How to Play Blackjack 2021 like a Pro
By Anthony
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Blackjack or 21 is a card game that has been around for more than 300 years and it became the most popular game in the world. Portrayed in classical Hollywood productions as Rain Man or Casino, Blackjack is the shining star of casino games. But do you know how to play Blackjack?
The huge popularity of this game is based on the simplicity of it and the strong excitement players get with every turned card. Learning how to play Blackjack 2023 doesn’t take a lot of work and you’re soon left with all the fun. Since Blackjack is a game of chance, players often find ways to help with their winning strike, by adopting various strategies and rules.
Throughout this guide, we will be discussing the Blackjack rules 2023, winning strategies and all the other details meant to bring you closer to the big prize. Take a look at the many variations of this French card game and learn how to score a perfect Blackjack hand.
History of Blackjack
The origins of Blackjack are still unclear but researches linked French casinos in the 1700 era to the existence of the “Vingt-et-Un” – french for Twenty-One. Some believe that Blackjack derived from the Chemin de Fer, a card game loved by the French Nobility.
Other sources argue the birth of Blackjack was part of the Roman Empire culture, one that adored gambling.
Ultimately, the French colonists introduced the exciting game of Vingt-et-Un to the American gamblers. The official legalization of gambling played a great role in the growing reputation of the game we know today as Blackjack.
What is Blackjack?
If wondering how to play Blackjack and win, players must understand that luck is a big part of the game. Just as the thrill of playing Blackjack and waiting for that specific card to be turned. But we need to start by understanding what Blackjack is.
Since Blackjack is extremely popular, different casinos follow different Blackjack rules 2023. The basic form of it involves a number of players, usually seated, that wager against the house. In this case, the house is represented by a dealer, usually standing, referred to as the permanent bank. The dealer is the one managing the whole game, from dealing and shuffling the cards to settling the bets. Casinos use several standard 52-card packs and shuffle them together and the usual set-up includes a six-deck game of Blackjack.
How to Play Blackjack?
Learning how to play Blackjack starts with understanding the purpose of the game and ways to defeat the dealer. The main goal of the player is to get as close as possible to 21, without going over. Scoring is based on the following card values:
- Face cards stand for 10 points
- The players decides if the Ace accounts for 1 or 11
- All the other cards show their regular value.
Another important aspect to know before the game starts is how to bet in Blackjack. Each player has a designated area for bets in front of him, for placing a bet, in chips. Depending on the casino, a minimum bet value can start at $2 and reach up to $500.
Right after the bets are placed, the dealer deals one card, face up to every player and to himself. Then, another card is dealt to every participant, face up while the dealer takes his second card, face down. The player doesn’t have much involvement in the game – not being allowed to touch the cards – except for the decision making.
Each player must decide to stand (not ask for another card) or hit (ask for another one to get closer to 21). This allows the player to stand on the two initial cards or ask for additional ones, one at a time. Stopping on 21 (or close) brings the player to the end of the game. The other outcome is busting, which means going over 21, in which case the player loses and the bets are collected by the dealer.
Blackjack Rules 2023
Focusing on how to play Blackjack brings out the goal to hitting the value of 21. Truth to be told, that’s not necessarily the only winning outcome. Keep an eye on the two main purposes in order to win against the dealer:
- Get to a total of points that’s bigger than the dealer’s total
- Don’t go over 21 when the dealer does.
With this in mind, please take a look at the basic Blackjack rules:
- The game starts with the players placing their bets
- Dealer deals two cards (face up) to each player and himself (one face up, one face down)
- Calculate the total sum of your cards by adding their value together
- Players decide on one of the possible moves: stand, hit, surrender, split or double down
- The dealer is the last one to act and must hit on 16 (or less) and stand on 17 (to 21)
- The player wins when the total is higher than the dealer’s, if they have the perfect 21 or if the dealer busts (over 21)
- The player loses with a bust or a hand total smaller than the dealer’s total
- In case of a tie (or a push), the player keeps his bet.
Blackjack Bets
As stated before, the starting point of a Blackjack round is announced but the initial bet the player wagers. What this actually means is betting on a blackjack – a total of 21 or the closest version to it. To learn how to bet in Blackjack like a pro, try out the following standard bets.
Perfect Pairs
This type of bet uses only the player’s cards and you win if you’re dealt two of a kind. Based on the combination, you can have:
- Mixed pair – same card value but different suit or colour, with a 5:1 payout
- Coloured pair – same value, same colour, pays at a rate of 12:1
- Perfect pair – two of the same card, with a 25:1 payout
Insurance Bet
This bet is meant to reduce the house edge and is the most common Blackjack bet. If the dealer has an Ace face up, this bet protects you from a blackjack. Half of your original stake is wagered and the bet pays at 2:1 if the dealer hits a blackjack.
