Blackjack

Blackjack is the most widely-played casino game in the world, and comes with a host of terminology that can have you feeling like a card pro in minutes.

A game which has been around since at least the 17th century, it is easy to learn and you can quickly become a confident player.

How to Play

The aim of the game is to get your cards to add up to a higher total than the dealer, without going over 21.

You place your bet in the box in front of you, and then are dealt two cards, face up so everyone can see, while the dealer gives themselves one card, also face up – in calculating your total, remember, cards from 2-10 are worth their face value, while an Ace can be worth either one or 11, and all picture cards (Jack, Queen and King) are worth 10.

You then decide whether to hit (take another card), stick (stay with your current cards’ total) or double (double your initial bet). Be careful not to get carried away though, as if you go ‘bust’ (reaching a total of over 21), then you lose that hand.

The dealer then plays their hand according to predetermined rules, which can work in your favour.

How to Win

The dealer does not play by personal intuition or choice, if their cards total less than 17, they must hit, while if they total 17 or more, they must stand.

After the dealer decides either to stand, or goes bust, those hands which beat the dealers win. The payoff is usually 1:1, meaning that you win the same amount as you bet.

Blackjack

If you are dealt an ace and a 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen or King), this is known as Blackjack, is the best possible hand and is an automatic winner unless the dealer also has blackjack, in which case the hand is a tie. If the dealer’s upturned card is an Ace, you can often make a side bet, known as insurance, against the dealer getting Blackjack This insurance bet pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has a blackjack, and prevents you losing all your money.