With online casino games becoming more popular in America, some people that want to play the classic card game of Blackjack in these virtual casinos might want to know which version is the most fun to play. While these casinos offer many different versions of Blackjack, the classic version has always been fun to play. So how can you bet and play the classic version of Blackjack?
Classic 21 Blackjack
The game of Blackjack has been around for centuries, with the most notable start of the game in casinos coming from French casinos around 1700. While blackjack is the most well-known card game worldwide, there have been added variations to this game regarding online betting. However, for this piece, we will be talking about the classic time-honored version of 21 Blackjack.
Rules and Objectives of Blackjack
In this game, the objective is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21, also known as busting. The dealer will show one card up and one card down while both of the player’s cards are shown face up. If the dealer has 21, also known as Blackjack, the player automatically loses unless the player has Blackjack, which will cause a push.
Each card dealt will have a number value from one to eleven. Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth ten points, while an Ace is worth one or eleven points. Using the Ace as a one or an 11 depends on if the player or dealer will bust if they used the Ace as an 11. If a player or dealer has 12 and then gets an Ace, that Ace would be a one, seeing that 12+11=23 and would lead to a bust.
Players can hit as many times as they want until they bust. If the dealer has a six or lower showing, they will need to hit, as they can’t hit if they have 17 unless it’s a “soft” 17. A soft 17 is when the dealer has 17 while having an Ace as one of their cards.
Insurance: What is it and When Should You Take It
Insurance is offered to players if the dealer has an Ace as the card shown. Insurance is a way for players to prevent a loss of their bet if the dealer has Blackjack. If the player buys the insurance and the dealer has Blackjack, the player loses no money. However, if the dealer does not have Blackjack, the player loses the insurance wager amount while the hand is played out as usual.
Doubling Down: What is it and When Should You Do It
Doubling down refers to making an equal bet while taking only one card from the dealer. This practice is commonly used when the player has 11, while the dealer shows a six or less. Doubling down offers a chance for players to win even more money off their hands, but also at the risk of losing more money. If the player only doubles down with an 11 and the dealer shows a six, the player isn’t at risk of busting while the dealer has to take a hit, which could lead to a bust.
Splitting: What is it and When Should You Do It?
Splitting is only offered if the player has two cards of the same point value. When the cards are split, the player will have to place an additional wager of the same amount on the split cards. The dealer will deal out one card for each split card, making two separate hands to be played. Splitting is commonly done when the player has two Aces.
While a player can split any two cards with the same value, splitting Aces is the most common split done in Blackjack due to the chances of hitting Blackjack on that split. Splitting 8’s is also something you should almost always do.
Blackjack Best Practices
A few things can help Blackjack players get that winning hand that other Blackjack players commonly follow. When the dealer shows a six or less, it’s best to stand and let the dealer take the hit, which can lead to them busting. The other thing to remember is that if you have 17 or higher, you should stand as the dealer has to stand on a hard 17.
