Blackjack (sometimes known as 'twenty-one' or 'pontoon') is played in casinos worldwide. Although its origins are disputed, it is linked to several French and Italian gambling games.
Blackjack players aim to beat the dealer by achieving a hand as close to 21 as possible without going 'bust'. A natural or blackjack counts 21 with an ace and a 10 or face card on the first two cards.
Blackjack is all about the numbers, not the suits, making it a very simple table game to learn and play. In today's article, we'll be showing you how to play blackjack in 3 simple steps. Keep on reading to learn more.
Step 1: Set Your Stake and Receive Your Cards
When you’ve chosen your preferred blackjack game, the first thing you’ll need to do is to decide how much you want to wager and enter it into the bet selection menu. Make sure to specify a time limit and budget for your blackjack session to ensure you stay within safe and responsible gambling practices.
Some blackjack games will offer a selection of side bets, such as 21+3, Perfect Pair, and Super Sevens. Check the information section of your selected game to learn more about the side bets available to you. When you're satisfied with your wager, it's time for the game to start.
Blackjack is a player vs. dealer game. You will be dealt two face-up cards, while the dealer will be dealt two cards, one face-up and one face-down. The goal of the game is to be the player with a higher total value of cards than the dealer. The highest value that players can attain is 21, sometimes known as blackjack; if your cards total more than this, then this is known as ‘going bust’ and you will automatically forfeit the round.
Step 2: Follow the Rules and Make Your Move
In Blackjack, the player always goes first, and there are a few options they can choose from; to hit - receive a card, to stand - stick with your cards and end your turn, to double down - double your wager and receive one more card, or to split - split your hand into two (where applicable). There are a variety of blackjack strategy charts out there which suggest the most optimal move to make depending on your hand total, which can be pretty handy if you’re still learning the ropes. There are also some player strategies which are common knowledge; for example, you should always hit if your hand totals 11 or lower and has no ace, as there is no way you can go bust from this position.
As a simple game, blackjack has only a few rules to remember which can help you decide how to play your hand:
- Aces can be high or low. In a hand where they would not cause the player to go bust, they will be worth 10; this is referred to as having a ‘soft’ hand. If, however, the player hits and the ace causes them to go bust, then the ace will change its value to one; this is referred to as having a ‘hard’ hand.
- All face cards are worth 10, and all number cards are worth their respective number.
- A split in Blackjack occurs when you are dealt two cards of the same value at the beginning of a hand. The dealer will give you the option to 'split', which means you can divide the two cards into two separate hands to be played simultaneously. You will then be able to make suitable options for each split hand moving forward, such as standing on one hand but hitting with the other.
- A push occurs when both the dealer and the player score 21. If you put an insurance bet, it will be refunded; otherwise, your initial wager will be added to the pot for the next hand.
Step 3: The Dealer Takes Their Turn and the Winner is Revealed
Once the player stands it is the dealer's turn. Unless otherwise noted, the house rules state that the blackjack dealer must hit if their cards total 16 or fewer and stand if they total 17 or more. Once the dealer has made their moves, they reveal their face-down card. If the player's total card value exceeds the dealer's without going bust, the player wins.
Winning hands payout 1:1 unless they are a ‘blackjack’, also known as a ‘natural’ which pays out at 3:2. When the results are announced and all payouts have been made, the next blackjack round can begin.
Is There a Difference on How to Play Blackjack Online?
When played at UK online casinos, blackjack comes in two forms; online and live. In online blackjack, players are faced with a virtual version of the blackjack table, and play against an RNG dealer.
In live blackjack, the game will be played in real-time with a real dealer and real cards. Some live blackjack games aim to replicate the experience of blackjack in a real-world casino as closely as possible, while others have glamorised the game and added additional features like multipliers and bonus rounds, which usually happens in live dealer games.
Takeaway
Blackjack is a fun card game that anyone can play in a few simple steps. Of course, with the wonders of the digital age, players now have more blackjack variants at their fingertips than ever before, so once you’ve learned the basics, there’s plenty more to explore. Sign up and play today at Prime Casino, have fun, and remember to always practice responsible gaming.
