Blackjack Basics: Everything You Need to Know

Blackjack, also known as 21, is one of the most popular casino card games in the world. The game masterfully combines chance with strategy, offering skilled players one of the best opportunities to win. This guide will cover the basics to get you started.

What is the Goal?

Your goal is to have a hand total higher than the dealer’s, without exceeding 21. Any hand casino with a value greater than 21 results in a bust, casino and you lose the round. Many beginners think they need to get to 21, but that’s not quite right.

Card Values

• Numbered Cards (2-10): They count as their numerical value.
• The Royals: All face cards are valued at 10.
• Ace: The Ace is flexible, counting as 1 or 11 to your benefit. A hand with an Ace that counts as 11 is called a “soft” hand.

How a Round Works

After placing your bet, you and the dealer are each dealt two cards. Your cards are usually dealt face up, while the dealer has one card face up (the “upcard”) and casino one face down (the “hole card”). Based on your hand and the dealer’s upcard, you have several options:

1. Take a Card: To take another card.
2. Stay: You are satisfied with your current hand and wish to take no further action.
3. Double: This aggressive move lets you double your bet but restricts you to a single extra card. This is usually a good option when your first two cards total 9, 10, or 11.
4. Split: When your first two cards have the same value, you can separate them to form two new hands. You must place a second bet of the same amount on the new hand.

Basic Strategy: The Key to Winning

To be successful, you need more than just luck. Decades of computer simulations have determined the best possible move in every situation, which is known as basic strategy. You can find these charts easily, casino and they tell you the optimal move based on your cards and the dealer’s. Adhering to basic strategy minimizes the casino’s advantage to under 1%, one of the lowest edges available.