Black Jack is a popular card game that is played all around the globe in both online and land based casinos. Casinos online are a magnet that attracts players to try blackjack online. These online casinos give as good an experience as land based casinos can provide with different blackjack variations.
The basic strategy to win a blackjack game is very simple. A player needs to have a hand value that is closer to 21 than that of the dealer. Let's look at the rules and blackjack skills that you need to know before dealing with your dealer at a blackjack table.
The goal of the game is that a player needs to have a hand value of 21 or closer without going over the dealer to win the game. The game requires a combination of luck, skill, and strategy to win. When playing blackjack, you are not playing against the other players but against the dealer.
The rules of the blackjack game are laid out clearly and strictly for both players and the dealer. Here are some of the rules one needs to keep in mind while playing blackjack.
Card Values
One of the most important things that needs to be on your mind is the value of the cards. In blackjack, the value of each card is the face value, except for face cards like Jack, Queen, and King.
- As explained, an ace can count as either 1 or 11.
- The value of the cards numbered 2 through 9 is their face value.
- The numbers ten, Jack, Queen, and King are all worth ten.
The value of a hand is simply the sum of the point counts of each card in the hand. For example, a hand containing 5, 7, and 9 has a value of 21. The ace can be counted as either 1 or 11. A hand that contains an ace is called a "soft" total if the ace can be counted as either 1 or 11 without the total going over 21. For example, a hand containing an ace and a 6 would be considered a soft 17 (1 + 6 + 10), and the ace can be counted as either 1 or 11 points.
A hard hand does not contain an ace, or the ace has to be counted as one point to avoid busting. For example, a hand containing a 10 and a 6 would be considered a hard 16 (10+6).
The Way Cards Are Dealt
In blackjack, once all the bets are made, the dealer will deal the cards to the players. The dealer deals two cards to each player and one card to themselves, face up. The cards are dealt differently for shoe games and for hand held games.
In the shoe games, the players' cards will be dealt face-up, and they are not allowed to touch the cards. In hand-held games, the player's cards are dealt face down, and the players pick up the cards when handling the cards in a hand-held game.
Once the cards are dealt, play proceeds around the table, starting at the first seat to the dealer's left, also called first base. Each player, in turn, indicates to the dealer how he wishes to play the hand.
Players can deal both cards by choosing to hit or stand. The dealers must follow strict rules while dealing their hands. If their hand value is 16 or less, they must hit. If their hand value is 17 or more, they must stand. If the dealer's hand exceeds 21, they bust, and all players with a hand value of 21 or less win.
Blackjack Hand Signals
If a player is dealt a blackjack, which is an ace and a 10 point card( 10, jack, queen, or king), they automatically win, unless the dealer also has a blackjack. To signal a blackjack, players should place their cards facedown on the table.
If a player wants to take a hit to add an additional card to their hand, they can do it by tapping gently on the table with their fingers. Make sure that when you give the signals, the dealer can see your hand signals.
Another common sign in blackjack is the sign for "double." Players can call for a double by placing the chips worth the amount in front and pointing with one finger towards the chips placed. And if a player wants to call for a stand, they can do it by waving their hands above their cards.
Conclusion
Blackjack is a game of strategy, skill, and luck that requires players to make quick decisions and use their best judgement. Understanding the concepts of the game, such as soft hand, hard hand, rules of dealing, etc., is essential to playing the game effectively.