The Blackjack , also known in Spain as 21, is considered one of the kings in casinos, whether physical or online. In this game, the player has the lowest house edge of any modality.
Of course, you should also know that there are a large volume of rules that not many people know, but that make the difference between a winning player and a loser.
Even if you make a bad decision, the house edge is usually so small that it will be around 3% and, those who know what they are doing, usually reduce it to 1%. If you beat all the advantages, you will be facing a game that will allow you to win thousands of prizes instantly in just one hand.
Like poker, Blackjack is a game of skill. If you are a new player, although with some experience, read the following tips and tricks carefully. As you play hands, you will understand everything that is necessary and what is hidden behind the rules of this game.
Table of Contents
Basic Blackjack Rules 21
To know and play Blackjack 21 it is necessary to know its most basic rules:
- Blackjack or 21 is usually played with one and up to eight 52-card decks from the French deck.
- One of the peculiarities is that the Ace can be worth 1 or 11 points; cards between 2 and 9 maintain their numerical value; and the cards 10, J, Q and K have a value of 10 points.
- The objective is to get a Blackjack or 21 points without going over or without the dealer going over your score.
- After the player has deposited his bet, the dealer deals two cards to each player and another two cards to himself. One of the dealer’s cards is shown face up, while the other, known as the “Hole Card” is shown face down.
- If the dealer has an Ace, he will offer the players Insurance. This will pay 2 to 1 if he has a 10 point hole card.
- If the dealer has a 10 or an ace, then he will turn over the other card to see if he has a Blackjack. At that point, all bets except insurance bets will lose (unless a player also has Blackjack).
- Once the player has had his turn to act, that is when the dealer reveals his hole card. If he is under 16, then he will draw another card. If it exceeds 21 points, the players who have not lost will win.
Once the game has started, participants have the following options:
- Stand (Stand): Stay with the first two cards that the dealer gives you.
- Ask (Hit): The player asks for another card from the deck (and more if he wishes). If the card results in the player exceeding 21 points, he automatically loses the bet.
- Double: The player can double his bet and can only get one more card.
- Split: If the player has a pair or 10-point cards, they can double their bet and split their cards into two individual hands. The dealer will automatically award each card a second card. The player can then hit, stand or double the bet normally. If you split Aces, the player only receives one card for each one. Players can split up to a total of four hands. Some casinos may allow, within the card division, certain special rules, such as doubling the bet after the division – a very advantageous option for players – or splitting the aces again, which means that, if you receive two aces, and the next card is a third, you can separate it again from the previous two, and thus up to a total of four hands in a single game.
- Surrender: The player loses half the bet, keeping the other half, without playing his hand. This option is usually only available on the first two cards and depending on the rules of the room or casino.
Winning bets are usually paid 1 to 1, while Blackjacks can be paid 2 to 1 or 3 to 2, depending on the room.
Special Situations in Blackjack
Although we have already explained some of them, there are special situations at the Blackjack table, which will give variants and types of Blackjack games or 21 different ones:
- Insurance / Insurance : Insurance is a side bet that is offered in some Blackjack games when the dealer or the house has an Ace in their possession. Before the hands start, the dealerwill offer insurance – even money in the event of a blakjack. Here you can place a bet equal to half your original bet, which will be paid 2 to 1 if the dealer has a 10 as his hand card. Simply put, you are betting on whether or not the dealer has blackjack. If you win, you will be paid 2 to 1. As a basic strategy, say that this should be used when you have some experience. This rule is not always available, since in some games the dealer will directly raise his face down card if he has a 10 on his first card. If you get an AS, and with it a blackjack, all the bets of the players will be taken except those who have reached 21.
- Dead Hand : If all players at the table are eliminated from the hand before the dealer plays their hand, it is considered a “dead hand” and the house will flip their hole card (so the cameras can see it) and then he will put all the cards back in the deal box. There is no reason to play the hand since the house has already won.
- Parallel Bets : In the last two decades, the parallel bets or side bets-as we have commented on insurance- have become popular in blackjack games. Insurance is the only side bet that is usually offered at most blackjack tables, and it is really important today for experienced players. But there are many that will be available in the games you will find on Betsson.es. For example, you can bet on getting a pair of cards; a trio of cards in your hand (777); if the house cards will match yours; poker hands with your cards and the dealer’s; whether the dealer is removed from the hand or not; etc. Most of the games that offer this option have payout tables associated with them, so you will do well to consult them to know what you can bet on.
Types of Hands in Blackjack 21
Although you may have figured it out by now, in Blackjack the power of the hands is divided between “Soft” and “Hard”. These will have to do or not, if you have an Ace with a value of 11 together with cards between the values of 2 to 7, where the combination can give an 18, in this sense we will have a “Soft” or Soft hands.
In case we have to ask for a third card and the Ace takes the value of 1, we will always say that we have a “Hard” or Hard hand.
Easy tricks to play Blackjack 21
The basic rules of Blackjack boil down to knowing when to split, when to double down, buy insurance or hit a card. Statistically you will increase your chances of winning if you follow the following quick and easy tips.
What IF you should do in Blackjack
- Always divide pairs of Aces (AA) or Eights (8-8).
- Divide the pairs of 2, 3, 6, 7 and 9 as long as the dealer does not have a card of value 7 or higher.
- Ask for a letter with 11 or less.
- If you are between 12 and 16, ask for a card when the dealer’s card is 7 or higher.
- It is a good idea not to hit a card with a strong hand that adds up to 17 or more.
- With a soft hand of 17 or less, hit for a card.
- Use basic strategy.
What you should NOT do in Blackjack
- Also divide pairs of values greater than 10: 10-10, JJ, QQ or KK.
- Buy the insurance, since the probability that the dealer has an Ace is 30% of the time.
- Ask for a letter when you have a 19 with low cards.
Counting cards in Blackjack 21
One of the most used tricks, although also one of the most watched, in Blackjack is card counting. A study that will technically increase your chances of winning by a fraction of 1%, which is why it is used by many professionals to get a certain advantage over the house. Also, if you play for fun it’s great.
In Blackjack 21 we find two types of probability: The absolute probability, which refers to everything that happens more than 50% of the time, and the relative probability, which is what happens less than 50% of the time. We always recommend you to make decisions about the absolute probability. For example, a hard 18 is an absolute probability that you will be eliminated if you ask for another card.
Make judgments very carefully, and always try to get the statistical probability as close to 50% as possible, especially if you are playing single-deck tables.
