that is higher than 17. This is the rule! Hitting until he/she attains a hand value of 17 or more.
Winning/Loosing
Before you know the results of your hand, you have to know their values. J, K, and Q are counted as 10. An ace can be counted as 11 or 1 depending on how you wish. All other cards are valued at their face value.
Depending on your card value, this is what can happen.
- Win/Lose: Provided you haven’t gone past the card value of 21(bust), you win if your hand value is higher than that of the dealer’s.
- Push: This is a tie. This happens if your hand value is the same as that of the dealer and in this case, you neither win nor lose. Instead, your bet is refunded.
By following the described rules, you should be able to learn how to play black jack 21 at any online casino. The only caution I’ll give you is to ensure that the online casino you visit is legitimate and certified!
Good Luck!
