The Basics of Blackjack

Blackjack has long been the king of casino card games. It enjoyed a revival in the wake of the 2008 movie 21, which portrayed MIT counting team’s real-life exploits, but like all things in Vegas, nothing lasts forever, and the game has recently been squeezed by increased competition from other casino games, such as baccarat.

To win in blackjack, a player must get a hand total that is closer to 21 than the dealer’s without going over. Cards are worth their face value, with aces valued at either 1 or 11, and picture cards (Jack, Queen, King) worth 10. Suits don’t matter in blackjack.

Players begin the round by receiving two cards and can choose to “hit” (receive additional cards) or “stand” (keep their current hand). The dealer also receives two cards, but only one of them is face up. Then, depending on their hand total and the dealer’s up-card, players can choose to double down, split, or surrender.

Whenever a player’s initial two cards add up to 21 or are an ace with a picture card or 10 (known as a “blackjack”), the dealer will pay that player one and a half times their bet amount. This is called the player’s “natural” and is the best hand you can get in blackjack.

When a player has blackjack, they can also take “insurance,” which is a bet that the dealer has a ten-value card down, but only pays out if the dealer has a blackjack as well. This bet is usually a bad idea for players, unless they have been counting cards and know there’s a good chance the dealer has a blackjack and that they’ll win both their original $10 bet on their blackjack and the $5 they paid for insurance.

A blackjack player may also double down when they have a two-card hand of 11 or higher. This is a risky move because if the dealer hits their hand, they’ll lose. However, if the dealer doesn’t hit, the player is guaranteed to win.

Many casinos have changed the rules of blackjack to make it less profitable for players. For example, some have removed all the ten-value cards from the shoe. This is a big mistake since the tens are the most valuable cards for players. In addition, many casinos have lowered the payout on blackjacks from 3:2 to 1:1. This makes the game less attractive for card counters. Fortunately, there are still some casinos that follow the older, better rules. These are some of the most popular in Las Vegas.