Blackjack

Blackjack, in one form or another, has been around since the 1600s. Its early origins are traced back to France where the game grew in popularity, eventually becoming the game that we know today.

The rules of blackjack are quite easy and like most casino games there is an element of luck involved. However, you need to know the basics before you can even start to play. This will also make your blackjack experience more enjoyable.

In blackjack, you will play against the dealer and not against the other players at the table like you do in poker. The aim of blackjack, in its most basic form, is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over this number. If you get closer to 21 than the dealer then you win. It is quite simple.

Each player at the table receives two cards. Depending on what these cards add up to, you can choose to either stay as you are (stand) or take another card (hit). You can hit as many times as you like, getting closer to 21 as you do so.

The card values work as follows:

All number cards are worth their face number. Picture cards are worth ten. Aces are worth either 1 or 11. The amount the ace is worth depends entirely on you, and this can change according to which cards you hit. If, for example, you are sitting with a 3 and a 4 (total = 7) and you hit and Ace then a hand worth 18 (3 + 4 + 11) is much closer to 21 than if you keep the Ace's value at 1 (total = 8).

Once you have the basics down, you can start getting into the actual rules of the game. These rules may seem quite daunting at first, but with a bit of patience and time you should be able to master the game of blackjack quite easily. There is no substitute for experience, so the more you play the better you will get. As you improve, you will see how strategy will form a very important part of your game.

There are several forms of blackjack with the rules differing very slightly across these games. However, the basics of the game remain true across all these variations, so you will be able to adapt your game to any of these without any hassle