Blackjack also commonly known as “Twenty-One” is a thrilling casino game played all across the globe. The rules of the game may differ as per the location one plays the game-casino to casino. This is the reason why most find it tough to learn the blackjack strategy. However, a series of correct moves are basic steps of the game and they aren’t different, no matter where the game is played. The general Blackjack rules remain the same in most places.
The rules are simple and the game gets thrilling as there are opportunities for successfully moving by the strategy. An expert player who is able to play on a good mathematical calculation has the odds favoring a big win.
Beginning of Blackjack goes back to the World War I era and is believed to have started in the 1760’s, believed to have originated in France. The French call the game Vingt-et-Un which literally means 21 in the French language.
This is now a global casino game; found at almost every casino in the USA and other countries as well. Blackjack; in a commonly following casino version is the house (dealer-who’s the permanent bank) and the players. Generally, one can find the dealer in charge of running the game and conducting all the aspects such as shuffling and dealing the cards to handling the bets.
The dealer seems to be in the standing position, whereas all the players are seated.
The Pack:
In most reputed casinos- the 6 deck game is played in which there are 312 cards. A plastic card is used by the dealer, which is actually never in play but works as an indication when there is a requirement for reshuffling the cards.
Game Objective:
Every player tries to beat the dealer by achieving a count of or close to 21 without playing over 21.
Card Scoring or Valuing:
Face cards are valued at 10 and any other card is as per their values; it is up to every player if an ace is valued as 1 or 11.
Betting:
Minimum and maximum limits for betting is determined within before the deal starts, every player has to place a bet accordingly by placing the chips in the front area- every player is allotted this area where he or she can place the chips as per their individual bets.
Shuffle and Cut:
The dealer thoroughly shuffles all portions of the pack until all cards are mixed and combined completely. Then the dealer invites a player from the table to cut from the pack; the plastic card is placed for separating at least 60 to 70 cards that lay beneath and so cannot be used.
Deal:
After placing the bets, every player is given one card face up by the dealer in a clockwise direction; then the players take one card face up for themselves. There is another round of cards which dealt face up to each player; however, in the second round the dealer takes the second card face down. Now all players have two cards face up except the dealer, who has one card face up and one card face down.
Today, with the virtual gaming practice Blackjack games feature players' cards face up on a condition that no player is allowed to touch the cards.
The aim of Blackjack:
The main target is to achieve Naturals i.e. 21. If suppose the first two cards of a player is an ace and a TEN (a picture card or 10) summing up to be a count of 21 then its a natural or BLACKJACK. The person wins.
A player may decide to STAND (not ask for an additional card to make it close to 21) or HIT (ask for the additional card to get closer to 21 or make it a perfect 21). This risk of opting for the STAND or the HIT is to be made individually.
In case of a player matching a 21 or getting closest wins and paid one and half times the amount that was betted. In case of the dealer winning; all the bets placed by the players are lost and collected back.
In case of the dealer and a player winning; such a game is a stand-off (a tie) where all other players lose their bets except the player who scored the natural (21) along with the dealer-the player is allowed to keep the chips for the following game.
