Blackjack is surely one of the most popular table games in the world, whether in land-based casinos present all over the planet or in online casinos. This game originated in the United States in the late 17ᵉ century and under the name 21. The name comes from the black jack of this bonus, that is why it is called black jack. It was in the 20th that this game became popular with the general public. The first techniques were developed and the casino owners decided to change some of the rules in order to gain an advantage over the players.
The rules of blackjack are easy to understand: it pits the player against the dealer. The goal is to beat the dealer, without going over 21. As soon as a player has cards with a value higher than 21, then he loses the game immediately.
The card values are very easy to understand:
- From 2 to 9 the cards keep the same value: a 2 = 2 and a 9 = 9. If you have a 9 and a 2, that makes 9+2 = 11.
- From 10 to King: the cards are worth 10
- Ace is worth either 1 or 11, it’s up to the player
>> YOU MAY LIKE : How does sports betting work ? <<
How does a game of blackjack work? It is very simple. The dealer deals you a card, deals himself a card, deals you a second card and then deals himself a second card. Except, unlike the other three cards, the last card is hidden. Depending on the deck you have, you have four choices:
- You draw: you ask the dealer to give you one or more additional cards. You can stop as soon as the value of the cards suits you
- You can stay – that is, you don’t want any additional cards
- You can double down – you will double the bet of your hand and you will be dealt a new card. It will be impossible for you to draw another card behind it
- Split: This means that the value of your cards are the same, for example: 4 and 4 // 5 and 5, etc. When you split, the dealer will put a card on each of the two split cards. In some casinos, you will even be able to double your hand that has just been split.
Once you have made your choice, the dealer reveals his card. As long as his card value does not reach 17, he is obligated to draw cards, even if his card value is higher than yours. For example, if you have a 12 and he has a 16, he must draw. Like you, if the dealer scores higher than 21, he loses his hand immediately.