Along with roulette, blackjack is the most popular casino game here in the UK. It is a card game many people are familiar with, and even those who don’t regularly frequent casinos know it as the ‘21’ game. It’s a simple game, in which the player needs to get as close to 21 as possible (without going over) but there are a few easy to remember guidelines which will enhance your blackjack experience and may even help you win big the next time you’re at the tables!
You play against the house, not fellow players
Up to seven players can be accommodated at a blackjack table, but the only hand you are trying to beat is the croupier’s.
It doesn’t matter what your fellow players have. If the guest to your right has 20, you don’t have to hit on your 18 in an attempt to beat them. Focus on the dealer’s hand, because that’s all that matters, because…
The dealer draws at 16 and stands on 17
While you can use your initiative, instinct and basic mathematics to decide whether to stand or hit, the croupier is playing to set rules. It will be printed on the table, but usually the house rules dictate that the dealer must take another card (draw) when they have 16 or less, and must stand when they a have 17 or more.
This is one of two important things to understand, as you will only know one of the dealer’s cards when you make your decisions – the other being to remember that there are more cards valued at 10 than any other (king, queen and jack are all worth 10, as well as the 10 card itself).
So, if the dealer is showing a five or below, they will have two draw at least two more cards, and if they have a six they will most likely have to draw two more. Because they have to follow these rules, there is a strong possibility that the dealer will go bust if they are holding a four, five or six. In this instance, many players want to play conservatively when they have hands like 14, 15 or 16 – standing because they know they will be paid if they are still in and the dealer gets ‘too many’ – or play a double down on a hand of 10 or 11 with aim of winning bigger if the dealer goes over 21.
Conversely players typically take more chances, hitting on those same hands, when the dealer has a seven or above, because there’s a greater probability they will make a qualifying hand with their second card.
Odds are usually less favourable on side games
Many casinos now offer side games to tempt punters in. These are secondary games, usually based around poker hands, which offer an opportunity to win bigger than is possible in regular blackjack games. Beware, however, as the house edge on these games is generally higher than traditional games. Although you can win big, over the long run the odds are always in favour of the house.
Card counting isn’t really a thing these days…
Watch the movies and you’ll be under the illusion that you can beat the casino through the process of ‘card counting’ which is where a player memorises the value of the cards which have already been dealt. Playing this way, the player will increase the size of their bets when they feel the odds are in their favour (ie there are a high number of high value cards in the shoe) and betting smaller when they feel the odds are against them.
With six decks shuffled up in a traditional blackjack shoe, card counting is quite a skill in itself, but the casinos have moved to stop the ‘Rain Man’ scenarios. Nowadays, automatic dealing shoes shuffle the cards between each hand. If you do want to practice your card counting, maybe a fun casino party is the place for you. Most casino hire companies still use traditional dealing shoes and, quite frankly, we’ll be very impressed if you win by card counting!
The house always has an edge
Whenever a mate gives you a ‘system’ with which to break the bank, remember that blackjack is a mathematical game and the rules are designed to give the house a small edge.
There is a system called ‘blackjack basic strategy’ which shows which decision is mathematically best based upon the cards you hold and the dealer’s up card. Assuming the player makes the correct mathematical decision in a game of blackjack, the house still has a 0.5% advantage over the long run. The player can always win on any given session, but over time the casino will be expected to win. Without exception!
