How To Play Blackjack

How To Play Blackjack – The Supreme Blackjack Cheat Sheet

Blackjack is a worldwide popular card game often enjoy playing in casinos and online casinos. The Blackjack table consists of one dealer, multiple players, and a deck of cards. It can be played in two separate formats – life blackjack and video blackjack. The key difference is that video blackjack uses cards that are created randomly by software. When playing it against real dealers, actual cards are dealt and shuffled manually before they are used in the game.

If you’ve played Blackjack in your life, you’ve probably heard some theories about this popular casino game of luck and skill. There are plenty of theories and assumptions regarding the game, and many players think they are real. In this article, we’d be looking at some of the Blackjack game’s rules, myths, and etiquettes. We’d even throw in some recommendations on where you can play online, let’s dive in.

The Complete Blackjack Rules

Blackjack is most generally played with six decks of French cards (the number of decks that varies between 1 to 8), with each deck consisting of 52 cards – between two to four suits, including two black – spades and clubs and two red – hearts and diamonds. Cards from 2 to 10 have a face value, cards from jack to king are worth 10 points and variable value of 1 or 11 is worth an ace. An ace has the potential to produce so-called “soft” combinations, which means the number can be either 9 or 19, provided an ace and 8. It’s named soft 19. The combination value at the beginning of the hand counts as 19, but if a player draws another card and the total reaches 21, the value is reduced to 1.

Blackjack is played against the dealer, with the player trying to win a hand with a higher value than the dealer, but overall not above 21. If you hit 21, the game will be over irrespective of the number the dealer has achieved. If the dealer reaches the maximum of 21, the player loses, but only if the player does not reach the maximum of 21 himself or herself. The basic blackjack win is a 1:1 ratio. If the player gets a combination of an ace and a card worth 10, the player will usually get a blackjack reward of 3:2 (a $1 bet wins $2.50, including a $1 bet).

Blackjack Cheat Sheet

Referring to the table above, there is also a rule where the dealer will not draw another card until hitting the 17. But, it’s not instant with soft 17. This rule can be implemented differently, such that the dealer can draw another card or stand on soft 17, based on the particular rules used in the game. When you play online, the game rules and guidelines should also be available. Usually, the sentence states, “Dealer stops at soft 17” and “Blackjack rewards 3 to 2.” If you happen to find a form of Blackjack, where Blackjack is awarded at a ratio below 3:2, you will be mindful that the casino edge is far higher when this rule is implemented.

The Proper Blackjack Etiquette

1. Never Hand your Money to the Dealer

Casino overhead surveillance cameras must display all cash purchases. That’s why you’re asked to place your cash on the surface of the blackjack table. The dealer will scatter the money and measure it so that the monitors will see it, then slip the equal in coins. If you’re sitting at a game in progress, wait until the current hand comes to an end before you lay down your money.

2. Use a Simple Strategy

There is a mathematically right way to play any imaginable hand in Blackjack. This technique is easily available in magazines, on the Internet, and on game cards that you can carry with you. Yes, you can use them in the casino. They are safe to be used in a casino. Witness experts play Blackjack, and only seldom can you see them stop to consider a move — it’s an instant response. Memorize the clear strategy, and remove the guesswork. Sometimes, you might be tempted to deviate from it, hit or stand because you have a hunch, but basic strategy teaches mathematically correct play in every situation. 

3. Never Hold your Cards with Two Hands

For blackjack games where the cards are “pitched” to you and played face down this occurs in “single-and two-deck” tournaments, you have to pick up the cards with one hand don’t use both. This law is intended to stop players from playing with or even flipping their cards.

4. Don’t Randomly Teach Fellow Players How To Play

When the guy seated next to you is asking for your opinion on a move, feel free to tell him what you think. However, it’s really bad to tell other people what you think when they don’t inquire. Occasionally you’ll catch yourself competing with others who don’t know what they’re doing or making dumb errors. Resist the temptation to sigh. When it concerns you, either move to another table or reassure yourself that your fellow competitors’ talent level has little effect on whether you gain or lose. When the guy next to you keeps making stupid plays, it might seem like he’s “trying to steal” the cards you need and messing your hands up, but in fact, there’s as good an opportunity that his bad plays will end up helping you out.

5. It’s Okay To Ask The Dealer For Advice

Many dealers will be glad to tell you the mathematically correct game to play if you’re unsure. It’s not the dealer’s task to beat you and deprive you of your earnings. His job is to manage the game in a professional way. Good dealers cheer for the players win because the winners are far more inclined to giving them tips.

