Understanding the Basics of Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games and, despite what you might have heard, it’s not really all that complicated. In fact, you can understand the rules in a matter of minutes, and once you have, you will be ready to play with confidence.
The object of blackjack is to get a hand with a point value closer to 21 than the dealer’s without going over. Cards numbered 2 through 10 count as their printed values; aces are worth either 1 or 11, depending on what makes your hand stronger. A hand consisting of an ace and a face card is called a “blackjack.” If you get a blackjack, your bet is paid out immediately (you don’t need to wait for the dealer to pay you).
In addition to playing against the dealer, players may also bet against each other. Typically, this is done by placing bets in the center of the table. The player who has the highest bet wins, or pushes. Blackjack has many appealing rule changes that can make it more profitable, including the ability to double down on any hand and switching cards between two wagered hands at no additional cost. Some casinos even allow players to surrender certain undesirable two-card hands.
However, blackjack is facing increasing competition from other casino games. For example, in some Vegas casinos, it has been overshadowed by baccarat, which is preferred by Asian high rollers. This has caused some casino managers to whittle away at the game’s potential for profit by changing the rules slightly.
Some of these changes are minor; for instance, allowing players to split aces once only instead of twice. But some changes are more significant. For example, some casinos have implemented early surrender, which allows players to give up half their bet before the dealer checks for a blackjack. This can cut the house edge by about 0.624 percent.
Another important change in some blackjack games is the requirement that dealers hit on soft 17, which means a dealer’s total of 17 with an ace counts as a blackjack, and therefore beats any player hand. This is a good rule to have, because it forces the dealer to make a strong hand nearly 80 percent of the time, and it helps reduce the number of hands that the dealer must push. In the event of a tie, bets are returned to the players. In some games, players can choose to buy insurance, which pays out at a rate of 2-1 if the dealer has a blackjack. Other side bets may be offered as well.