Blackjack is quite possibly the easiest casino table-based game to play. You can play in any casino or online if you prefer. You can pick up the basics in a matter of minutes and there are no complicated rules to memorise. Basically you are trying to make a hand with the cards that are on the table whether that hand is a winner or a loser.
Knowing how to play blackjack is not a basic skill and there are however a few basic strategies you can follow to help you improve your chances of winning. A short hand is a hand of two or three cards which are both lower than the number 21. As you lower the card count the bigger your chances of beating the dealer are.
In Dewacasino the face cards (Jack, Queen and King) all count 10. An ace counts 1 or 11, depending on the value of the remaining cards. If you have a King, Queen or Jack in your hand the value of the Ace can be utilized to round out your hand to 10 or 11.
Blackjack Card Counting
Basically, the idea behind blackjack card counting is to keep track of the ratio of high cards to low cards. If the cards are going to be dealt in sequence as 2, 3, 4, 5, the count is relatively low, particularly if you are not dealt a high card. If you instead have 8, 9 or 10 as part of the hand, the cards are more likely to bust over 20.
All of the face cards have a value of 10 and the Ace can have either a value of 1 or 11, the player has to choose depending on the cards that they are holding. Whilst the game is in progress the player can Yes, No, or raise the bet.
The dealer must hit on a soft 17 (Ace and a six). The player can hit as well as stand on a soft 17. It is at this point that the Blackjack odds are in the player’s favour. Although the dealer has to hit, the player may not bust, or go over 21. Therefore if the Blackjack odds are in the player’s favour, the player may wish to stay on the game and not bust.
If the cards are dealt in the sequence 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King then the Blackjack odds are in favour of the player. Not so with the sequence 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Again the player should stay on the game and not bust. If the cards are dealt in sequence 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King then the Blackjack odds favour the dealer. The sequence 2 of spades, 3 of spades, 4 of spades, 5 of hearts, 6 of clubs and a 7 on the side can be of some value. The Blackjack odds favour the dealer rather than the player.
The various Blackjack odds are explained below:
Blackjack Probability of Winning
The Blackjack odds are the chances that you will win in a single game of blackjack. Each casino has its own table minimum and maximums set for its Blackjack games. These values are normally set in the mid point of packs that are being played. Therefore, it is normal for the Blackjack odds to be a little lower than the pack ratio.
The absolute most favourable Blackjack odds are when the dealer’s up card is lower than 16 and the player’s up card is 16 or higher. There are many variations of Blackjack, including the game Speed Blackjack, which moves the dealer and players together closer to the 21 mark, thus offering better odds.
The Blackjack odds also change with the addition of an Ace or 10 to the cards. When the ace is included, the Blackjack odds are in favour of the player. However, if the ace is excluded from the cards, the Blackjack odds are against the player.
The Blackjack odds also change with the addition of a “late” surrender. In a late surrender, players can surrender the hand, and receive half of their bet back in the form of a bonus.
Blackjack is fun card game that requires little skill. Once the player knows the Blackjack odds, the game is simple to play.