Blackjack is one of the few casino table games that requires a reasonable level of skill to play effectively. The game is simple enough for a newcomer to pick up and enjoy, but it can also be complex enough to appeal to the most discerning of casino aficionados. The game’s long-term house edge is minimized if the player follows basic strategy. The savvy player who is willing to invest some time in learning the game can beat the house at its own game.
The objective of the game is to get a total card value closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over, by drawing cards until you have at least 17 or more. Aces count as 1 or 11, face cards as 10, and other cards at their index value. A hand of two aces and a 10 is called a blackjack and pays 3 to 2. If the dealer has a blackjack, it’s a push (neither side wins). Ties are lost.
In a standard casino blackjack game, each player makes a bet before the dealer deals the cards. Then the players have a choice to hit, stand, split, or double down depending on their cards and the dealer’s upcard. The game continues until the players either bust or the dealer has a blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack, all bets are lost; if the player has a higher total than the dealer, it is a win and the bets are paid out according to predetermined rules.
A number of rules and variations in blackjack exist to make the game more interesting for players. For example, some casinos offer “insurance,” which is a bet that the dealer has a blackjack in his hole. This bet costs half the original wager and pays 2-1 if the dealer has a blackjack. This feature has reduced the advantage of the house over players, but has not yet eroded it to the point that other table games such as baccarat and craps have gained in popularity.
Many professional players use a technique known as counting cards to help them gain an edge over the dealer. Unlike roulette and craps, where the odds are mathematically fixed for every spin of the wheel or roll of the dice, the odds of blackjack change with the concentration of high-value cards in the deck. Counters keep track of these fluctuations and increase their bets when the deck is rich in aces and 10s, and decrease them when it is poor.
Although it sounds like a complicated strategy, the truth is that counting cards is not difficult and is not unique to blackjack. In fact, almost any game that involves a deck of cards can be counted and improved with the right system. Moreover, a player’s knowledge of the game’s probability is invaluable in making decisions at the table. This understanding is what differentiates a master from a novice and allows them to maximize the odds of winning.