How It Works
Table layout:
A blackjack table will typically seat around 7 players and they are positioned on a curve all facing the dealer. There is an area for the dealer to display their hand so all players can see. In front of the players, there is a designated area where the player will place their bets. In between where the player sits and the dealer there is a section that displays the house rules. Below is an example blackjack table layout.
Terms
- Blackjack: This happens when the first two cards make 21. This will happen if the two cards are an A paired with a 10 or a face card. The payout for this is typically 3 to 2.
- Bust: When you hit and the new card given makes your total go over 21, your hand will be lost, regardless of the dealer's cards.
- Push: If both the player and the dealer finish on the same total, you will neither win nor lose, your bet will be returned.
- Hard: This means that the Ace card/s in your hand is being used as a 1 rather than an 11 due to your total going over 11 if it were to be used as the higher number.
- Soft: This means that there is an Ace, which is being used as an 11 and not a 1. For example, if you have an Ace & 7 that is a soft 18. If you were to hit and get a 6 this would result in your total being over 21, thus the Ace would become a 1 and you would have a hard 14.
Actions
- Original Bet: At every table, there will be a minimum and maximum bet, and you must place a wager within the given range.
- Hit: This means that you would like to receive another card.
- Stand: If you are happy with your current hand and don't want to receive another card, you can stand.
- Double down: This means that you are doubling your original bet and will be receiving one more card, after doubling down you won't be able to hit again and your hand will remain with the given 3 cards.
- Split: This can be done when your original cards are of the same value. To do this, you have to place another bet of the same amount as your original bet, thus creating two separate hands.
- Take Insurance: You can make this bet when the dealer is showing an Ace. By doing this, you believe that the dealer has blackjack and can receive some money back from it. Insurance typically pays 2 to 1.
Side Bets
Aside from the basic blackjack bet that you can do, there are also side bets that can be added on top of your bet for further possible wins, generally live casinos offer 2 or 3 different side bets that you can make.
- 21+3: This side bet is based on two of your cards and the dealer's up card, the winnings hands for this are similar to poker hands;
- Flush: All three cards are of the same suit. Pays 5 to 1.
- Straight: Three consecutive cards, such as 3, 4, and 5, these can be of any suit. Pays 10 to 1.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards being of the same value. Pays 30 to 1.
- Straight Flush: Similar to a regular Straight, where there need to be three consecutive cards, however, these being the same suit. Pays 40 to 1.
- Suited Trips: Three identical cards, such as three Ace of Spades. Pays 100 to 1.
The payout for each card combination varies depending on the provider, with Suited Trips offering the highest payout.
- Perfect pairs: With this side bet it gives you the chance to win if your first two cards comprise of any pair, such as two Queens, two Aces, or two 10s etc, however, note that different pairs pay differently; as shown below;
- Perfect Pair: Same rank and suit, such as two Queens of hearts. Pays 25 to 1.
- Coloured Pair: Same rank and colour with different suits. Pays 12 to 1.
- Mixed Pair: Same rank, with different suits and colours. Pays 6 to 1.
- Bet Behind: This feature allows you to bet on a hand dealt to another player, the payouts for this are the same as ordinary bets.
Dealing:
The dealer begins by dealing one face-up card to each player, starting from the left and moving clockwise, followed by a face-down card to themselves. In the second round, the dealer gives each player another face-up card, and then deals themselves one face-up card.
If the dealer's up card is a 10, face card, or Ace, they will offer players the option to take insurance and will check their face-down card for blackjack. If the dealer has blackjack, all players lose immediately unless they also have blackjack, in which case it’s a tie. If the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, the game continues with each player taking their turn one at a time, from left to right.
Players with blackjack are paid out right away, while players who go bust (go over 21) lose their bet and have their cards removed from the game. If a player chooses to stand (stay with their current hand), they must wait until the dealer completes their own hand before either collecting their winnings or losing their bet.
According to standard house rules, the dealer must draw a card on a "soft 17" (a hand including an Ace counted as 11) but will stand on a "hard 17" (no Ace or Ace counted as 1). The dealer continues drawing cards until they reach 17 or higher, unless it's a soft 17.
Blackjack is typically played with an 8-deck shoe, and a cut card is placed midway through the deck to signal when it’s time for a shuffle.
Perfect Basic Strategy in Blackjack:
The perfect basic strategy in blackjack is a simple set of rules that helps you make the best possible decision for every hand. It considers your cards, the dealer’s up card, and the specific rules of the game. The aim of this strategy is to reduce the house edge as much as possible.
By sticking to a basic strategy, you can lower the house’s advantage and give yourself a better chance of winning. It’s the smartest way to play every hand in blackjack!