How to Beat the Dealer in Blackjack
Blackjack is a game of skill, and proper application of basic strategies can significantly improve your odds of winning. While there is no way to guarantee that you will win every hand, a solid strategy can reduce your losses and maximize your winnings.
The goal of blackjack is to get a higher hand value than the dealer without going over 21. The game likely originated in 18th-century France, but it became a popular casino game after Edward O. Thorp wrote his 1963 bestselling book, Beat the Dealer. The book outlines a simple basic strategy for beating the dealer in blackjack, and it has become one of the most famous gambling books ever written.
In a blackjack game, players and the dealer are each dealt two cards face up. The player may choose to “hit” to ask for more cards, until they reach a hand value of 21 or they can decide to “stand” and keep their current hand. Once all players have decided whether to hit or stand, the dealer will reveal his or her face-down card and will play their hand according to predetermined rules.
A blackjack is a natural when a player’s first two cards are an ace and a picture card or 10 valued card, totaling 21. The dealer pays the player one and a half times his or her original bet if he or she has a natural and the dealer does not. If the dealer has a blackjack, all other players lose the round (unless they have a blackjack as well). The dealer collects all of the bets and shuffles the cards before starting a new round.
There are several different types of side bets that can be placed in a blackjack game. Insurance is the most common and is offered by nearly all casinos. Players can also place bets on a pair, betting that the dealer will have a certain type of poker hand, on whether the dealer will bust, and more. Side bets can add to the excitement of a blackjack game, but they should be played conservatively to minimize losses.
Using a Blackjack chart is an excellent tool to help you ditch the generalised rule (Hit below 16 and stand above 17) that many players adopt. The chart provides you with the best option to pick for each individual situation. If you use the chart often enough, you can eventually start to memorise it and know what option to pick automatically without having to consult the chart.
Splitting pairs in blackjack is an effective strategy to maximize your chances of winning. This is especially true when you are dealing with two cards of the same rank, such as two nines or two threes. When you split a pair, you place a second bet equal to your original bet and play each card as a separate hand. It is important to remember that you cannot re-split a pair, so make sure that you understand the rules of splitting before playing.
Blackjack is a game of skill, and proper application of basic strategies can significantly improve your odds of winning. While there is no way to guarantee that you will win every hand, a solid strategy can reduce your losses and maximize your winnings. The goal of blackjack is to get a higher hand value than the dealer without going over 21. The game likely originated in 18th-century France, but it became a popular casino game after Edward O. Thorp wrote his 1963 bestselling book, Beat the Dealer. The book outlines a simple basic strategy for beating the dealer in blackjack, and it has become one of the most famous gambling books ever written. In a blackjack game, players and the dealer are each dealt two cards face up. The player may choose to “hit” to ask for more cards, until they reach a hand value of 21 or they can decide to “stand” and keep their current hand. Once all players have decided whether to hit or stand, the dealer will reveal his or her face-down card and will play their hand according to predetermined rules. A blackjack is a natural when a player’s first two cards are an ace and a picture card or 10 valued card, totaling 21. The dealer pays the player one and a half times his or her original bet if he or she has a natural and the dealer does not. If the dealer has a blackjack, all other players lose the round (unless they have a blackjack as well). The dealer collects all of the bets and shuffles the cards before starting a new round. There are several different types of side bets that can be placed in a blackjack game. Insurance is the most common and is offered by nearly all casinos. Players can also place bets on a pair, betting that the dealer will have a certain type of poker hand, on whether the dealer will bust, and more. Side bets can add to the excitement of a blackjack game, but they should be played conservatively to minimize losses. Using a Blackjack chart is an excellent tool to help you ditch the generalised rule (Hit below 16 and stand above 17) that many players adopt. The chart provides you with the best option to pick for each individual situation. If you use the chart often enough, you can eventually start to memorise it and know what option to pick automatically without having to consult the chart. Splitting pairs in blackjack is an effective strategy to maximize your chances of winning. This is especially true when you are dealing with two cards of the same rank, such as two nines or two threes. When you split a pair, you place a second bet equal to your original bet and play each card as a separate hand. It is important to remember that you cannot re-split a pair, so make sure that you understand the rules of splitting before playing.