Black JackBlog about Black Jack card game

In blackjack, different hand signals are used to convey the cards a player wants to play to the dealer and verbal instructions are not considered to be in good etiquettes and learning the correct signals is as important the rules of the game. The signals vary according to the number of decks the game is using and whether the player is holding the cards in one hand o the cards are lying on the table. There are different hand signals used, to convey a player’s decision, in face up and face down versions of the game. Touching the cards is allowed in the face down games.

In the face up version, Hit is conveyed through tap on the table. If the player decided to Stand, he has to wave his hands palm down from left to right over the top of his cards all the while not moving his arm. To convey Double down or Split, the player has to place a second bet in a separate pile next to the previous wager. Holding up one finger means double down and two fingers means a Split.

The face down version has different signals than the former. To Hit, player has to scrape the table lightly with the index finger. Moving your cards under your chips means Stand. Double down and split are communicated by turning the cards face up and adding a second bet next to the previous bet. Like the hands up version here too, double down means holding up one finger and splitting means holding up two fingers.

It is a mathematical system which a player uses to keep track of all the cards dealt to have a better understanding of which cards are still left in the deck. Based on this information, a player can adjust his betting pattern.

Card counting is a skill that requires practice. Of all, Hi-Lo and KO count are the easiest to learn.
The legality of card counting is debatable. Most casinos do not allow a card counter at a blackjack table. But if counting is done without using any device through brain, then no one can call it cheating!

There are many card counting systems like KO count, Hi-Lo count, Hi-Opt I count and Hi-Opt II count. Most systems start with a value of 0 at the start of the game. With every card that is dealt, the values will fluctuate. A player has to keep a track of all the cards dealt even of the other players. A positive card count implies that smaller cards have been played till now and deck has higher percentage of large cards. A deck with high cards gives the player many advantages like dealer can bust; player could be dealt stronger cards.  High card also means that player can place large bet amounts as they have the advantage. When the count drops, he can bet small amounts as the advantage then shifts to casinos.

With the popularity of blackjack game growing, there are many variations of this game which have emerged to bring more excitement to the game.

Las Vegas strip blackjack is a very popular variation used in Las Vegas casinos located on the Strip. It has different splitting and double down rules. In Pontoon blackjack, the dealers both cards are face down. The games basic strategy is somewhat change as the players does not know what cards the dealer is holding. The highest hand here is an Ace and a ten which is known as Pontoon. Spanish 21 has lot of liberal rules. It mostly has the highest house edge of all the other blackjack games.

In Double attack Blackjack, the player has the choice of increasing the wager after seeing the dealer’s face up card. There is a form of blackjack where a player can play two hands at the same time. This variant is called Blackjack Switch. In this the initial wager of both hands is the same.  The player also has an option to switch cards between hands. Caribbean 21 is very similar to blackjack but the goal is getting close to a total of 31. Here, the value of Ace is 1. Blackjack surrender is another form of blackjack which allows the player to give up half of the bet and surrender the hand.

Like any gambling game, there is no guarantee to win this game but a novice can follow certain tips which can reduce the loss and make playing at the casino a pleasurable experience. As blackjack is a game of mathematics and probabilities, one should follow the basic strategy always. Hunches and intuition is not the best way to play this game.

One should be aware of the one’s bankroll and decide on the bet sizes before hand so as to make that money last longer. As a rule, one should never use more than 5 % of the bankroll in a single game. This can be profitable in the long run. One should change the wager during the course of play; that is you should lower your bets while loosing and can increase your bets when winning.  Insurance is one choice a player is offered in case the dealer has a blackjack. It is not advisable as it is a very negative expectation bet. It is not that one should never take insurance but only if the player is an experienced person or one who counts the cards. One should be selecting the game with the best payback and the lowest house edge. Selecting a good table with good players is also very important to your game. Tipping a dealer after a win is not just a nice etiquette but it can make a difference to the game. By tipping well, you may get pit bosses and dealers attention. Also the likelihood of you getting more comps and free drinks will increase.

It is a counting game with each card having a value and the goal of the game is to accumulate cards so that the total value is close to 21 but without going over it. The face cards have a value of 10; the number cards have their numeric values. Ace is either 1 or 11 depending on the hand. A player plays against the house or the dealer and he wins if his hand is closer to 21. If he overshoots the total of 21, he ‘busts’.

The dealer initially deals two cards to players; which can be either face up or face down. Out of the two dealer’s cards, one card is face up and other card is face down. If the initial two cards, either the player’s or the dealer’s, have one ace and a ten value card, then it is a blackjack, the highest hand. The player can take as many cards as he desires till he busts or ‘stands’ (chooses not to draw). A player looses if he busts even if the dealer busts later. If the dealers hand is closer to 21 than the player, the latter looses. If both have the same hand value, with neither of them busting, it is called a ‘push’ and nobody wins or looses. If the player has a blackjack and the dealer does not, then the dealer pays the player 1.5 times the original bet amount.

