We invite you to get acquainted with one of the most popular cards gambling games. We will talk about Blackjack, aka Blackjack and Black Jack. It’s played in all land-based and bitcoin casinos around the world.
The top positions of blackjack are explained by the fact that the game has simple rules and strategies, a fairly high speed compared to other card games, and clear card counting for everyone.
Although it should be noted that in the U.S. the game took a long and difficult time, so that American casinos introduced more and more new incentives for players and were looking for different game options to raise interest in Blackjack. The most coveted combination at that time was considered a pair of Jack of spades and Ace of spades – for her the biggest bonus was given.
History of the game
There are two main versions of the origin of this game. Some believe it all began in the 15th century in Italy. One source found a mention of the game Trentuno – “Thirty-One,” whose rules are identical to modern blackjack, the only difference is the number of points a perfect combination in Trentuno – it’s 31, not 21, as in today’s blackjack.
The second version takes us to France, where Vingt et Un, which literally translates as 20 and 1, appeared in gambling houses in the 17th century. But here the rules are different from the modern game. We draw the simple conclusion that blackjack has European roots and do not argue about its homeland.
Getting to Know the Game of Blackjack
Once again, we would like to add that Blackjack is a fairly simple game. It’s played with a large deck of 52 cards of four suits. The cards are counted by face value up to the Jack and ten points from Jack to King. The ace is scored in two variations, either 11 or one point.
Today there are several variations of games based on the classic: American blackjack – American blackjack; Blackjack in the open – Dealer Disclosure or Face Up 21; Blackjack Switch; Double Exposure – Double Exposure, Spanish 21 – Spanish Blackjack; One Deck SD – Blackjack SD; Super Fun 21 – Super Fun 21; Six Deck Blackjack – a game with a large deck of 312 cards in a shuffle. And two basic options:
- Basic Blackjack – this is a game in which one of the dealer’s (croupier’s) cards is open and one is hidden – the Hole card.
- European Blackjack – In this version, your dealer will take the second card only when the set is made by all players at the table. Another difference – in the European version, when the winning combination of Blackjack in the hands of the dealer, the other participants of the game get back all of their additional bets, except for insurance – the dealer.
The most popular among the games of Blackjack is a game with “shoe”. This is a special device, which is placed several, usually six or eight decks, from which the dealer and deals cards.
The aim of the game – in simple words
Blackjack, like in principle many other entertainments in bitcoin gambling houses, is a game against the casino, which is represented at your table by a croupier. The goal of each player is to accumulate a card combination larger than the dealer’s total, but not exceeding 21 points. You only play against the dealer.
Played with a deck of 52 cards or several decks at once, as we have said, cards up to the jack are valued at their face value, jacks, queens and kings are “worth” ten points, and aces are worth one or eleven points.
The First Game of Blackjack
Consider the situation – you’re in the casino for the first time and want to play Blackjack. We start by choosing a table. Keep in mind that we need not only a favorable environment at the table, but also a polite croupier.
Be sure to pay attention to the sign with the specified minimum and maximum – these are the minimum and maximum bets allowed. They may be different at different tables.
Do not touch the dealer in any way. Making bets, exchanging chips or expressing gratitude in the form of tips – everything is done without contact. Video cameras and internal casino security personnel are always watching the dealer and the players.
After choosing a suitable table, with free space or seats, we sit down and begin the game. We decide how much to bet, and put chips on the box. Keep in mind, when the first card is dealt, it is not allowed to touch or change your bet.
The dealer will give you two cards face down, himself one open and one face up. The goal of the game, as we said earlier, is to score more points than the dealer, but no more than twenty-one! In Blackjack, each hand is played separately; that is, the “duel” takes place between the dealer and one player. The following situations can occur during a hand – a soft hand, a hard hand, a good hand, and a bad hand:
- Soft Hand – a player has an ace in a set of cards, which may be worth one or 11 points.
