Blackjack is undoubtedly one of the favorite tabletop casino games. Blackjack is exciting to play for beginners because it is one of the easiest and most popular card games in the casino. If you like to be on edge about making deals and bargaining decisions, then blackjack might be the game for you! Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

Blackjack is mainly comparable to poker, both of which are about applying basic math strategies. So for beginners, blackjack can be intimidating to learn at first, but once you get the hang of it, you will be making the best moves like a pro. To be great at blackjack, always know the ground rules first, find a strategy suitable for you and stick to it. Learn as you play.

Before you begin considering blackjack as your winning card game, here are some things to know about blackjack.

Rules

Blackjack is also known as Twenty-one (21) or Vingt-Un, its former name. The name itself suggests how you play it. There can be 2-7 players against a dealer. The players are not competing against each other, but they take turns to deal against the dealer.

The goal is to have a higher hand but not more than 21 against the dealer’s hand. Remember that you are up against the dealer’s hand, so you should have a hand higher or a hand closest to 21 to bag the prize.

In blackjack, the players have these options: hit, stand, split, double-down or surrender.

• Hit means you want an additional card from the initial cards given to you.
• Stand means you don’t want more cards and stick with your hand.
• Split is an option you can make if your initial cards have the same value. The cards are split into two different hands in which you have to bet the same amount on both hands. Each hand is played independently.
• Double-down is when the player wants to double the size of their bet while agreeing to take one more card.
• Surrender is an option a player can do if they think their hand is at a disadvantage. The player gives up half of the bet, and the house takes the other half. Surender may vary among different types of blackjack.

The House Edge

Every casino game online or land-based has something you’d call a house edge. House edge are where casinos gain profit. For blackjack, the house edge lies around 1%-2%. That means to say, for instance, in every $50 you wager, you will lose $1.

The house edge in blackjack is also the lowest among other casino games, substantially why it is the most played game in the casino and what newbies opt for; that is one less thing to worry about. Players can also bring down the house edge to only 0.5%. You can lower the house edge by learning to do the basic strategy.

Strategies that Work

Strategies are your greatest weapon when playing blackjack. These strategies are easy to learn and do even for beginners, and even if you are an experienced player already, a few refreshers will not hurt.

Card Counting

Card counting is a trick that a player can use to lower the house edge. Card counting keeps track of how many high cards against low cards are left on the deck after the deal. When there are more high cards, you have higher odds of winning the bet than the dealer.

Take note that the high cards are tens and aces. If you have this hand, you are more likely to have a natural or blackjack, which guarantees a win. Low cards are two through six, while seven, eight, and nine cards are neutral.

The card counting technique assigns a ‘tag’ to the high and low cards. Tag a -1 on every high card pulled from the deck and a +1 on every low card. If your count is positive after each round, it means there are more high cards left than low cards. This way, you can determine whether to raise or lower your bet.

Card counting can be tricky to do at first, that is for sure. So before you do this trick, make sure to practice a lot at home or through online blackjack like star dust blackjack. Once you master it, you can significantly increase your odds.

The Soft Hand and Hard Hand

It is essential to know about soft hands and hard hands to master the basic strategy in blackjack.

A soft hand is when you have an ace in hand that counts either one or eleven, whichever suits your situation best. Having a soft hand means you have more room to make your next move. For example, when you hit, you will not go bust since you can adjust your ace’s value to your current hand without worrying about going beyond 21.

While a hard hand is when you do not have an ace, and if you do, it counts as one only. Having a hard hand is risky since it increases your chance of going bust if you take a hit. Unlike the soft hand, a hard hand limits your next move and should be done carefully.

Knowing whether you have a soft hand or hard hand will determine how you will proceed with your options, such as splitting aces and eights or doubling down on your tens and aces.

Final Thoughts

After reading this, you might have decided that blackjack is a friendly game for newbies because it is! It is straightforward, has higher odds, and gives you enough control of the game to enjoy it. The next time you think of playing at the casino, hit up the blackjack category.