Blackjack is a gentleman’s game, so it’s best to act like a gentleman (or woman). Here are a few quick points to remember next time your on a winning streak with the cards.

Always tip the dealer when you win.

This one should be obvious but most new casino goers get too caught up in their winnings that they fail to reward the dealer with a nominal tip. It is not necessary, but it is something that is respectful and common etiquette for most seasoned vets.

Don’t order food or drinks when it’s your turn to bet.

Another one that should be apparent, but many newcomers have trouble learning this easy rule. When the players are waiting for you to place your bet or call, it is considered very rude to place an order because you are forcing them to wait on you. This can cause animosity at the table and breed bad blood. It also brings a negative vibe to the table if you do it excessively. So be polite and wait til your turn passes before you order. Thanks for your cooperation.

Don’t be a “negative nelly”.

Nobody likes to be around a whiner, so don’t make a big fuss when you lose a hand. This is another common rookie pitfall. When you take a bad beat against the dealer, avoid complaining loudly. The players at the table are there to enjoy themselves, when your sitting there crying about your cards– it ruins the mood. The players feed off of each others positive (or negative) energy at the table. So don’t be a “negative nelly” and ruin the fun for everybody. Everybody hates a sore loser. Next time, try smiling and treat your loss as a valuable lesson that you can learn from. You will play a better game and have a more enjoyable experience!

After many hours of playing Blackjack in the casino, many players tend to get sloppy with their game and force hands they normally wouldn’t play. When you are putting in long hours in the casino (usually when you are a pro-gambler), it is best to stay hydrated and stay on a healthy diet. Health experts agree that most people make illogical decisions (especially in gambling) when they haven’t had a drink of water for more than a couple hours. Water and a healthy intake of food keeps your blood sugars and your brain functioning at a normal level. When you eat and drink normally, you make more sound judgements.  That’s common sense.  When there’s a lack of these nutrients, you start making bad decisions without even knowing it! Blackjack is a game of patience. You must be patient when you are waiting for a couple good cards and for the lucky split that gets you double the pot. In order to be patient and play your game the right way, you must make sure that you get the proper nutrients. So, next time you want to hit on that 19 cause the dealer is showing a 9– stop and think– then take a drink of water. You will probably have a higher chip stack at the end of the night and peace of mind.

Once you are dealt the two cards, the dealer goes around the table and checks to see if you want to “hit”, “stay”, or “split”. If you “hit”, the dealer gives you another card to add to your total. You would normally hit on any cards (unless you have a 20 or blackjack) if the dealer is showing a face card. You would hit on any card (unless you had blackjack) when the dealer is showing an ace card. The reason you would hit in these two cases is because the dealer has a chance to hit 20 or 21 and it is recommended that you hit unless you at least have a 19 or better (no less). Some gutsy players like to trust their gut and stay when they have (what they consider) a decent 17 or 18 when the dealer is showing a face or ace. It is a risky way to play, but sometimes it does pay off. Then there are the
“faithful” players who will stay on a 14 or 15 when the dealer is showing a face or ace. These players are betting (and hoping) that the dealer “busts”. When the dealer busts, it is because they have hit cards to the point where their total has surpassed 21 (the maximum total in blackjack). There are many winning techniques in BlackJack and a variety of different styles, but one thing is for sure– the casino always wins. That is why BlackJack is half luck and half skill.

BlackJack is played with the dealer and up to 6 players at a time on one table. The object of the game is to hit 21 without busting. The best possible hand is when you get a 21 with two cards aka “BlackJack”. Ace is worth 1 or 11 points and all face cards are worth 10 points. The rest of the cards correspond with their number. If you hit a Blackjack, it pays 1.5 times what you bet (in most casinos). First, the players are first dealt two cards. Then, the dealer deals himself (or herself) two cards. The dealer then shows one of their cards aka the overcard. The player’s must based their decision on that card. If the dealer is showing a face card, you want to hit unless you have a 20 or better. The reason why is because the dealer has the potential to hit a 20 or 21 when they flip over their other card. The dealer must hit if they have a “hard” 17. A “hard” 17 means that there is no ace to give you the flexibilty of making a 1 or 11. The players must beat the dealer’s cards to win. If your two cards total the same number as the dealer, then it is a “push”, meaning no money changes hands. If your two cards add up to a higher number than the dealer’s, you win! If the two cards add up to a lower number than the dealers (and you “stay”– choosing not to be dealt a third card), you lose.