How to Play Blackjack
Want to know how to play Blackjack? No problem! To play this classic card game, you need to know the rules of blackjack. We have summarised them for you and explained them in detail so that there are no misunderstandings during the game.
What Is Blackjack?
In the world’s casinos, blackjack is the most widely played card game. Card games in general are ancient and can be traced back to ancient China and Egypt. In Europe, card games with 52 cards have existed since the 14th century. These had symbols similar to the Tarot and also had different values.
The modern blackjack rules of the casinos are a descendant of the French “Trente et Un”, although the 31-point mark was decisive. In the 17th century, one finds the first trace of today’s Blackjack game called “Vingt et Un”, where the 21-point mark is the deciding factor. The early forms of today’s Blackjack were played by only two players against each other. It was not until the French gambling houses that multiple players and the game against the bank became popular.
The basic aim of Blackjack is to obtain no more than 21 as the total number of points on the cards played.
Blackjack is usually played at a special table called the Blackjack table. This is semi-circular and the croupier or dealer (also banker, dealer) sits on the straight side of the table. Up to seven players can sit at the rounded side of the table. However, Blackjack is not a team sport; each player plays alone against the bank.
The other players at the table nevertheless have a certain influence on the individual game, because it is about the cards already played and limiting the probability of which card is likely to come next.
The Rules of Blackjack
At the Blackjack table, the croupier or dealer (also known as the banker or dealer) and up to seven players sit opposite each other. On the table, there is a painted tray for the bet and some lines that determine the position of the players’ cards.
The game is played with six packs of playing cards with 52 hands each, i.e. a total of 312 cards. A typical blackjack card has the bridge format and carries extra large index signs with the English designations for the individual pictures: K (king) for king, Q (queen) for queen and J (jack) for jack.
The players themselves are not allowed to touch these cards, because the Blackjack dealer always plays and collects the cards. The players’ cards are usually placed slightly offset on top of each other so that the value of each card can still be easily recognized.
The aim of the game is to get closer to 21 points than the dealer with two or more cards or to score exactly 21 points. However, it must not be more than 21, which is why it is particularly important to know and remember the values of the individual cards.
Gameplay
Before the start of each game round, you place your bet in the designated field on the table according to the Blackjack game rules. In various online blackjack casinos, there is usually a fixed maximum bet.
If you want to watch Blackjack in a casino, you may be allowed to place a bet in the box of a particular player. However, you have no say in the game, but you can enjoy the little extra kick of this game of chance – unless that player has already placed a maximum bet. In that case, no more bets are allowed.
Once all bets have been placed, the dealer deals the cards.
All players and the croupier receive an open card. Afterwards, only the players receive a second card face up. Starting with the player to the left of the croupier, the players can now either
- request another card,
- not request another card,
- split
- or double down.
The idea of requesting cards is to get as close as possible to or exactly on the 21 points without exceeding them. If you exceed 21 points, you are a “bust”, so to speak, you have overbought and lose to the bank and the croupier withdraws your bet.
Only when all players have completed their game does the dealer draw another card for his own game.
If he has 17 points or more, he must remain on the card stand.
If he has 16 points or less, he must draw another card.
If the dealer overbids, i.e. if he has more than 21 points, all players still participating in the game win.
Otherwise, only the players with a higher card value win.
The Blackjack Card Values
Aces can have a value of one or eleven points, depending on the context. The value of the ace is only determined when the player does not buy any more cards. The croupier then counts the ace in the way that is most favourable to the player. This means that an ace must always count as eleven points unless the value of 21 would be exceeded in this way. In this case, the ace counts as one point.
Deuces to tens have the points according to the value shown on the card.
All face cards, i.e. Jacks, Queens and Kings, count as ten points each.
Blackjack: Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- The basic blackjack game rules are easily explained.
- The rules of the game are the same in every online casino worldwide.
- With a little strategy and luck, good winnings can be made playing blackjack.
Disadvantages
- It takes some time and practice to see through all the possible card and point combinations and to develop a game strategy.
- If the croupier scores more than 21 points and a player also scores more than 21 points, this is not considered a draw and the player loses the stake.