- A Hard Hand is a set with no aces or a hard ace, which is only one.
- Lucky Hand or Pat Hand – A situation where the cards total between 17 and 21 points.
- An Unlucky Hand or Stiff Hand is a set of cards with a total of 12 to 16 points.
If you or your dealer has more than 21 points, this is an automatic loss – over cards are called Busts. If the combination is Blackjack – it is an automatic win. If Blackjack came out both you and the dealer, the game is played in a draw.
The Blackjack combination
The Blackjack combination is 100% winning. If your first two cards are an Ace (1 or 11 points) and a Ten (10 points at face value), you are holding Blackjack. The winnings for it come at once and with a bonus: in the ratio of three to two, that is, you get one and a half times more than you bet.
In a situation where the combination of Blackjack got to the player and the dealer, will be declared a draw – Push – and the player will return its initial bet.
If the combination of Black Jack hit the dealer, the player who is in possession of any other set of cards loses, and the dealer automatically wins.
The meaning of basic Blackjack terms
Let’s see what basic terms and words we may encounter during the game, and find out exactly what they mean.
- Croupier or dealer is an employee of the casino, a person with whom you and each player at the table play. The dealer deals the cards and gives and takes away the chips.
- A player is you and any person playing at the blackjack table (any other casino game).
- Shoe – a special device in the form of a box for card games of chance, which is placed one or more decks. Cards are dealt from the shoe during the game.
- Double or Double Down – as doubling the original bet, but the player receives only one card.
- Hand – the first two cards available to the dealer or the player. A weak hand means a bad set of cards with a low chance of winning, a strong hand means good cards with a chance of winning for the player.
- Split – splitting, dividing, and splitting. It is the division of one pair of cards of identical value into two hands – to two players.
- Tracking – The process of observing cards during the game in order to use the data obtained in the game cycle.
- Cut – the process of dividing immediately after shuffling the deck in order to complicate the calculation of playing cards. It is performed before the first deal.
- Hit or Draw – both terms mean “more” which is the appeal to the dealer to give the player an additional card.
- Shuffle – is shuffling the cards in random order before the game starts.
- Bust – is a situation where the player or dealer has more than 21 points, which means she immediately loses.
One of the most common terms in the casino and in Blackjack, directly – is the chip – the internal currency of the casino. Flat plastic round, octagonal or square shape. Each chip shows its face value. They make bets, get a win if you win. At the cash desk chips are exchanged for cash.
The meaning of gestures used in blackjack
The truly international language of Blackjack is the specific language of gestures. At any table, you will not only be expected to say words, but also to act in the literal sense of the word. Players and dealer will be watching your hand movements.
Below we will go into a little more detail on how to show what you want, or understand the intentions of other players, by certain gestures during the game. This way you can double your bet, ask for another card or split.
The Sufficient or Stand gesture indicates the player’s refusal of an additional card. If you have enough in your hand, place your cards so that their corner is under the betting chips. Do not touch your cards until the end of the hand.
Gesture More – aka Hit or Draw – use it if you need another card. Let the dealer know what you’re missing, so to speak – move your finger pads across the cloth beside you or behind the bet, as if you were scratching the table toward you. Hold your cards in your free hand.
Gesture Double or Double Down. Indicates the player’s desire to double the original bet. Put a smaller or equal “amount” near the original bet. We lay our cards face up. Your hand is folded into a fist, with your index finger extended straight out (you are showing them that you need one card). You can look at the card handed out to you by the dealer, or you can wait for the final deal. The rules of etiquette state that the additional card you receive and see must remain face up.
Gesture Split or Split – division. We put an equal “amount” next to the original bet and open our cards – face up. Show the dealer two upturned fingers: index and middle, as a symbol of victory – victory, he will divide the cards.
If you’re holding a Blackjack or Bust combination, you should turn over and reveal your cards: the dealer should see them. If 21-point combination, but not blackjack, do not open the cards, put their corner under the bet and wait for the denouement.