Mastering the Basics of Blackjack: A Player’s Handbook
Blackjack is a game that every Australian player knows. It often appears in films and everyone has wanted to play a game of blackjack at least once. It’s a simple game where you can make a nice extra income, but how do you increase your chances of doing so? Now let’s talk about everything about blackjack and offer the best strategies to win in this gambling entertainment.
What is Blackjack
Blackjack, or 21, is a popular game around the world that every active online casino visitor has tried. The aim of the game is simple: to score more points than the dealer, but not to cross the coveted 21-point line. Blackjack uses a deck of 52 cards. Cards from 2 to 10 are face value, the jack, queen and king are 10 points, and the ace can be 1 or 11 points, depending on the situation.
The game begins with the player placing a bet. The dealer then deals two cards, one to himself face up and one to the player face up. The player can draw more cards to improve his hand, but if he scores more than 21 points, he is “overcalled” and automatically loses. If the player is happy with his hand, he “passes”. At this point, the dealer reveals his card and starts drawing cards until he has 17 or more points.
The winner is the one who has more points in the end. If the player and the dealer have the same number of points, a “tie” is declared.
What Are the Different Types of Blackjack
Although blackjack is a simple game, it has many varieties, so every player will find something interesting to play at online casinos in Australia.
- Classic blackjack. This is the basic and most common form of blackjack. This version of the game usually uses one to eight standard packs of cards. The goal is to score 21 points or get close to this value without exceeding it.
- Atlantic City Blackjack. This is a popular variation in the USA. Up to eight packs of cards are allowed in this version. Players are allowed to surrender after the first two cards and get back half of their bet.
- Spanish Blackjack. This variation of the game uses a standard deck of 48 cards with no tens. Players are also entitled to additional bonuses for certain card combinations. For example, a set of five cards with no tens brings a 3:2 win.
- Pontoon. This version of blackjack is popular in Australia, the UK and other countries. The peculiarity of the game is a special combination that you can get – pontoon. Pontoon is considered to fall out immediately after dealing an ace and any card that brings 10 points. In this case, the player will win 1.5 times his bet. It is also possible to win in Pontoon by drawing 5 cards and not exceeding 21 points. In Pontoon, only identical cards can be split, not any two cards as in blackjack.
Different casino sites offer other blackjack variants, and so players can find the most interesting options for themselves.
Live Blackjack
It is worth highlighting the live version of blackjack, which will make you feel like you are in a real casino. Live blackjack is played with real dealers, and you can participate in the game via live broadcast. These broadcasts are conducted from a studio designed to look like a casino. The dealer will live lay out the cards in front of you and other players, depending on the game format you choose. In a live casino, you can have a nice chat with the dealer and get the best experience possible. However, note that you need to make bigger bets here as well.
What Strategies are Useful in Blackjack
And in order to increase the probability of your winnings, it is worth paying attention to the strategies that you can use in this game.
Basic Strategy
Basic strategy includes a set of standard rules that you should follow when playing blackjack. When playing, pay attention not only to your hand, but also to the dealer’s card. For example, if the dealer has a 2-6 card, the player is most often favourable to take another card. There is a special table that you can use to easily find out under what circumstances and what actions are best to take. You can print it out or open it on an accessible electronic device to check it during the game.
If a player holds a pair of cards of the same denomination, they can split them into two separate hands. This can increase the chances of winning. You can also double your bet after getting the first two cards, as long as you only take one extra card.
If the combination in your hand scores 17 points, it’s best not to take one more card, as you’re likely to go over the 21 threshold. And here’s when it’s worth reaching for a card, so if you have a soft total – that is, you’ve taken an ace, which could be a one or an 11.
Basic strategy doesn’t guarantee a win in every situation, but it does help reduce the dealer’s advantage and make the game more favourable for the player.
Card Counting
By counting cards, you can keep track of the high and low cards remaining in the deck. One popular method of card counting is the Hi-Lo system. In this system, each card is assigned a certain value: +1 for cards rated 2-6, 0 for 7-9, and -1 for tens and aces. The player counts while the cards are dealt, adding and subtracting values depending on the cards revealed.
This method requires good skills from the player. However, it is worth knowing that in most casinos this method is prohibited and for this you can get banned.
Doubling the Bet
Under certain circumstances, a player can get an additional advantage if he doubles his bet. This step is worth resorting to if you have a high probability of scoring 21 points or more.
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Manage Your Bankroll and Don’t Get Emotional
This strategy is true for any gambling game, including blackjack. You need to allocate a certain amount of money that you will spend on this game of chance. This can be done monthly, weekly or with any other schedule as you like. The main thing is that it should be an amount whose loss will not harm your financial condition.
When making one bet, take 1-5% of your bankroll for it. Then you can see if your profit increases. If your bankroll grows, then you can start making bigger bets. Most importantly, don’t get emotional while playing. When players lose, they often have the urge to win back. However, this usually leads to big losses, as the player is no longer in control of his actions and is more likely to act recklessly. The same can happen when you win, so try to behave consciously during the game.
As you can see, blackjack is a simple game, very popular in Australia, which you can easily make money at if you play it right. Be sure to manage your bankroll, watch your emotions. Use useful strategies and enjoy your favourite game to pick up a nice win!
