Blackjack games - Information on blackjack - Tips for blackjack players
Discover more about playing the exhilarating game of blackjack and how to better your technique.
Your ultimate guide to blackjack and how you can bolster your card game.
Blackjack and its history
In the early days the game 'blackjack' was called 'twenty-one', which was first noted in a book by Miguel de Cervantes. The Spanish writer illustrated that the game 'ventiuna', which means 21 in Spanish, focussed on achieving twenty one points before going bust. We refer to a black jack hand nowadays as being any hand with an ace and a ten or a face card, which doesn't always need to be the jack of clubs or jack of spades, amounting to a score of 21. People across the world play blackjack and it is extremely popular online because the house is not involved. The game is player versus dealer so you don't have to be concerned about what cards the other participants have.
Video blackjack
Blackjack is not simply a game that is limited to a casino. There are a variety of ways to get started with the fun card game such as online or video electronic blackjack, which teams together the traditional game with online gambling. In regards to online blackjack, the house comes out on top in most cases but this shouldn't put you off having a go, as there is a serious chance of winning too! In video blackjack games a fresh shoe is dealt out in each coup which makes it much harder to count cards. But online blackjack is a great way to brush up on your gambling skills and streamline your strategy - you could even outfox the dealer. What's more there's no house edge!
Playing blackjack
The initial step when playing blackjack is to set the betting parameters and then choose a table. Straight after you will need to take chips from the dealer, place your bet and receive your hand of cards. The game's aim is to achieve a hand of 21 or as close to as possible without over reaching the limit and ultimately, beating the dealer with your score. All the numbered cards link to their face value while the aces total one or 11 at your discretion and the king, queen and jack take on the value of ten.
The rules of blackjack
When getting involved in a game of blackjack in a casino you will be initially required to place your bet prior to receiving your cards. It is of no consequence whether you allow your hand to be seen by others in the game or even the card dealer as the dealer has no say in how his hand is played in the long run. The rules can change from casino to casino and you might be playing 'dealer stands on all 17s' for instance, where the dealer gets cards until he hits 17 or above or you might just play 'dealer hits soft 17' where the members of the play have to wait until the dealer gets a soft total of 17. Ultimately, the dealer must continue to play his hand until he at least reaches 17 or goes over 21 and busts.
What is blackjack?
The great thing about blackjack is that it can take place in a casino or as on online version known as video blackjack. People all over the world play blackjack thanks to its simple rules and fun combination of luck and strategy. The idea of blackjack is to reach 21 with a hand without heading over the total and beating the dealer. Every card dealt is worth a different amount with the numbered cards up to ten being worth exactly their face value, the face cards (jack, king and queen) are worth 10 each and the aces are worth either 1 or 11 depending. If your first two cards add up to 21 points, you are victorious right off the bat and is known as 'blackjack'.