Blackjack 101
New to the game? Here’s everything you need to know
By Sean Chaffin
Blackjack is one of the best games in the casino for a player, but it’s important to learn basic strategy if you want to take it seriously and have the best odds of winning. With several cards valued at 10 or 11 (10, J, Q, K, ace), there are numerous choices to consider when it comes to hitting, standing, doubling down or splitting.
The cards, the cash, the cocktails. As a game, blackjack just looks cool in the casino. In movies from Rain Man to 21 to Vegas Vacation, blackjack plays a major role and is one of those iconic casino games everyone wants to give a shot. If you’re new to the game, here’s a quick guide to get you on the right track at the table. Hopefully your luck is a bit better than Clark Griswold’s.
The Basics
The goal in this card game is to get to as close to 21 without going over – known as busting. Numbered cards count as their number, that’s simple enough. Aces can be played as 1 or 11, and face cards count as 10.
To start a game, each player is dealt two cards (usually face up) from a shoe usually with four, six or eight decks, though you can find single- and double-deck blackjack at higher stakes. The dealer is also dealt two cards with only one of those face up. The dealer has a major advantage in getting to act last.
A player dealt an ace and a 10 (or face card) hits a “natural” 21, also known as blackjack. The player is paid immediately in most circumstances at 3-to-2 (bet $200 and win $300), although more casinos have gone to the inferior 6-to-5 payout (bet $500 to win $600). If the dealer is also dealt a blackjack, however, the hand is a push—no win, no loss.
The game is pretty simple: If your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, then you win. Also, if the dealer happens to bust (goes over 21), you win. It sounds easy, but there are more caveats and things to remember.
Blackjack Lingo
Hit – Maybe you’ve seen someone in a movie say “Hit me.” That means you’re taking another card in the quest to get close to 21. A swipe of the finger or hand also works, and the dealer will give you another card.
Stand – Say you hit a 17 or higher (and sometimes even lower depending on the dealer’s card). This means you don’t want any more cards. A simple waving of the hand as if saying “no” will also do the trick. The dealer will then go on to the next player.
Soft – As in a “soft 17,” meaning you have an ace and 6. Because an ace counts as 1 or 11, this hand can be either 7 or 17 and a player isn’t hurt by taking a hit as a 10 won’t bust this hand. Dealers must draw until reaching 17 or higher, but usually must hit a soft 17. Staying on all 17s works in the player’s favor.
Insurance – A bet players can make when the dealer’s up card is an ace. The player can usually bet half of his bet and “insure” some of his bet against a blackjack. This is a sucker bet and a loser in the long run.
Split – If you are dealt two of the same card, the player is allowed to split those bets into two different hands by making a second bet. The hands then play out in the normal routine. It’s important to know basic strategy to know the best odds when it comes to knowing when and what hands to split (see below). Got two 10s? Never split—that 20 already has a high likelihood of being a winner. Two fives? Another hand that’s a keeper. That 10 has a nice likelihood to get another high card—hopefully an ace—for a winner.
Double Down – Players are allowed (and should) double their bets on certain hands for an extra score. They will only receive one card, however. Doubling is common on hands totaling 9, 10 or 11 because of the high likelihood of getting another high card. But there are also other circumstances to consider making this move. Knowing basic strategy will certainly help (see below).
Things to Know
Blackjack is one of the best games in the casino for a player, but it’s important to learn basic strategy if you want to take it seriously and have the best odds of winning. With numerous cards valued at a 10 or 11 (10, J, Q, K, ace), there are numerous choices to consider when it comes to hitting, standing, doubling down or splitting.
There are numerous resources to check out and learn the best strategy when playing and it’s highly recommended. Applying the strategy perfectly can reduce that house edge down to as low as 0.05 percent.
There’s also one more thing to remember: Unlike the movies, players are not allowed to touch the cards. Simple hand movements are the norm in most games. Good luck!