21+3
The 21+3 betting system involves the two cards of the player and the face up card of the dealer. The payout depends on some various combinations:
- Flush – all cards suited, with a payout of 5:1
- Straight – consecutive cards, pays 10:1
- Three of a kind – but not the same suit, bringing a payout of 30:1
- Straight flush – same suit consecutive cards, pays 40:1
- Suited triple – three of the same card, pays 100:1
Additional Side Bets
Since more and more players master how to play Blackjack 2023 like a pro, some casinos developed new exciting side bets:
Royal Match – 25:1 payout for suited King and Queen
Over/Under 13 – make the right guess on the total of the cards, over and under 13
Super Sevens – you’re being rewarded if one or more sevens are being dealt to you
Lucky Ladies – two Queens of hearts allow a 200:1 payout and a 1000:1 with the same two Queens of hearts when the dealer has a blackjack.
Blackjack Odds
If you want to know how to play Blackjack successfully, you must understand how the house edge works in Blackjack. Let’s say you have a tie, in which case you get your wager back. If you bust at 22 and the same happens to your dealer, you lose your wager even before seeing the dealer’s combination. This move is known as “double-bust” and it has the purpose of creating a house edge. What this actually means is the risk of the player for drawing first, which automatically leads to a loss. And this happens regardless of the player’s total outcome.
Nonetheless, when you know how to play Blackjack, you’re also aware of the following benefits you have:
- In case of a blackjack, you get a 3:1 payout (lowering the house edge from 8% to 5,7%), while the dealer only gets 1:1
- Players can double down their wager, option not available for dealers
- With totals of 12-16, the player can stand, while the dealer must hit with a total of 16 or less
- Only players are capable of splitting pairs
- Using wisely the hit and stand Blackjack rules 2023 can lower the house edge to 2.2%
- A correct doubling Blackjack strategy can bring the house edge to 0.6% while pair splitting done right brings it down to 0.2%.
Blackjack Winning Strategies
Before moving on to explaining how to bet in Blackjack, we believe it is important to lay down the soft versus hard hand Blackjack rules:
- A soft hand is a combination of an Ace with another card that’s not a ten-card. It is called soft because the player can decide if the Ace is a 1 or 11, which allows a further draw. For example, a soft 18 is an Ace plus a 7, which totals 8 or 18. At this point, the player has more control over the outcome of the next drawn card.
- A combination of cards containing a ten-card, with or without an ace, is a hard hand. For example, a 10-8 combination is a hard 18. When deciding on how to play Blackjack to win, start by looking closely at your soft vs hard hand.
This soft/hard hand rule can help players make smarter decisions about their wagers and eventually, lower the house edge. Furthermore, professional players developed a Blackjack strategy for mastering how to play Blackjack and win. Take a look at the following steps:
- Splitting pairs – when having two of a kind (same denomination), you can choose to split the pair and treat it as two separate hands. This implies adding another bet on the second hand, equal to the original. So eventually, the player has higher chances of a bigger win.
- Doubling down – when the two dealt cards total 9, 10 or 11, you can choose to double the bet. This will bring you another card, face down, only visible at the end of the round.
- Insurance – make an insurance bet when the dealer’s face up card is an ace. Bet on the second card being a ten-card, a bet that has a 2:1 payout.
How to Win at Blackjack
All the things discussed already can definitely teach you how to play Blackjack 2023. Being a game of chance, players can only follow the Blackjack rules and the already proved efficient Blackjack strategy.
The basic winning plan consists of playing each hand in the best way possible. This revolves around the dealer’s card. In case the face up card is a good one (ace, a ten-card or 7-9), the player keeps on drawing until 17. On the contrary, if the dealer has a bad card (4-6), the player needs to stop as soon as reaching a total of 12 or more.
The point of this Blackjack strategy is showing the importance of carefully avoiding a potential bust. Hopefully, this way the dealer has bigger chances to bust before the player does. Furthermore, if the dealer’s card is a decent one (2 or 3), the player is supposed to stop at 13 or higher.
If wondering how to play Blackjack to win, remember these rules and experience a little with the desired side bets.
How to Withdraw your Winnings
Now that you know how to play Blackjack, 2023 you can either go to a casino or simply choose Blackjack online 2023. The online versions of Blackjack are amazing, extremely fun and offer limitless gambling sessions. Sooner than later, you’ll be wondering how to withdraw your Blackjack winnings. To do so, follow several simple steps and go celebrate your luck:
Step 1
Log into your member account
Step 2
Access the Cashier section
Step 3
Select the preferred payment method (ACH, PayPal, Neteller, Check, etc)
Choose the amount you want to withdraw and accept the transaction.
What are Blackjack Tournaments?
Blackjack tournaments are super popular due to the high profile of competitiveness. What changes is the prospect of the game. This time, you are competing against the other players and not the dealer. All players enter the game with the same bankroll and play a specific number of hands. The player finishing the game with the highest number of chips becomes the winner and can advance and play against winners from other tables.
Sounds like an action-packed gambling session, isn’t it? If this got your attention and you want to know how to play Blackjack in a tournament, take a look at the types of tournaments existing:
- Mini-Tournaments
- Major Tournaments
- Sit ‘N’ Go
- Traditional Elimination Tournaments
- Non-Elimination or Accumulation Tournaments
- Tournaments with Elimination
- Live-Money Tournaments
Variations of Blackjack
Blackjack developed massively over time, which led to many different and impressive variations. Learn how to play Blackjack in each variation and let us know which one is your favourite.
