It is still the most popular of all card games in casinos: blackjack! In contrast to many casino games, luck also requires a little skill. With these tips and tricks you are ready for the next game.
Blackjack, 21, Vingt et un
Blackjack is said to have its origins in the French card game Vingt et Un, where, as the name suggests, 21 is the winning number. However, the popular card game got its name in the USA. There an extra bonus was paid out if the player had the card combination ace of spades and jack of spades. Spades (English Spades and French Pique) are black in the French deck of cards, corresponding to the name of the black jack or blackjack.
Today blackjack is the most popular of all card games worldwide, including in online casinos . Probably because the rules are quite simple and the player doesn’t just rely on luck, but can actively influence the course of the game. Of course, the bank always has an advantage, but with the right strategy you have a better chance of a successful game.
How does blackjack work?
The game is played with French decks of cards, a maximum of six of them with 52 cards each are loaded into a so-called sledge. The dealer draws cards for each player at the table. The goal is to get as close as possible to a score of 21 or even to reach it directly, but without exceeding it. If you do not reach 21 straight away, you have to be at least level with the dealer or trump his number of points in order to secure your stake or to earn a profit.
More detailed information on card counting
In addition to the options of doubling, splitting, insuring or giving up, there is also the card counting strategy. As a player, you work out what type of card (low, high, face card) could be drawn next. You can find more information here.
Opportunities worth knowing
Anyone who sits down at a blackjack table, whether in the land-based or online casino, should know the most important rules and possibilities of the card game. You are well prepared with the following tips and tricks:
- Doubling up: This move is only possible after the first two cards have moved. For example, if you are dealt a 9, 10 or an ace as the first card, the chance of blackjack or a score very close to 21. You can then double your current stake, but then only receive one more card. Doubling down (also called double down) is only worthwhile if you get a 9, 10 or an ace in the first round as described above. At some tables, doubling is only possible under these conditions. If you win the round, you will get double the profit. But if you lose, the bank is sure of your double stake.
- Split : Get the same card or card twice in the first two rounds . two cards with the same value, you have the option to split them up and continue playing with two separate hands. In the best case, this increases the chance of beating the dealer’s hand and at the same time you could double your winnings. However, you have to put the same bet on the table again for the newly created second hand. If both hands are lost, the double bet is of course also gone.
- Contrary to the strategy of doubling, a split is especially worthwhile with a hand that consists of two twos (four points), three (six points) or seven (14 points). With this starting position it is difficult to continue playing with one hand or the chance of a win decreases. Accordingly, a split can increase your chances of winning here.
- Insurance: An atypical term in gambling, but you can actually insure your stake. If the dealer gets played an ace in the first run, then his chance of a blackjack and accordingly your loss are proportionally higher. In this case, you can put half of the stake you have already made on the table as insurance. If the dealer actually has a blackjack in the second round, your insurance stake is paid out 2: 1, which offsets your stake, which you lose at the same time. You can start the next round without any losses.
- But be careful: If the dealer does not draw a face card or a 10 in the second round and you were wrong with your blackjack guess, the insurance will be withdrawn from the bank. You can then continue to play, but you could still lose the game and lose even more stakes. The insurance is accordingly controversial among players.
- Surrender : Quasi the opposite of insurance is the surrender option, i.e. giving up. If you suspect after the first hand that you will no longer win against the dealer, you can give up and get half of your stake back. This option is widespread in Europe, but is not offered in the USA, for example. Whether you should give up depends on the constellation of your card in comparison with the bank. Basically, it can make sense if the dealer gets an ace played in the first hand and you look nic ht on the insurance will leave, because then you could lose even more use in the end.
Blackjack is and will always be a game of chance. But if you know the most important options, you can at least come up with a certain strategy. If you are playing for the first time, you have the opportunity to try out blackjack in demo mode in the online casino and thus empathize with the game mode before real money wagering is made.