Blackjack Tips
Blackjack or ‘21’ is one of the most popular games in a casino – for seasoned players as well as newbies. If you’re looking for suspense, excitement and great odds, Blackjack is the card game for you.
The objective of the game is incredibly simple: To beat the dealer, by having a hand of higher value but without going over 21.
Your best bet?
This is also incredibly simple – something called ‘Basic Strategy’, learn it, practice in guest mode until you are comfortable, and stick with it.
Let’s start right at the beginning. You will first need to understand the card values.
- Cards numbered between 2 and 10 have their face value: 2 is worth 2, 7 is worth 7, 10 is worth 10.
- Face cards – Jacks (J) Queens (Q) and Kings (K) all have a value of 10.
- Aces can be either counted as 1 or 11
- Don’t worry about suites – there are no values.
This brings us to hand values:
You determine your hand value simply by adding your card values:
- A 2, 7 and 9 gives you a hand of 18.
- A Jack, 3 and a 5 will give you a hand of 18
- An Ace and a 9 will give you a hand of 20
- Blackjack is a total of 21, in your first two cards. This can only be an ace and a card with a value of 10. Remember – Blackjack is only Blackjack if your first two cards total 21, if you have 3 cards which total 21, it may beat the dealer’s hand, but it won’t pay 3:2 as blackjack would.
- In the unfortunate event of the dealer having Blackjack, the dealer will beat the players, even those with hands which total 21, unless a player also has a blackjack, in this case the player will ties with the dealer.
This brings us to stiff hands (no – we’re not talking arthritis), pat hands, soft hands and hard hands.
Stiff Hands
A stiff hand is a hand with a total value of between 12 and 16. Why? Well, there is a chance that you will ‘Bust’ (your hand total will be 22 or more) if you draw one more card.
Pat Hands
These are hands with a value of between 17 and 21. Players in the know simply would not draw additional cards if they had a hand like this. Not ever. Never. Under no circumstances. Have I stressed this clearly enough? …”Well, what about when…” I hear you begin. NO. Not even then.
Soft Hands
A soft hand contains an Ace, which can have either 1 or 11 attributed to it, without busting the hand.
Examples of soft hands:
- Any 2 card hand containing an Ace is a Soft hand. (Technically speaking, Blackjack is a soft hand, but if you draw a blackjack, the casino will immediately pay you 3:2).
- An Ace and a 4 will give you a soft hand of 15. If you draw another Ace after that your hand would either be worth 6 or 16. (Ace, Ace, 4)
Hard Hands
A hand with an Ace which can only be counted as ‘1’, or a hand without an Ace is known as a hard hand.
- A hand of 9 and 6 is a Hard 15, if you drew another card and it was an Ace – you’d now have a Hard 16 (the Ace can only be counted as 1 – 11 would bust your hand).
- You’re dealt and Ace and a 6. You have a Soft 17. If you drew another card – and Ace, you would now have a Hard 18.
This brings us to a Push and a Bust.
Push
A Push is a tie. The dealer and the player have hands of equal value. For example, the dealer has a 5,3 and 10 – a hand of 18. The player has a 10 and an 8, a hand of 18. No money is exchanged, it’s a push.
Bust
A hand is busted when it’s value exceeds 21. The hand loses.
If the dealer busts, the player will automatically win.
Your options.
Player’s have the option of hitting, standing, doubling down, splitting pairs, or taking insurance.
Hitting and standing.
You decide whether you’d like more cards or not. If you stand, you will stay with your current total. If you hit, you will be dealt another card.
Doubling Down
You can increase your bet if you feel you’re in an advantageous situation, by pressing double down, your original bet will be doubled, and you will be dealt one final card.
Splitting pairs
When your first two cards dealt are a pair (2,2 – 3,3 – 4,4 etc…) you have the opportunity to split these and play two independent hands. Press ‘Split’ and the two cards will be separated – the equivalent of your first bet, will now be placed alongside your second card.
You will be dealt another card towards your first hand, and will play this hand through as normal, and then your second hand.
When sticking to basic strategy:
- ALWAYS split a pair of aces or a pair of 8s.
- NEVER split a pair of 10s, 4s or 5s.
- SPLIT all other pairs if the dealer’s upcard is 6 or less.
Insurance
If, after you’ve been dealt your first two cards, the dealer’s upcard is an ace, you can take insurance against the dealers potential blackjack. This side bet is placed at half the value of your original bet, and pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack.
Basic Strategy: NEVER take insurance. No, not ever.
Know that you know more about how the game works; we can get to the very basics of basic strategy.
Hard hands:
- You have 9 or lower – You ALWAYS hit.
- If you have 10 or 11, double down if your total is greater than the dealer’s upcard, if not simply hit.
- You have between 12 and 16, hit if the dealer’s upcard is 7 or greater, but stand otherwise.
- STAND if you have 17 or higher.
Soft Hands
- If you have between 13 and 18, double down when the dealer has an upcard of 5 or 6.
- You have 17 or lower – hit
- Your hand is 18. Hit if the dealers upcard is 6 or less, and stand when the dealer’s upcard is 7 or greater.
- If your hand is 19 or higher – STAND.
We’ve been through this, but remember when it comes to splitting pairs:
- ALWAYS split a pair of aces or a pair of 8s.
- NEVER split a pair of 10s, 4s or 5s.
- SPLIT all other pairs if the dealer’s upcard is 6 or less
Back to Online Casino Blackjack Game Listings
