Blackjack is a card game in which two opponents compete to see who can come up with the highest value hand, usually by possessing cards of greater value than that of their dealer. There are various variations to the game but in every instance the goal should be beating your dealer by having higher-value cards than his or hers – for this to work, you need a firm grasp on all relevant rules, card values, betting options and strategies in play.
Players place bets using casino chips rather than cash. Once their bets have been placed, a dealer distributes two face-up cards to each player and they then decide whether to “hit” and receive more cards or “stand” and keep their current hand. After everyone has made their decisions, the dealer will reveal his/her face-down card and reveal the winner of that round of betting.
There are various side bets available in blackjack, but one of the most crucial ones is “doubling down”. Doubling down increases your initial bet by up to two times and gives one additional card – but only if your hand qualifies. When done correctly this strategy can be extremely profitable; however, overconfidence could lead to bad decisions; additionally doubling down can be more risky when the dealer displays hard cards such as sixes than when facing off against soft ones like fives or fours.
Setting yourself a “win limit” and taking a break when it has been reached can be helpful in multiple ways: 1) it stops spending more than you can afford, 2) it prevents emotional decisions from becoming compulsive decisions, and 3) it prevents compulsive betting which is particularly crucial as being compulsive can quickly drain your bankroll.
Those new to the game should stick with an established strategy rather than deviating based on emotion or gut feeling; doing so will save money over time.
Utilizing a blackjack strategy chart is an invaluable way to identify what action to take depending on the value of your cards and the dealer’s showing. To use it effectively, first locate any correlating values at the top and left sides, before reading across or down for what action should be taken next. If your game supports doubling down and surrendering options as well, be sure to utilize them when appropriate.