Blackjack for beginners

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games and, when played correctly, can have a home edge that is less than 1%.

This game is quite unique in the sense that unlike other popular games like roulette and craps, the decisions that blackjack players make have a huge impact at the edge of the house. In the case of roulette, the edge of the house is typically 5,26%, and each spin of the wheel, which contains 38 numbers in total, is an individual event. Likewise, craps can only have 36 different ways of displaying cubes. Consequently, each individual roll of the dice becomes an event in its own right.

Not the other way around, Blackjack is a game that relies on dependent events rather than independent ones. This essentially implies that after the card is dealt, the composition of the remaining cards in the deck will change. The player prefers when there are large cards in the deck, and the dealer prefers when there are small cards in the deck. This makes the game really fun, as the advantage of the game constantly fluctuates from dealer to player. This is the card counting strategy. The person who counts the cards will naturally bet more money when the player has the advantage and less when the dealer has the advantage.

Because the dealer must follow a specific set of rules while playing, a strategy that is mathematically correct can be used to ensure optimal play. This mathematical strategy is called a "base strategy". The player can choose a course of action depending on the dealer's exposed card - stand, double, beat and split to make sure he has the best chance of winning.

The overall goal of Blackjack players is to ensure that the dealer does not get around twenty-one. Since the rule is that the player must play first, sometimes the player's advantage can be found if he chooses to stand on a hand that has a probability of being above twenty-one when the dealer has a card that could undermine him. However, if both the dealer and the player lose, then it is he who loses the hand. Therefore, it is imperative that any Blackjack player learns how to play the hand correctly in order to guarantee the best possible outcome from a mathematically correct strategy.

Nowadays, thanks to the growth and widespread use of the Internet, playing Blackjack in brick and mortar casinos is not the only option available to Blackjack enthusiasts. Several online casinos have sprung up on the world wide web that offer players free and informal enjoyment of beautiful games. Playing blackjack online is also suitable for hobbyists who want to hone their skills in "trial games" using "virtual money" before diving headlong into the big world of betting. There are several other benefits such as better bonuses and favorable odds that come with online Blackjack.

In conclusion, Blackjack is an extremely fun filled game that also comes with a home advantage that is low. Learning to play correctly is by no means difficult. For those in need, most casinos offer players a small strategy diagram that can be used as a reference while playing. However, with little effort on the part of the player, making the right decisions without consulting the strategy chart is very possible.

Article contributed by Casino Games