blackjack strategy

Strategic Planning Key to Card Game Success

Blackjack is one of the best known, and most widely appreciated, of the traditional casino games. This appreciation is due in no small way to the facts that, as one of the few casino games that does not rely purely on luck, players who study the game, understand the odds involved and use statistically effective strategies can influence the outcome of the game to their benefit.

To provide players with a shortcut, many top casinos feature ‘cheat sheets’ or strategy tables that can be used in for different card combinations. This is possible since this game is limited to a certain number of cards per game. The outcome of each card combination can be determined in terms of the odds of drawing the required card from the cards that are available. Knowing when to Hit, Stand, Split or perform any of the other actions required by the game is therefore important, and it is recommended that players make use of the free, or flash, Blackjack games to hone their skills, get used to the casino environment and refine their strategies before they embark on the proper excitement of playing a hand for real money.

Blackjack is also known as 21, and is the most popular and widely enjoyed casino table game in the world. Blackjack is so widely enjoyed because the game provides players with some of the best odds available at casinos as it is one of the games where the house odds are lowest. Blackjack is a game of luck as well as strategy, of risk assessment and also intuition. In its most basic form, blackjack strategy involves beating the dealer by scoring 21 or being closer to 21 than the dealer without going over that score. Players add up the value of their hand based on card values, with the Ace being either a 1 or 11, picture cards all are valued at 10, and all other cards are equivalent to their face values. Card suits have no bearing on the game.

Learning All Details an Essential Skill

The game starts with all players paying their ante. Once all these antes have been paid, the cards are dealt in rotation from the dealer, left-to-right. The dealers’ hand has one card face down and one card face up. Using this knowledge the player can elect to remain with his original cards of receive more if he believes he needs to be closer to 21 to beat the dealer. The strategies deployed in ascertaining the risk involved and when to take another card, have engaged participants for centuries. In terms of terminological clarity and accuracy, not taking another card is to ‘stand’, taking another card is called a ‘hit’ and going over a total of 21 is called being ‘bust’ and applies to players as well as the dealer. Players are given the option to play either one or two hands against the dealer; to ‘split’ their hand. The optimal achievement in this game is to achieve ‘Blackjack’, which occurs when the first two cards equal 21. Obviously, this means that these first two cards need to be an Ace and a 10 or picture card.

There are many types and variations of blackjack available, but the basics remain more or less the same. Players from the Philippines who want to enjoy some virtual casino recreation are able to select from numerous, and well-known versions such as Atlantic City, Vegas or European blackjack.  Enjoy, and best of luck.

Robyn Barnes