Blackjack, The Game in a Nutshell
When it comes to casino card games, there are few games more exciting (or more popular) than Blackjack. In many ways, it is THE main game at the Casino.
The reasons for its popularity are many – it’s a very simple game to learn, but a hard one to master. It’s also a fast game, and easy to bet on (in fact, a very good player can actually tilt the odds to their favor... and everyone likes to think they are very good.) It also encourages camaraderie at the table, because all players play against the house (so if the person next to you wins, it has no bearing on whether you win or lose. This makes for a fun atmosphere.)
We mention it’s easy to learn, and it is. In fact, here’s the goal: Go for the number “21” (in fact, Blackjack can also be called “21”). It’s a game that puts you in direct competition with the dealer (the house, really), as you have to work to beat his (or her) hand without busting (going over “21”). And if neither of you reach 21 or bust, you want to get as close as possible – at that point, closest to 21 between you and the dealer wins.
Let’s look at it a little closer. In Blackjack, the suits have no value, just the card’s face values. The numbers “2” through “10” are worth their numeric value. The Jack, Queen and King cards are worth “10”. The Ace, card, however, is flexible, and will work with you to help you reach your goal, or keep your hand from going bust. Depending on what you need, an Ace card can either be worth “11”, or just “1”.
As far as play goes, each player gets two cards face up. The dealer also gets 2 – one face up, one face down. There are several instances that can happen here (like insurance bets) that we’ll get into in other articles, but essentially, if the dealer is “showing” an ace or a card with the value of ten (a ten, or a face card), the dealer checks the hole card for “blackjack” (21 on the button). If the dealer has blackjack, everyone loses (except players who also have a two card “blackjack” – they push). If the dealer doesn’t, the players must decide to “hit” (take another card in their hand) or “stand” (don’t take any more cards). If the player wants to get additional cards, they tell the dealer to “hit me”. This isn’t a request to incite some physical violence, mind you. This is the cue for the dealer to deal out some more cards in an attempt to reach “21”. Players can also simply tap the hand to ask the dealer for another card.
There’s always a risk when getting new cards. Sure the current hand may be nowhere near a “21”, but all it takes is one card to bring a player from being really under, to going over. If you have a 12 showing (a queen and a deuce, for example), and you get another queen… well you busted. There comes a point to know when to say “when”. Or in this case, saying” Stand”, or even “Stay”. This tells the dealer that you don’t want any additional cards, and want to try your luck with your current hand and hope the dealer busts (although variations exists, most blackjack rules say the dealer must hit when showing less than 17. Thus, hoping for a dealer bust is a major blackjack strategy.)
The next time you are at a casino, check out the blackjack tables – they are amongst the most lively places in the casino. Pull up a chair, order a drink, and try and reach 21! Good luck!