6. When Your Cards Are Dealt Facing Up Do Not Touch Them, Signal Your Decisions Don’t Say It

The cards are played face-up in games that use four or more decks of cards. There’s no need for you to pick up or play with the chips, so please leave them be. Again, with surveillance cameras, you will use hand signs to inform the dealer that you want to stand or hit. It’s not enough to claim “stand” or “hit.” They’re going to need to see you making a warning. The dealer can give you the signal you need if you’re new to the blackjack table. Or, just follow the hand while it’s being run. A hit is a quick gesture that looks like “come here.” When you don’t want a hit, just wave your hand, palm down, over your chips. double down or split, put the appropriate amount of chips next to your initial bet, and the dealer can do the rest of it. It’s intuitive. 

7. Don’t Move Cards From The Table & Don’t Remove Chips Once Your Cards Are Being Dealt

Your cards should always be in clear view of the surveillance cameras and dealers. After you’ve made your bet and the dealer continues to deal the cards, you’re not permitted to hold the chips before the game is finished. When you win or tie your hand, you’re free to pick up your chips or change your bet. If the dealer loses, he’s going to pick up the coins. Only note that after the cards are dealt, you can’t move your bet before your game finishes.

8. Arrange Your Chips Correctly

If you make a bet that involves two or more different chip denominations, for example, two $25 chips and one $5 chips, always put the higher denomination chips at the bottom of your own stack and the lower chips at the top. Otherwise, the dealer would have to pause and re-arrange the cards before he continues playing with them. It’s okay if you forget to do this once or twice, but other players will get very mad about it. 

9. Check Before Trying To Bet In The Middle Of A Shoe

Most casinos prohibit you from sitting down and playing while the game is halfway into the shoe; you’re expected to wait until the entire shoe is finished before you enter the action. Look and see if the blackjack table has a sign that states, “No Mid-Shoe Entry.” When it does, and the shoe is in motion, you should go ahead and sit back, but don’t try to wager before the show is over and the dealer begins to reshuffle.

10. Always Cut The Deck Properly

In six-deck games, once the dealer has shuffled the cards, one of the players will be requested to “cut” the stack. Place the cut card at least one half-deck from each end of the stack. In other words, the target near the centre of the deck. When you attempt to cut the deck too near of either hand, the dealer will ask you to cut it again, which would hold the game up. This could be annoying.

Other Etiquettes That Set Aside A Pro From A Novice Player

Don’t play games that use a Continuous Shuffling Machine (CSM)

“CSM” is a system that automatically shuffles discards after each game has been completed. This removes the need to reshuffle and allows the gameplay even faster — about 20% more hands an hour. Because this arithmetic would favour the casino, that means, potentially, you’re going to lose 20 per cent quicker every hour. When you want to have a nice, long session at the bar, avoid games where the hands-played-per-hour are going to be far higher than usual. It involves games with CSMs and quick dealers. Alternatively, look at who’s up for a fairly paced game. The more players sitting at your table, the slower the pace will be.

Don’t play 6:5 games!

Veteran blackjack players hate the change in the sly law that certain casinos recently introduced. Instead of charging standard 3:2 for untied blackjacks as the first two Blackjack card values equal 21, you get paid 6:5. Which says, on a $10 stake, you’d get $12 instead of $15. It might not look come out as a big change, but it is. For average, you’ll get a blackjack only four times an hour, so the decreased payoff would drastically reduce the odds of walking away with a win. The typical 3:2 reward is one of the laws that make the game equal to participants. Don’t play otherwise.

Types of Blackjack Games 

As mentioned earlier there are two significant variants of Blackjack; they are video blackjack and live Blackjack. With the significant difference between them both being manual and automatic shuffling respectively.

European and American Blackjack

Blackjack has a variety of distinct types – American and European. In American Blackjack, the dealer picks two cards, one face up and one face down. If an Ace is the face-up card, the second blackjack card value will be checked by the dealer and shown whether it has a value of 10 and completes a blackjack. When that is not the case, the game must proceed and the face-down card will be revealed to the participant as it is the dealer’s turn to draw another card or stand. In European Blackjack, the dealer plays just one face-up card and draws only after the player has ended his deck.

