This week’s theme will be one of the most popular casino games around, Blackjack. Sometimes referred to as 21 (twenty-one), Blackjack is one of the best gambling games you can play to win money. To start my Blackjack Strategy Guide, I’m going to teach you the very basics about how to play Blackjack.
Today is just to get your feet wet before getting into more advanced Blackjack strategies later this week. In this article, you’ll learn the 10 most important blackjack terms, basic blackjack rules, the best place to practice for free, plus my 5 tips for becoming a successful blackjack player. So if you’re ready to start learning the game of Blackjack, let’s go!
10 Blackjack terms you should know
Bankroll - The amount of funds you set aside to gamble.
Bust - If either you or the dealer goes over 21 its a bust.
Card Counting - Refers to the strategy of tracking the high and low cards played to gain an edge in blackjack.
Double Down - To double your initial bet and take exactly one more card.
Hit - To take another card.
Insurance - A side bet that the dealer has a blackjack.
Push - When you and the dealer tie by having the same total. Most of the time your bet is returned when there is a push.
Shoe Game - A blackjack game dealt from a shoe. Multiple deck games are usually shoe games, while single deck games are often dealt by hand.
Surrender - If you decide the odds are not in your favor, surrendering allows you to not play the cards you were dealt while keeping half your bet. Not all casinos offer the surrender option.
Stand - To decline additional cards.
Basic Blackjack rules
The Objective
The objective of Blackjack is to beat the dealer. You win by either having higher cards than the dealer without going over 21, or by standing on less than 21 when the dealer busts.
Card Values
In Blackjack, cards 2 through 10 are all equal to their number value. Face cards (Jacks, Queens, & Kings) are all count as ten (10). Aces can count as a one (1) or eleven (11). A hand with an ace in it is referred to as a soft hand, since the value can change. Here’s an example to illustrate.
Suppose you are dealt,
This can be either five or fifteen. If the dealer is showing a face card like ,
you’ll want to take a hit. You get another card and end up with,
Now you have 20! Sweet! Even though it could be a 10, you’re happy to stand on 20. The dealer shows,
and you win! (This game is easy, right?)
Blackjack table layout
Casinos deal Blackjack on a special table shaped like a semi-circle. Each player gets his or her own chair and section to play. You can buy chips from the dealer either by putting the cash on the table and requesting a certain amount, or by bringing chips from another table game. If you want to be dealt a hand, you place a bet inside the small betting circle in front of you.
Learn & play blackjack free online
Don’t feel like planning a trip to the casino? Don’t want to spend money to learn blackjack?
Good news, you don’t have to leave you home or have a monster bankroll to start learning blackjack right now!
You can practice at Bodog Casino without downloading any software.
Before you get started with Bodog’s no download blackjack, check out my five beginner tips.
5 Beginner Blackjack tips to help you succeed
1. Leave the lucky rabbit’s foot or miniature frog at home
If you ever want to make money gambling, you have to forget about all superstition. I know its fun to think that my miniature frog will somehow align the stars to give me gambling prosperity, but it won’t. (I really don’t have a miniature frog, no really I don’t). Gambling is a numbers game. Learn the math - forget the rabbit’s foot.
2. Learn & play basic blackjack strategy (without a chart)
Forget your hunches - learn & play perfect Blackjack basic strategy and you’ll be a step above most casual players. At first, it’ll be necessary to use a blackjack strategy chart while playing. You should make it a point to memorize perfect strategy and be able to do it in your sleep. Card counting and all that other advanced stuff will come later.
3. Insure your home & cars, but not the dealer
You should almost never take insurance. It’s a sucker bet. When & if you rise to the level of Blackjack card counter, you will know the few instances when taking insurance could be profitable. Otherwise, don’t do it!
4. Mange your money wisely
At the risk of sounding preachy, you should never gamble what you can’t afford to lose. That advice is for the most casual gamblers, who may put aside a few bucks a month to gamble. For those of you who plan to make some real money at Blackjack, you need to treat your Blackjack bankroll as gold. In any gambling venture, your bankroll is your lifeline. You should learn all you can about bankroll management if you plan to do this long term.
5. Build your starter bankroll online
Ah, isn’t the internet great? While most land-based casinos have $5-$10 minimum bet tables, you can play online blackjack for as little as $1. At land-based casinos, you may get a free buffet and a shirt for playing. Online you can get thousands of dollars in free sign-up bonuses. I hope you’ll always look to Bonushacker for online casinos with the best blackjack bonuses.
If you have any questions or comments about learning Blackjack, please feel free to post them.
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July 1st, 2008 at 10:25 pm
[...] in my article on learning blackjack, I introduced the most basic concepts, terms, and tips for new blackjack players. In this, the [...]
July 4th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
[...] you’ve learned blackjack and basic blackjack strategy, you may want to start taking your play more seriously. So this [...]
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