Key Tips to Consider for Blackjack
3 minutes
Last Updated: February 14, 2023
Blackjack is a casino table game that is played with decks of 52 cards. It is one of the most popular card games and can be found at almost all online casinos like 888 as well as bricks and mortar ones.
Like other table games it is form of gambling that involves a bit more skill and strategy than the slot machines.
Blackjack is not as difficult to grasp the rules of as poker, but it is a game that you will need to understand before playing if you do not want to lose your money.
To help you with that we have put together this guide containing everything you need to know about the game of blackjack.
The Rules
To start with, we will take a look at how the rules of this game operate. Blackjack can be played by anything from 2 to 7 players at a time and can involve multiple decks of cards or just a single deck.
The basic aim when playing it is to be the person with the highest totaling hand, but the value of your cards cannot amount to more than 21.
If you exceed that number, you will be ‘bust’ – which means that you are automatically out of the game.
That is how blackjack works in a nutshell, but you will also need to be aware of the value of each card. That is not quite as simple as it might seem at first.
Blackjack Card Values
- Number cards – In blackjack, the number cards (those from 2 to 10) are simply valued the same as their given numbers.
- Face cards – This means the king, queen and jack. When playing blackjack, each of these is valued at 10.
- Ace cards – These are the most complicated ones. An ace card can either have a value of 11 or 1 during a game of blackjack. The standard value of an ace in blackjack is 11. The exception to that is if it would take the total score of a hand held by either the player or the dealer to more than 21. In that situation the ace will have a value of 1.
Blackjack Terminology
There is distinct blackjack terminology that you must familiarise yourself with.
- Blackjack – This means an initial hand of two cards that add up to 21.
- Hitting -Taking additional cards after the first two have been dealt.
- Hard hand – This means a hand that has no ace card in it.
- Soft hand – If you take another card while holding a hand with an 11-value ace, that is a soft hand.
- Hole card – A face-down card held by the dealer
- Splitting – If you divide two cards into separate hands and double your initial bet, this is called splitting.
Tips for Playing Blackjack
Now that you understand the basics of the game it is time to consider some tips that can enhance your play and give you a better chance to win money.
Pick the Right Game
If you have a limited budget, you will need to find a blackjack game with reasonable minimum stakes.
Furthermore, if you hope to use the card counting blackjack strategy, you will need a live dealer game, because standard online casino blackjack has automated card dealing.
Pick the Right Time to Split
There are points in a game of blackjack where splitting your cards into two hands will give you the best shot at winning. If you have either eights or aces, those are the two peak hands to split and improve your odds.
Play 3:2 rather than 6:5
One thing you have to be conscious of when playing blackjack is the casino house edge. It always exists, but the lower it is, the better your winning odds are.
For that reason, you should favour 3:2 games over 6:5 ones. The latter have a house edge of close to 2%, which means that £2 of every £100 you bet is taken by the casino.
On the other hand, the house edge for 3:2 blackjack games is a much lower, at 0.5%.
Do Not Stand on a Soft 17
If you hold a soft hand totaling 17, the best strategy is always to take a hit card rather than standing on what you already have. That is because there is no way to go bust with that hand, so there is nothing to gain by sticking.
Choose a Double Down Game
Our last key tip is to choose a game that allows you to double down regardless of what your initial two cards are, rather than one that limits that to an 11 or 10. Doubling down can cut the edge enjoyed by the house.
Follow these tips for blackjack success!