European Blackjack
As the name says, this is played in European casinos and can be found outside of Europe, at online casinos. What’s different is the dealer not being able to get a hole card before the player acts. This changes some extra details, when it comes to splitting 8s and doubling down 11 against 10.
American Blackjack
Also known as Classical Blackjack, the American version is based on the exact rules described throughout this Blackjack online guide. Learn how to play Blackjack 2023, the American way and test your skills at the casino or playing Blackjack online.
Blackjack Switch
Blackjack Switch brings quite a tingle to the table, as the player has the possibility to play 2 separate hands. This creates a spectacular game play, as the player can switch or swap the cards dealt second, between the two hands. Look for this variation online, and try your luck on how to play Blackjack Switch.
Blackjack Perfect Pairs
This variation of Blackjack refers to the famous Perfect Pairs side bet. Only now, the Perfect Pairs bet is available before the cards are even dealt. All you need to do is hope for the first two cards having the same value and have a pair, so you win the bet.
Pontoon
A Pontoon is a blackjack, consisting of an ace and a face. Just as well, the player is expected to act before the dealer is allowed to get an up card. The payout is 2:1 and you can double down on 2, 3 or 4 cards. At the same time, when it comes to aces, you can re-split, double down or hit.
Multi-Hand Blackjack
There are no major differences in terms of basic rules between this version and the classic one. But nonetheless, the Multi-Hand Blackjack gives players the chance to play with up to 5 hands simultaneously. Evidently, this version is very popular online and some providers restricted the number of hands to three. If you’re looking for the excitement, try out Multi-Hand Blackjack and decide on the number of hands in the beginning.
Online Blackjack Games 2023
The online casinos in India revolutionized the whole industry of gambling and brought Blackjack closer to its fans. And there’s no wonder most players choose to play Blackjack online 2023, they have tons of benefits. From wonderful promotional offers to access to the coolest Blackjack variations. Plus, they can improve their game with the help of various Blackjack online guides and techniques. Just as well, the online casinos allow players to fully understand how to play Blackjack before risking bigger wagers offline.
Some of the most appreciated versions of online Blackjack are:
- Classic Blackjack
- Vegas Strip Blackjack
- Blackjack Surrender
- Progressive Blackjack
- Double Exposure Blackjack
- Spanish Blackjack
- Blackjack with Live Dealers
Live Dealer Blackjack
The live dealer Blackjack games 2023 are definitely an experience that every gambler should have. Live casino games online are the place to be for thrill seekers, and Blackjack is no exception. The game takes place in a live setting, the player can interact with the dealer and all in all, you can have a real-life gambling session, from home. If you’re thinking how to play Blackjack Live Dealer and don’t know which version to choose, these are our favourites :
- Party Live Dealer Blackjack
- Diamond VIP Blackjack Live 2023
- Live VIP Blackjack
- Extreme Live Gaming Blackjack
Playing Offline vs Online Blackjack
Each player has a choice on how to play Blackjack 2023 – offline at a brick and mortar casino or online. The decision depends only on the preferences of the player, in terms of atmosphere, game pace, Blackjack variations and others. As expected, playing Blackjack offline brings the whole socializing factor next to the glamour of the casino experience.
Nonetheless, playing Blackjack online stands out through a series of advantages:
- Relaxed pace of gambling, without needing to worry if you’re a beginner.
- No distractions – play from anywhere you want, without the need to interact with anybody, if not wanting to.
- Perfect set-up for improving your Blackjack strategy
- Tons of promotional offers and bonuses that can guarantee a major help along the way
- Limitless Blackjack gambling sessions – no need to worry about the working hours or table availability.
Conclusion
This Blackjack online guide introduces you to the world of Blackjack, especially if you’re a beginner. But if you consider yourself a gambling enthusiast, learning how to play Blackjack is almost mandatory. And the reasons are completely relatable. Blackjack is one of the easiest and definitely most fun card games out there, with great odds on your side. This promises big winnings and most certainly, a lot of fun. Regardless of your choice, playing Blackjack online or Live Blackjack 2023 (for the astonishing real-life thrill) or offline, it guarantees a successful gambling session. Go over the Blackjack rules, improve your Blackjack strategy and even join a tournament, for a truly unique experience.
When thinking how to play Blackjack, just keep in mind the next few rules. Played against the dealer, each participant receives two cards. The bets are placed before the round starts and the goal is to get a blackjack – 21 points, or closer to that value as possible.
The best strategy on how to play Blackjack and win is related to playing your hand in the most efficient way. Calculate the best combinations possible and make inspired decisions to force the dealer to bust (go over 21).
Not only that Blackjack online 2023 is super popular, but Live Dealer Blackjack is the perfect way to do it. Combine the authentic casino experience and real life play with the benefit of playing from the comfort of your home.
Just like the rest of casino games, Blackjack is available for mobile use. If you don’t know how to play Blackjack on your phone, all you need to do is download the app of your preferred casino. Blackjack has been adapted by most providers to look, function and provide entertainment on mobile, as it does on desktop or even in the casino.
January 25, 2021
