Blackjack is an age-old casino card game pitting players against a dealer, often perceived as an exercise in chance and luck. Yet with proper strategy knowledge can increase a player’s odds of victory and improve chances of victory dramatically. Blackjack has also proven popular among players of all skill levels; more engaging than slot machines yet less complex and intimidating than poker; its strategy allowing one to beat the house edge for substantial winnings.
Played with one or more 52-card decks, blackjack can be played to build hands totalling 21 or closer than that of the dealer’s hand. Each player and dealer receive two cards from which to choose whether to hit (request more cards) or stand (end the hand). A natural or blackjack counts as two ace/ten cards simultaneously and pays out at 2-1.
Before the deal begins, each player places a bet in one of the betting boxes marked on the table. Once all bets have been made, a dealer then deals each player two cards face up; at which time each must decide whether to hit or stand and all others players must do the same in turn.
When players have stronger hands than the dealer, they have the option of doubling down (betting twice their original bet amount) in order to reduce the chance of a blackjack and gain greater flexibility when selecting when to stand or hit.
Some players opt to take insurance, a side bet on whether the dealer has blackjack. This bet pays out 2-1; should she actually possess this winning hand, however, players will win both bets; blackjack has an extremely low house edge of around 1% which makes this casino game one of the more affordable gambling experiences available today.
Blackjack tables typically seat between five and seven players. When an empty seat at a blackjack table becomes available, it should be free for anyone interested to fill it (unless it’s being held by something like coat or chips). To join an active game in progress, ask the dealer first if it is acceptable before joining.
After everyone has made their decisions, the dealer will play out his hand according to predetermined rules. He must draw cards until his total reaches 16 or less and stand on 17 or higher; additionally if an ace appears, players should call out “Even Money,” meaning their $10 bet will be returned at a rate of 2-1 instead of the usual 3-2 payout for blackjack.