Blackjack Basics
It is not just the name of the game, but also Blackjack is called a hand consisting of an Ace and any 10 point value card. The total of these two cards is 21. Very often casinos have special promotions where Blackjack pays 2 to 1, and it is good if you keep an eye for these events, because a 2 to 1 payout highly improves your odds of winning money in the long run. In case the dealer also gets a blackjack it is called a push and you will just get back your own bet. When it takes you to draw three or more cards to get 21 or in cases when you split cards and get 21, it is not a blackjack and the payout is not the same as a blackjack, although 21 is the highest point total in the game. You get blackjack only if you get 21 point hand with the first 2 cards.
Basic Strategy
The basic strategy of Blackjack is formed by knowing when to hit, stand, split, double down, surrender or take insurance. Although it is called “basic”, there is nothing basic about this strategy. This is a set of rules worked out with the help of statistical analysis. The basic strategy suggests the result for each combination of cards and the highest chance of winning money over the long term. The most important factor for your strategy at a given hand is the dealer’s up card, that’s why you must look at it first. All hands which totals with 11 or less points can be hit safely without any chance of going bust, that’s why you always have to hit them. Another option for these hands is to split or doubled down on. It is important to remember that when you are dealt an Ace, you can use it as a 1 or 11 value card and that can be changed during the play. You must never hit a hand with a value of 17 or higher points, with only exception when you have “soft hand” where an Ace card is included and has been counted as 11 to create the total.
Table Selection
The first step when you starting to play blackjack is to select a table to play at. First of all you should be looking the table minimum, maximum and rules. When you are a beginner do not come to the table with a 100 to 200 dollar bankroll for a session. It is more wise for you to stick to tables with a minimum of no more then 5 dollars, because there you can play at least long enough to get reasonable playing time out of your money. You have to know that one of the reasons that casinos take more money then they statistically should based on the house edge is that they have practically an unlimited bankroll. Another important thing that you should look during the table selection is the number of the players that already seated at a table. When you are the only player at a table it will be easier for you to count cards and you do not have to worry about how you play and if you are taking the “wrong card”. In case you join a table with already seated players on it then base your selection on whether they are and whether position that you prefer is vacant.
