The main objective of Blackjack is to beat the dealer and collect as many points as possible. If the player or dealer goes bust, they both lose. Alternatively, if both get the same number of points, the game is called a “push,” meaning neither wins nor loses. In blackjack, each player has a separate game against the dealer. In other words, a dealer can lose to one player while a player can lose to many.
Basic strategy
A simple but highly effective basic blackjack strategy will reduce the house edge to less than half a percent. It has been proven through computer simulations that by following the strategy, the casino will only hold a 0.5% edge. It’s important to remember that the house edge in blackjack can be as high as two percent. Nonetheless, the house edge in blackjack is still incredibly low. If you’re serious about playing blackjack, you’ll want to learn how to maximize your return.
Insurance
Most blackjack games have insurance options for players to choose from, and many players opt for this. While this may seem like a good idea, it can also threaten the bankroll of the gamer. If you have an ace up, for instance, you can opt for Insurance. In such a case, you will be required to place an insurance bet on the Insurance line in front of you. Insurance is basically a type of bet that you make to bet that the dealer will have a blackjack.
Double down on first two cards after splitting
Do you know when to double down on the first two cards after splitting blackjack? If you do, you should only do so when your hand is clearly the frontrunner. You should push a stack of chips on the table beside your initial bet, and the dealer will only give you one additional card before settling all bets at the end of the hand. Depending on the rules of your blackjack game, you can also double down on sevens. We’ll go over how to double down and split sevens in Ask the Dealer.
Dealing with soft 17s
If you’re facing a dealer with an ace and a six, you may have a hard time dealing with soft seventeens in blackjack. The rules for dealing with these hands vary among venues, but in most cases, you can expect the dealer to hit the 17 and bust. It’s not worth risking the hand because the dealer won’t bust, but it’s still a good idea to double down to protect your money.
Splitting Aces
Many players think that splitting an ace is risky. After all, an ace doesn’t have eyes, so it’s unlikely the dealer will show you a 10 underneath it. However, statistics show that the odds of this happening are about 93 times out of 100. Thus, it’s a better bet to split an ace than to try and hit a 10-valued card. Moreover, splitting an ace gives you an advantage when it comes to the dealer’s total.
Card Counting
Card Counting in blackjack is a strategy in which a player determines the odds of winning a hand by analyzing the deck’s composition. Each deck has a different number of high and low cards, and the odds between the Player and Dealer shift back and forth with each hand. A card counter will determine periods in which the odds favor him, and will bet accordingly. Card counting is also known as a’smart bet.’
