Cities in the United Kingdom may not have the glitz, glamour and the “bling” of Las Vegas Nevada, but they are the nonetheless one of the best destinations in the world for those who are passionate about gambling and casino games.
The gambling scene in the UK is highly developed, with hundreds and thousands of businesses scattered all across the kingdom.
With each new day, there are new businesses mushrooming in different parts of Britain, and thus as a beginner in the world of gambling, you will have very little trouble getting used to the gambling climate of the UK. A hassle free and uncomplicated approach to launching your gambling ambitions in the air would be to begin playing Blackjack.
A Game of Complexity
How to play blackjack? When you sit down and play Blackjack for the first time as a newcomer, you are going to find it extremely difficult to believe that this seemingly simplistic game is one that resonates with extensive analysis of odds and strategies.
Long story short, this may be a highly entertaining game and one that suits the inexperienced playing style of a beginner, but there is no way that you can take this game lightly.
To say that winning at Blackjack is all about lady luck and has nothing to do with tactical build ups and precise calculations would be a disastrously flawed statement. But then again, as a beginner, you do not have to stress yourself about the intricacies and complexities of strategizing in Blackjack.
Unless you are putting a lot of money on the line, just learning about the simple fundamental rules of Blackjack will help you get a feel for the game and put you on the learning curve from the onset.
Importance of Learning the Rules
If you have never played Blackjack in the UK in your life before, then you are probably not aware of the fact that the primary objective of the game is to reach 21.
Before you get to learn any more about the rules, it is worth mentioning that having complete understanding of the rules with little to no confusion is absolutely imperative to playing Blackjack in the UK.
Even though you can keep the strategies and tactics aside for later learning, you must not be tempted into leaving out the basic rules, because your lack of knowledge of these rules can severely compromise your ability to make any considerable progress in the game.
The more negligent you are towards the rules in the beginning, the lower are your chances of winning. Blackjack is a smart man’s game, and in the context of gambling in the UK, a smart man is one that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of a game.
The Dealer’s Role
By following the simple rules of Blackjack, you will be able to accomplish the fundamental goal of the game which is to pull cards as close to twenty one as possible. General Blackjack rules and game play are more or less consistent throughout the world, with little variations based on geography.
In the United Kingdom, the typical Blackjack dealer will deal two cards face-up with the players after a round of play has been commenced following the placing of a bet. There is no defined amount of money that needs to be placed on the bet, but most gambling houses in the UK prescribe a fixed betting figure.
The dealer will be in possession of one card that is face-up. The players participating in the game are not competing with one another per se, and their primary purpose is to outsmart the dealer and beat him in the game.
You could say that the players are not competitive with each other in the game, although everyone looks to beat the dealer earlier than the others. The non competitive nature of the game makes it a necessity for the dealer card to be a consideration of how the players will perform throughout the game.
Hit, Stand, Split and Double Down
In basic Blackjack, that has no fancy additions or alterations, the dealer waits for the players to make the first move. The players can perform an action in the form of hitting, standing, splitting and doubling down. Hitting refers to receiving another card while standing allows the player to take what was already dealt.
When you split in the game, it means that you have played two hands from the pair that you were dealt. That leaves us with the double down. This option in the game allows any player to double their bet after the next card has been received.
Additional General Rules
The abovementioned rules are more or less the basic foundations upon which Blackjack is played in the United Kingdom. There are a host of other rules that you can learn later to improve your mastery of the game.
For example, each player is allowed to use the ability of surrendering half of the bet after the cards have been dealt by the dealer. By looking at the cards that have been dealt, you will more or less come up with a clear idea of whether or not your chances of winning this round are high.
If you thing that the dealt cards are not in your favour, you are within your right to surrender half the bet and thus decrease your potential loss. The simple Blackjack rules in the UK also allow you to buy insurance against a potential house 21 blackjack.
Variations in Blackjack Rules in the UK
The rules of Blackjack are known to differ from one table to the other. One aspect of the game that varies greatly with changes in the table is the payout. The payout for tables in two different gambling houses is usually not consistent with one another.
Each table normally has its own payout rate, which serves to make the rounds of Blackjack more profitable for the dealer and the house. You will also find differences in the way houses treat a soft seventeen and the type of side bets that are made.