Want to learn how to play blackjack at a professional level? This complete beginner’s guide will teach you how to play like blackjack games at El Royale casino. We’ll cover the basic rules, how to count points and what you need to do to win at blackjack. We’ll also reveal the secrets of successful blackjack games and give you some tips to help increase your chances of winning. So if you’re just starting out or looking for ways to improve your blackjack game, this guide will help you!
What is blackjack?
Blackjack is a card game played between a player and a dealer. The aim of the game is to get as close as possible to 21 points on the hand without going overboard, and beat the dealer’s hand. Points are calculated by adding up the values of the cards in your hand. Later in this guide, we’ll go into more detail on how to calculate points in blackjack. Typically, casinos use blackjack tables with six packs of cards or more to make card counting difficult for players.
The basic rules of blackjack
Now, it’s time to delve into the fundamental regulations of blackjack. As previously stated, this card game involves both the dealer and the player. The objective is to approach the sum of 21 points without surpassing it (known as overcall) in order to triumph over the dealer’s hand.
If both player and dealer fail, it’s a “push” and no one wins or loses. Here’s how the game starts:
- A player places a bet.
- The dealer deals each player two cards face up. The dealer also takes two cards for himself, one face up and one placed in the open.
- The player calculates the value of the cards in the hand.
- If the player has 21 points, it is a blackjack and he automatically wins, but if it turns out that the dealer also has a blackjack, in this case it is a “flush”, i.e. a draw.
- If the player does not have blackjack, he can choose to “hit” (take another card from the dealer) or “stand” (leave the cards he has and not pick up).
- Once a player finishes his turn, it is the dealer’s turn. The dealer must draw a card if his hand is 16 points or less, and if his hand is 17 points or more, the dealer plays “stand”.
If the player’s hand is higher than the dealer’s, the player wins his bet. If the dealer’s hand is higher than the player’s, the player loses his bet. If both hands are equal, no one wins or loses.
Let’s look a little more closely at the player’s turn. When it is your turn to take an action in the game, you have the following options:
- You take another card from the dealer. You can continue to top up until you are outdrawn or decide to stop.
- This option means that you keep the set of cards you already have in your hand and do not top up.
- Double Down. You double your bet and take only one extra card from the dealer. You can only do this if you have two cards in your hand.
- You split your hand into two if you are dealt two cards of the same value, then you play each hand separately.
How do you count points in blackjack?
The value of cards in blackjack is as follows:
- Jacks, Ladies and Kings bring ten points each.
- Aces bring either one point or eleven points.
- All other cards correspond to their numerical value.
So, how do you count points in blackjack? Don’t worry, in reality there is absolutely nothing complicated about it. You just need to add up the values of the cards in your hand. However, there is a small nuance: if you have an ace in your hand, you can count it as either one point or eleven, depending on what is more favourable for you in the current situation.
Reminder: if your hand value is greater than 21, you have lost and forfeited your bet.
Advanced Blackjack Strategies
For as long as blackjack has existed, so many people have been trying to find ways to win the game. There is no guaranteed way to win, of course, but there are a few strategies that can help you increase your chances of winning.
Here are some blackjack tips and tricks:
- Always make a “split” if you are dealt a pair of aces or a pair of eights. These are the two highest-scoring cards in blackjack.
- If the dealer has a five or a six, he is likely to lose. Play a “hit” if you have 12 or more points in your hand.
- If the dealer has a deuce or a three, he is less likely to overcall. Play “stand” if you have 13 or more points in your hand.
- Always double your bet if you have eleven. Eleven is a very strong hand and gives you a good chance of winning.
- If the dealer has a seven or higher, he has a better chance of getting a blackjack. Play “insurance” if you have a blackjack (more on this in the glossary).
- If the dealer has an Ace, he also has a good chance of winning Blackjack. In this case, see the previous paragraph.
Remember to use basic strategy and calculate your blackjack points carefully. With a little practice, you’ll soon be a pro!
Glossary of terms used in blackjack
Over time you’ll get used to all the blackjack terms, but to get you started, here’s a glossary of blackjack terms you’re sure to encounter:
- Blackjack is a situation where you have an ace and a ten-point card in your hand. This is the strongest hand in blackjack, and it pays at odds of three to two.
- Overcall, aka bust and break, is when the value of your hand exceeds 21 points. If you overcall, you automatically lose and forfeit your bet.
- Hit – you take another card from the dealer.
- Stand, literally translates to “stop” – you stick to the cards you have. Once you have played a stand, you cannot make a hit.
- Double down – you double your bet and take another card from the dealer. You can only do this if you have two cards in your hand.
- Split – you split your hand into two separate hands if you have two cards of the same value. You must then place a second bet on the new hand and play it separately.
- Surrender – you give up your hand and lose half of your bet. You can only do this if it is your first turn and you have not yet taken a card from the dealer.
- Insurance – you place an additional bet on the dealer’s blackjack hand. This bet pays out at odds of two to one if the dealer does have a blackjack.
- Push – the value of your hand is the same as the dealer’s. This is a draw and you get your bet back.
- Soft Hand – you have an ace in your hand. An ace can count as either one point or eleven points.
- Hard hand: you don’t have an ace in your hand or an ace only counts as one point.
These are by no means all the blackjack terms you may encounter, but only the most necessary ones to get you started playing. In time, you will learn all the blackjack lingo and be able to play like a pro!
We hope this guide to playing blackjack has been helpful to you. If you follow these rule tips, you will be able to have a lot of fun playing blackjack in the casino. Good luck in the game!