Trying out Blackjack

Blackjack is another card game that is based on strategy and a bit of the luck of the draw. You won’t find a faster table game at the casino, so it’s the hardest game to stay in control of your bankroll. You will go on good streaks and bad streaks. You just have to learn to stomach the losses and know when to quit.

In blackjack, your opponent is the dealer, as is the case with other players at the table. You want your cards to total as close as possible to 21 without going over. Cards 2 through 10 are worth face value. Face cards are worth 10. An Ace gives you a dangerous hand in a good way. An Ace is worth 1 or 11. Hands with an Ace are called soft hands, while those without one are called hard hands, because the value can’t change. In other words, if you go over 21 with an Ace as an 11, it can change to a 1 and you can keep going in the hand.

Blackjack is a game that can be exploited by card counters, so casinos will use up to six to eight decks. It’s the same for online casinos, which use a random number generator (RNG). However, you can still find better odds for blackjack online than in a land-based casino.

When you tie the dealer in blackjack, it’s called a push and you get your original wager back. A hand worth 21 usually pays out 3 to 2, aiding the house advantage. Most dealers are required to stand on a hard 17. For a soft hand with an Ace, always hit or double down when your other card is a 2 through a 6. Don’t split hands when you aren’t sure what to do. Basic blackjack strategy says to not split 5s or 10s, but rather split 8s to avoid a 16.

The house edge in blackjack is 5%, but basic blackjack strategy can reduce that to 0.5%, so read up. Be patient. Even the professionals only turn a 1-2% profit. Card counters make up less than 1% of all players and it isn’t a good long-term strategy.