Poker and Blackjack are two very different games, but they do have some similar strategies

Blackjack is a game that primarily requires the player to have top skills. People who know how to play blackjack are in a better position to make huge profits. In the early 1960s, people gained an edge on the blackjack game because they could count cards in a casino. Thereafter, a lot of information has surfaced on the same.

However, most players have been misinformed when it comes to blackjack strategy. Information such as the primary objective in blackjack is getting close to 21 as possible is wrong.

Beating the dealer’s hand is the main objective of the blackjack game. It can be done by either having cards total that is more than those of the dealer and by ensuring that the total does not exceed 21 when the dealers total has done so.

In order to achieve this, we need to look at basic blackjack rules and strategies that should get a player started.

Basic blackjack rules and strategies

The rules of playing black and the strategies involved are similar to those in poker and if you are conversant even with the poker online you might find some of this rules to be familiar.

Step 1: Making bets.

In all blackjack games including the online blackjack making a bet marks the start of the game. The bet is placed by stacking chips or one chip in the table in a square that is located just in front of all players.

The dealer then deals two cards, one face up the other face down, to all players. He also hands himself two cards. In other blackjack games such as shoe game the cards are dealt face up and they should not be touched by the players. In a single deck, a player can pick the cards using one hand. The important thing at this stage is noting the dealer’s card.

Step 2: Card value

The blackjack card value can be determined by counting the sum total of all cards values that are in hand. The blackjack game has a total of 52 card decks. Each card has its own value as explained below

  • The cards 2 to the card 10 have a value similar to their face value
  • Cards with a picture have a value of 10 that is kings, queens and jacks
  • Aces value can either be used as 1 or 11.

Note that the best total value is two-card 21. This winning two-card 21 wins £ 7.50 for a £ 5 bet.

Step 3: Strategising

There is five crucial blackjack strategy that a player should consider that is split, surrender, double down, hit, or stand.

A hit

If a player hits they take another card that would help them have a value close to 21. Note that if the total is more than 21 after making a hit, then the player is said to have a bust and this means that he has lost the bet. Calling for a hit in games such as the shoe game is not accepted because they can’t be recorded by the security cameras important for settling disputes. Instead, players use signals such as scratching or waving.

A Stand

When you choose to stand, it means you don’t plan to call for more cards hoping that the ones you have will beat those of the dealer. In facedown cards are slid under the table to signal a stand while on a face-up a flattened palm is held on the cards.

Double down

Double down means that you want to double your original bet. In this case, you will also receive one more card. Double down is done by taking the chips that have an equal amount of value as the original bet and placing them on the betting square.

A Split

If a player is handled two cards of the same value, say 9, you can decide to split i.e. having the two cards separated. This is done placing a second bet with the same value as the first and the dealer takes one 9 cards and gives the player another card. If they hit and bust another card is added to the other 9 and they can use it to play.

Step 4: Gameplay and Winning

The dealer will have the priority of acting first. They have to hit 16 or less and then stand on 17 through 21. A winner is chosen when the card total value in their hand is higher than that of the dealer’s hand. Alternatively, if the dealer has a value of more than 21, a player with a value less than 21 becomes the winner. However if the dealer has the two-card 21, then the hand ties or pushes and the player gets his bet back. The only exception to this is if the dealer draws two-card 21 thrice. In such a case the two-card 21 player wins.