Blackjack variations

There are a number of other variants in Blackjack. They may differ by rules on the dealer and sometimes on the player as well. In practice, however, the rules are set to favour the casino. The common types involve these:

• Blackjack Switch – The player plays two variations of two cards at the same moment. The player is permitted to switch his second card between his two sides. When the dealer hits 22, the player can get his bet back. This means that he will not advance, which should be the case with normal law, but the game ultimately ends in a tie. Furthermore, the player is charged the blackjack payout only in the 1:1 ratio, not the 3:2 amount, as is the case with the regular Blackjack.
• Vegas Strip – This variant of Blackjack is played with four card sets. The player can break two aces just once, so he or she can double down on any two cards simultaneously. The player often removes protection, whether he or she splits his or her chips. Upon breaking, the player would only increase the bet if the cards that were divided were two aces. Unless the player achieves a limit of Blackjack 21 after breaking, it isn’t called Blackjack. When the player breaks two aces, he or she will obtain just one extra card, hence they won’t be eligible to get another one.
• Double exposure Blackjack – All player cards face up. If the player’s benefit improves, as a result, the other laws act as mitigation for that benefit. Players forfeit their bets while they are tied to the dealer, so Blackjack is charged only in a 1:1 ratio. The player is only permitted to split his cards once.
• Perfect Pairs – The regular game is improved by placing a side bet on the “right match.” The player loses the bet even if his first two cards are a pair i.e two sevens, two tens. The winning number is lowest if the pair is of the same colour and the maximum if the cards are in the same type.

Other Blackjack Variations

There are several blackjack variants where you play two separate games – Blackjack and another game – at the same time. For a blackjack variant dubbed the Triple Sevens, you will earn an accrued jackpot if you receive three sevens of diamonds.

In Caribbean Blackjack, winnings depend on what variations of poker you create with your chips. Those side wins will only be obtained by placing a side bet, which is performed independently from the blackjack bets.

Where to Play Blackjack Online

Egroup88 is a trusted site where you can play Blackjack online.

Interesting Blackjack Myths and Facts

There exist myths surrounding every casino game; there are blackjack players who assume that card counting is unethical or that through progressive betting, they can certainly make a profit. The fact is that these myths are fake. If you ever want to win Blackjack, you have to distinguish the facts from the fiction. Below are four common myths and their facts:

1. Card Counting Is An Illegal Thing To Do

Myth: The popular blackjack tactic called card counting is not illegal, but if you’re found counting cards, you may be banned from a casino.

Fact: Casinos prefer when blackjack players think that card counting is illegal and they don’t like it when their players are very good at playing. However, the method is not illegal, so you can use it, just make sure you don’t get caught. In contrast, card counting is a good practice when you play Blackjack at land-based casinos.

2. There Would Be Wins After Consecutive Loses

Myth: There are blackjack players who feel that they will win after several straight losses and tend to increase their bets.

Fact: Every hand in Blackjack has a 48 per cent chance of winning if you exclude ties. And if you’ve lost five hands, that doesn’t mean that the sixth hand is the winner, mostly because the cards don’t have any memory. Never presume you’re going to win when you’re on a losing streak.

3. The Objective Of The Game Is To Get As Close As Possible To “Blackjack 21”

Myth: The central idea behind the blackjack game is to bring a hand closer to 21, but it’s not the target.

Fact: If you’re struggling to bring a hand closer to 21, you’re going to bust. The game’s aim is to beat the game dealer either by having a higher value or by not busting when the dealer busts.

4. You Need To Be Excellent At Maths

Myth: It’s important to have strong math skills if you want to be good at Blackjack.

Fact: Blackjack rules are easy to learn, so you’re learning the basic blackjack strategy and counting cards. You just need to practice. It’ll take you far if you follow a good basic strategy. You don’t need to be a math nerd to win Blackjack.

FAQ About The Supreme Blackjack Cheat Tips

1. Does Blackjack provide the “best” odds for the player?

Yes! It depends, in fact, on the rules of the game and the skill of the player. A single deck game with the laws of the Las Vegas Strip and a double after separating allowed effectively gives the team a +0.1 per cent edge.

2. By knowing these cheat tips am I a better player?

Knowing all of these pro tips gives you an edge definitely, you, however, need to practice to become a pro player.

3. Is my long term expectation affected by other players?

No, they won’t affect you; they’ll “help” you as much they might “hurt” your game.

4. Is card counting illegal?

No, It’s not, it’s just as illegal as you using your brain to calculate how much money you have left in your wallet.