How to Play Blackjack Like a Pro: Essential Strategies Explained

Blackjack is an old game, it was first played in the late 1800s under the name Vingt et un, and today, it is a widespread game offered at many land-based, online, and mobile Casinos. There are single-hand blackjack games, and there are multi-hand blackjack games. In addition, there are games with bonus jackpots and extra features. Blackjack is quite simple and easy to understand, with few complex variations.

The Basics of Blackjack

Blackjack aims to land a hand of 21. Face cards are given a value of ten, and an Ace has a variable value of one or eleven. The game is played with between one to eight decks; depending on the number of decks, the player's strategy can change. Initially, after placing a small bet, the player or players are dealt two cards face up, and the dealer also receives two cards, one face up and one face down. Based on the cards, players decide whether to place another bet or stand with what they have. The Blackjack aim is to get as close to twenty-one value as possible with the cards held. At this stage, there are also additional possibilities that can be activated. Once the player has decided if to stand, i.e., place no more bets or draw, add another better card, the dealer will turn over his face-down card, and conclusions can be drawn.

Different Extra Options When Playing Blackjack

Players can enact several additional options based on the cards they are initially drawn or throughout the game. Double Down offers one more card and a bet, and this is a final move, with the hope that it will win the player the round. Splitting is chosen when the player's two cards are identical in value. The cards are split into two hands, and players continue the game with two hands and extra bets. Insurance is recommended if the dealer's face card is an ace or a face card giving better odds for having a Blackjack. The insurance cost is half the value of the bet, ensuring a complete loss. A regular win by the player over the dealer pays out 1:1, i.e., the value of the bet placed. A Blackjack pays out 3:2. The variety of Blackjack games at online and mobile Casinos includes games with up to eight hands at once and some games with progressive jackpot options. Blackjack is the only game where the player's decisions can directly affect the outcome, whether he stands, draws, or double downs. Players at land-based Casinos used to count cards to see if they could work out when high cards would be drawn and the probability of these cards revealing. This method can be applied online, but it is a tedious process, and the best way to play Blackjack is by starting with low-value bets and increasing the value of the bets as confidence and winning payouts grow.