Blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games in the world. With origins dating back to the 17th century, blackjack has a long and storied history. The objective of blackjack is simple – get a higher card total than the dealer without going over 21. So today, we will see How to Play Casino Blackjack to win big.

Blackjack is played with standard 52-card decks. Cards are valued as follows:

• Numbered cards (2-10) are worth their printed value.
• Face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings) are worth 10 points.
• Aces can be worth either 1 or 11 points.

There are different variations of blackjack games, but the most common include:

• Single Deck Blackjack – Only one deck of cards is used.
• Multi-Deck Blackjack – Multiple standard decks are shuffled together, usually between 4-8 decks.
• European Blackjack – Player cards are dealt face up, the dealer gets only one card face up.
• Vegas Strip Blackjack – The most popular version played in Las Vegas casinos. Uses 4-6 decks, with flexible rules.

The basic gameplay is the same across all versions – players try to beat the dealer’s hand by getting closer to 21 without going over. However, slight rule variations can impact odds and strategy.

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Blackjack Table Setup

A standard blackjack table has a semi-circular shape with the dealer positioned on the straight side of the table. The table has circular or square betting areas in front of each player’s seat where chips are placed.

The dealer’s area has a tray-like chip rack to store the chips and a money drop slot where cash given to the dealer is deposited. There will also be a shuffling machine to shuffle the cards after each hand.

The table will have between 1 and 7 player betting spots or boxes. Each box is assigned a number, starting from 1 on the dealer’s far left, going around the table clockwise. Behind a semicircle line will be the player’s seats.

Each player box has circles or squares marked on the green felt layout for betting. This betting area is where players place their chips to make a bet. Players are only allowed to touch chips in their assigned betting area.

In front of the dealer is a chip tray, used to store the casino’s bank of chips. The chip tray is divided into slots that separate chip values ($1, $5, $25, $100, etc). The dealer will take or pay out chips from this area during the game.

On the table, there will also be a ‘shoe’ – a box that holds multiple decks of cards during gameplay. The dealer will have a cut card (usually a yellow plastic card) that will be inserted near the back of the shoe when a certain number of decks have been dealt.

Card Values

In blackjack, the card values are simple to understand but important to know well. Unlike poker, where suits and faces matter, in blackjack all that matters is the numerical value.

• Face cards – the Jack, Queen, and King cards – are all worth 10 points.
• Cards 2 through 10 are worth their numerical face value. So a 5 card is worth 5 points, a 9 is worth 9, and so on.
• Aces are unique in that they can be valued at either 1 or 11 points, depending on what is most strategic for the player’s hand.

Knowing the values of each card is critical for players to be able to follow gameplay and strategize effectively. Players need to keep a running tally of their card values as each card is dealt to know whether to “hit” and take another card or “stand” with what they have. Mastering card values takes practice but is essential to becoming a skilled blackjack player.

Betting

When playing blackjack, you will need to place a bet before each hand. Casinos will set minimum and maximum table limits that specify the allowed bet sizes. Typically, the minimum bet is $5-10, while maximum bets can range from $50 up to the table limit.

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You will place your bet by putting chips in the designated betting area in front of your seat. In a standard blackjack game, you are simply betting that you will beat the dealer’s hand. This is known as a basic or “straight” bet. However, some tables may also offer additional side bet options with higher payouts but lower odds, such as:

• Perfect Pairs – Bet that your first two cards will be a pair. Pays up to 25:1 if the pair is in the same suit.
• 21+3 – Bet that your first two cards plus the dealer’s upcard will form a 3-card poker hand. Pays up to 100:1 for a straight flush.
• Buster Blackjack – Bet that the dealer will bust. Payouts vary based on several cards in the dealer bust hand.

While side bets can seem enticing, they generally have much higher house edges compared to standard blackjack. Your best odds come from simply making a straight bet and using the proper blackjack strategy. The table limits define the max you can bet, but you can wager any amount equal to or between the posted minimum and maximum.

Dealing the Cards

The dealer starts the game by dealing each player 2 cards face up. The dealer receives 1 card face up and 1 card face down. The card that is dealt face down is called the “hole card”.

The purpose of the hole card is to give the dealer an advantage. The players have to act first without knowing what the dealer’s hidden card is. This puts the players at a slight disadvantage.

The dealing of the cards follows a specific order:

• The dealer deals one card face-up to each player, going clockwise around the table
• Then the dealer deals themselves one card face up
• The dealer deals a second card face-up to each player
• The dealer deals themselves a second card, but this one is face down (the whole card)

Once the cards are dealt, play proceeds around the table starting with the player to the dealer’s left. Each player now has two cards face up that they can look at to decide their next move. The dealer’s up card gives them a clue about the dealer’s potential hand as well. The players do not know what the dealer’s facedown hole card is until later in the round.

Player Options

After the initial deal, players have several options for how to play out their hand. Understanding when to use each option is an important part of blackjack strategy.

Hit

If your hand total is low, you can choose to hit to receive another card from the dealer. This gives you a chance to improve your hand total and get closer to 21. You can continue hitting as long as you’d like, but if you go over 21 you bust and lose the hand immediately.

Stand

If you are satisfied with your hand total, you can stand and receive no more cards. You are then hoping the dealer will bust when hitting on their hand. This is usually done when your hand is a hard total of 17 or higher.

