Blackjack.com
School of Blackjack
The world’s biggest Blackjack club is very pleased to announce a new Blackjack School designed specifically for playing online blackjack in the club.
This school’s role is educating new members who may not be experienced so that they can be confident playing blackjack with finesse to maximise their chances of winning and minimise their chance of losing.
Unlike other casino games, Blackjack is a game of skill where your decisions definitely influence your chances and this is the place where you can learn the skills it takes to beat the game.
First of all some basics about the rules.
Objective
First of all let’s dispose of one of the biggest fallacies surrounding the game. The objective is NOT to get cards totalling 21! It is NOT even to try to get as close to 21 as you can without going over! The objective of the game is to beat the dealer!!
How do you beat the dealer?
If you have a total higher than the dealer's without going over 21 you win.
If you or the dealer goes over 21 the hand is "Bust." And if you bust you automatically lose.
As long as you are not bust and the dealer busts you win but the player must always take action first. This means that it is possible for the player to bust before the dealer has taken any action and if he busts then he loses even if the dealer then goes on to bust.
Card Values
You can safely ignore the suits of the cards as they have no value in the game.
Cards 2 - 10 have a value the same as their face value.
All of the face cards (J,K,Q) have a value of ten.
Aces can have a value of either one or eleven.
A Jack and a four would equal 14.
An ace and a six would total either 7 or 17.
Hands with no ace are referred to as a Hard Hands because there is only one possible value.
Hands with one or more aces are called Soft Hands because there is more than one possible value.
If you draw a card to a soft hand and counting the ace as eleven puts you over 21 then the hand becomes a hard hand.
Blackjack Tables
When you select an online blackjack table from the lobby, you will see that there is a separate circle for each player with the words “sit here”. Select a position and click in the circle.
Now you can choose the amount you want to bet by clicking on the betting chips. They will appear in your betting circle. You can click on tem in the betting circle to remove chips as well. When you have the right amount, click on the “Bet” button to commit.
Each player is now dealt two cards face up. The dealer receives one card face up and one card face down (the hole card).
Each player in turn (right to left) now has to decide what action to take. Its very easy to follow the rules as only buttons for actions you can take will be active so you can’t go wrong.
You will make your decision about how to play your hand based on the dealer's up card and the two cards that you were dealt.
A nice rule of thumb for beginners is to always assume that the dealer has a ten value card in the hole.
Remember that if you are playing at a multiplayer table, there is a timer!
Blackjack
If you or the dealer is dealt a ten value card and an Ace (making 21!) it is called a Blackjack. Some people call it a “Natural”. If you get a blackjack and the dealer doesn’t, you will be paid 3 to 2 for your bet.
If both you and the dealer get a blackjack then the hand pushed (you get your bet back!). If only the dealer has blackjack then all players lose.
Hit
Hit means that you want another card. You indicate that you wish to Hit by clicking on the Hit button.
Stand
If you are satisfied with your first two cards or at any other time after hitting, you can click on the Stand button.
Doubling Down
Doubling means you double your bet after receiving your first two cards in return for one more card. You cannot then Hit again so you only get one card!!. The Double button will only show when this option is available.
Splitting
If you are dealt a pair you can split these into two separate hands by clicking on the Split button. An additional bet equal to your starting bet will be placed. You can then decide to hit, stand or double on each new hand.
Insurance
If the dealer's up card is an ace, you will be offered insurance. This is a side bet on whether the dealer has a ten in the hole. If you make the bet and he has the ten you are paid 2 to 1. You would then lose your original bet but win the insurance bet, which works out to being a push of your original bet.
Basic Strategy
If you play your hand properly you can reduce the house edge to less than one percent. To do this you must learn to play Basic Strategy, which is a mathematically proven method to determine when to hit, stand, double or split.
A Simple Strategy:
Here is a simple strategy to get you started.
If your first cards total 12-16 you have a "Stiff" hand. (one than can be busted with a hit.)
If the dealer's up card is a 2 - 6, it is a "Stiff" hand for the dealer.
If you have 17 or better it is a Pat hand and you stand.
If the dealer shows a 7 -Ace, you consider it a pat hand.
If you have a stiff and the dealer has a stiff you STAND.
If you have a stiff and the dealer has a pat hand you HIT.
Although this simple strategy will get you by for first time you play the game, you really should make the effort to learn basic strategy if you want to play in land based casinos.
If you don’t want to memorize it you can bring a basic strategy chart to the casino with you. Most casinos will let you use them at the table if you don’t slow down the game.
Blackjack can be the best game in the casino with the lowest house edge if you play properly, however if you play by hunch it can be one of the worst games to play.