Blackjack is a highly popular casino game around the world. In fact, it’s one of the only casino games to have truly been able to withstand the test of time. You’ll rarely find a modern casino without the classic table game right at its center.
Blackjack gameplay is relatively straightforward. And whether you’re wanting to play online or at a land-based casino, you are probably going to want to figure out exactly what makes this game so attractive.
Really, all you need to win a game of blackjack is a solid strategy and the drive to practice. But if you’re still a little lost, this step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to play blackjack.
Step 1: Place Your Bets
Before you begin playing Blackjack, you need to select a betting limit. Then you need to place your bet – like many other casino games.
A lot of casinos will give you the option to place a bet using as much money as you like and on every single hand. However, you don’t have to wager everything just because it’s an easy way to generate money!
Every table will have different bet requirements, so you must establish this information before you begin to play. You can start placing any type of bet provided it rests within the specific requirements.
Step 2: Cards Will Be Dealt
The dealer will deal two cards to you and two to themselves. The dealer will show one of their cards to you by keeping it face up, and will then place the other card face down. If you’re playing a virtual game of Blackjack, a Random Number Generator (RNG) will select two cards for you.
Step 3: Place A Side Bet
When your cards are in front of you, you will be given the option to place a side bet which can be an excellent way to increase your bankroll even more.
One of the most common side bets in Blackjack is insurance. This is offered to the player if the dealer’s first up-card happens to be an ace, as insurance against the dealer’s hand being ‘blackjack’.
Whilst taking insurance might be tempting, it’s not always recommended. This is because it pays 2 to 1 and could also cost up to half of your initial wager. Overall, when you consider these factors, the math highlights that opting to take insurance is not always a smart move.
Step 4: Learning When To “Hit”
A “hit” is an instruction given to the dealer by a player to request an additional card. It can be indicated by tapping on the table or verbally.
When you eventually choose to ‘hit’, you will be dealt more cards in the hopes that they will increase the overall value of your hand. However, if your hand ends up being over the value of 21, you will go bust and will subsequently lose all of your money.
If you have a starting hand at a lower value, hitting might be the best way to increase your total and get it closer to 21 in the hopes of guaranteeing a win.
Step 5: Knowing When To “Stand”
When you are completely happy with your hand and are finally ready to play, you will “stand.” This action means that you will be able to hold your total and end your turn. You can do this by waving your hand horizontally. If you are playing blackjack online you can click ‘stand’ to play your current hand.
Step 6: Splitting
The process of splitting means that the player can turn a bad hand into either one or two potentially winning hands. If you are dealt two cards of equal value, you can split those cards into two hands. If you choose to do this, you will have to place additional chips to the overall value of your initial stake.
Each card will form a new hand, and a further card will be dealt with each of these new hands. You then play them as normal with your additional stake on one hand and your original stake on the other.
Step 6: Understand The Dealer’s Hand
After you have confirmed that you are ready to begin playing your hand, you will want to be able to analyze your opponent’s complete hand.
On most casino sites, the dealer of your game won’t hit if they have a value of 16 or 17. It’s a good idea to remember this as you play. If you have a greater value than this, then the likelihood of you being able to win this round is pretty high!
Step 7: Win Or Lose?
At this stage, you will learn the final outcome of the round. You will win your game if the combined value of your cards equals 21, or if it is greater than that of the dealer. You will lose if the total of your cards exceeds 21, or if you end up with a lower score than the dealer. If you lose the game, the bets you placed will go directly to the dealer.
Summary
All you need to do to guarantee a successful Blackjack game is follow the above steps. But if you really want to test out your newfound knowledge of Blackjack, you can play the game at both land-based and online casinos.