BlackJack is one of the most widely played casino games in the world. The aim of the game is to get a hand which adds up to 21, or gets as close to 21 as possible, without going over or 'busting'. Players play against the dealer, and must beat the dealer’s hand in order to win. All players receive two cards after they have placed their bets. Depending on their initial hand players can choose to stand or to take more cards, keeping in mind that they need to get higher points than the dealer without going over 21. If they go over or ‘bust’, they lose. Once the player has finished playing his hand, the dealer plays his. If neither player nor dealer busts, the highest hand wins. An initial hand of 21 or a ‘blackjack' wins automatically and wins one and a half times the bet. If there is a draw, the game is a ‘push’ and all bets are returned. Players can also choose to ‘double down’ which means to double their bet, but this limits them to taking only one more card. If the two cards of the initial hand are of the same value, the player can decide to ‘split’ them and play two hands at once. The number of decks used in a game of BlackJack varies as does the house advantage.
BlackJack History
The history of BlackJack is not fully known but it does seem likely that this casino game evolved from the French game called 'Vingt et Un' which means twenty one. References to this game being played in France have been dated back to the 1700s and a similar game seems to have existed in Spain as early as the 1600s. These early card games both seem to have had the same aim of getting a 21 without going over or busting. There are other games which probably contributed to our modern day BlackJack, like the Spanish ‘one and thirty’ card game and the Italian ‘seven and a half’. The name ‘Black Jack' did not come into being until the 1800s when it was introduced to America and gambling houses would offer special bonuses for a hand of an Ace of Spades and a black Jack (either aces or spades); thus the name Black Jack. The casino black jack game has been the subject of much publicity and speculation because of numerous card counting systems which have been developed over the years to beat the casino. Ken Uston, Stanford Wong and the MIT BlackJack Club are some of the most well known individuals who developed winning card counting strategies to beat the casinos at black jack.
BlackJack Strategy
BlackJack success is dependent on an element of player choice and decisions. This is why there is a basic strategy which players can follow in order to play their best hand. This does not mean they will always win, as this depends on the dealer's hand, but players can at least make the most of their hand. Many online casinos include a black jack strategy card within the blackjack window, making it easy to refer to during the game. The strategy will always depend on the house rules and the number of decks being played. Players can use a basic strategy card to decide whether to hit, stand, double, split or surrender depending on their hand and the dealer's. Many players decide to memorise the basic strategy card so that they are able to play their hands faster and increase their winnings. Players may notice patterns and can use the basic strategy to learn why certain courses of action are best in certain situations. A seasoned and knowledgeable black jack player is more likely to win big at blackjack, either on or offline, by sticking to a basic strategy and making the most out of each and every hand. But players must be aware that following the strategy does not automatically mean they will win every time.