Double Down

Some casinos allow you to double your initial bet and receive only one more card. This is favorable when you have a strong hand against the dealer’s weak upcard. Doubling down maximizes your potential winnings if you end up with a strong hand.

Split

If your first two cards are a pair, you can split them into two separate hands and play them independently. You must place a second bet equal to your initial wager. This is helpful when you have two strong starting cards, as it gives you two chances to beat the dealer.

Surrender

Some casinos allow you to forfeit half your bet and fold your hand if you don’t like your initial cards. This avoids potentially losing your full bet by playing out a bad hand. Surrender is only offered on the first decision of the hand.

Dealer Plays

Now that all players have acted, it’s the dealer’s turn to play. The dealer plays by strict rules and must always hit on a soft 17 (any combination of cards adding up to 17 with an ace valued as 11). Here’s what happens when it’s the dealer’s turn:

• The dealer’s face-down card, known as the hole card, is turned up and revealed. Players can now see the dealer’s full hand.
• The dealer must hit if the total of their cards is 16 or lower. The dealer will take as many cards as needed until the total is 17 or higher.
• If the dealer has 17 or higher, the dealer will stand and not take any more cards. An exception is if the dealer has a soft 17, which is a hand with an ace valued as 11 that totals 17. In that case, the dealer must hit and take another card.
• The dealer has no choice on whether to hit or stand – they must follow the fixed rules for when to hit or stand based on their hand total.
• Once the dealer’s turn is over after taking hits until 17 or above, their final total is compared to the players’ hands to determine who wins.

So in summary, the key things to know about how the dealer plays are that they must hit on soft 17, and their face-down hole card is revealed after all players have finished acting. The dealer then follows fixed rules to take hits or stand based on their hand total.

Determining the Winner

Once the dealer has finished their turn, it’s time to determine the winner. The goal of blackjack is to get your cards to add up closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over 21.

Here’s how winners are determined:

• If your final card count is higher than the dealer’s, you win. For example, if you have 20 and the dealer has 18, you win.
• If the dealer’s final card count is higher than yours, you lose. For example, if you have 18 and the dealer has 20, you lose.
• If you and the dealer have the same final card count, it’s a push or tie, and no money exchanges hands. For example, if you both have 19, it’s a push.
• If either you or the dealer goes over 21, that hand loses automatically. This is known as a bust. For example, if you have 22 but the dealer has 20, you lose because you busted by going over 21.

The key point to remember is that the winner is whoever ends up with a hand value closer to 21 without exceeding 21. If both you and the dealer bust, the one who busted with the lower card count wins.

Blackjack Variations

While blackjack has standard rules, casinos often introduce variations that change gameplay and odds. Here are some popular blackjack variations:

Number of Decks

• Most games use 4-8 decks. The fewer the decks, the better the odds for skilled players. Single-deck blackjack provides the best odds.
• Some casinos offer blackjack with a continuous shuffle machine that randomly selects cards from 4-8 decks. This increases the house’s edge.

Dealer Hits Soft 17

• Usually, the dealer must hit on soft 17 (an ace and 6). Some games have the dealer stand on soft 17, which boosts the house edge.

Double Down

• Most games allow doubling down on any 2 first cards. Restricting doubling to certain totals increases the house edge.
• Some games only allow doubling on 10-11, some on 9-11, and some on any 2 cards except Blackjack.

Re-Splitting Aces

• After splitting aces, most games allow re-splitting if dealt another ace. Some restrict re-splitting, which is less favorable for the player.

Surrender

• Early surrender allows the player to forfeit half their bet after seeing their first 2 cards. This is rare now.
• Late surrender means forfeiting half the bet after the dealer checks for blackjack. It provides worse odds than early surrender.

Side Bets

• Many blackjack tables now offer side bets on the player or dealer getting blackjack, specific card combinations, or being dealt in specific suits. These generally have much worse odds than standard blackjack bets.

Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack strategy is all about playing your hand in a way that will maximize your chances of winning. Unlike some casino games that rely purely on luck, blackjack offers an opportunity for skilled players to influence the odds in their favor.

The key is using a basic strategy – following guides for when to hit, stand, split, or double down based on your cards and the dealer’s upcard.

To develop a basic strategy, mathematicians and gambling experts have analyzed the game to determine the mathematically optimal plays for every possible hand combination.

This was made into easy-to-read basic strategy charts that recommend the best decision to make at every turn. Even though the dealer’s downcard is hidden, by considering their visible card you can determine the best move.

Some blackjack strategy pointers:

• Hard hands (no ace): Generally, you want to hit until you get to at least 17 points. Unless the dealer is showing a weaker upcard (2-6), in which case you may stand on lower totals.
• Soft hands (ace counted as 11): Always hit soft hands under 18, as you cannot bust. Stand on A-8 or higher.
• Pairs: Always split aces and eights. Split other pairs against weaker dealer upcards. Splitting can maximize wins through double-betting hands.
• Double down: Doubling your bet in exchange for one more card is wise when your hand totals 9-11 and the dealer has a weaker upcard. Doubling down increases potential winnings when you are in an advantageous position.
• Insurance: Only take insurance if the dealer is showing an ace. Insurance protects against them having a natural blackjack, but the odds favor just standing pat on your hand.

Perfecting basic blackjack strategy takes practice. By following the guidelines on when to hit, stand, split, and double, you can lower the house edge and give yourself the best odds possible against the dealer. With the right moves, you can maximize your wins and play like a blackjack pro.