Whether in Hollywood films or real-life casinos, blackjack is one of the most universal and recognisable games. The excitement of the draw has drawn players from around the world to sit at casino tables to compete against the dealer and to try and beat the house. Although blackjack’s gameplay can be broken down into different strands, the phrase ‘basic’ is simply referring to the ‘21’ aspect of the game. For beginner players, aiming to get twenty-one provides a benchmark to work around and to some extent, a guideline of whether to bet or not.
Although the game is also recognised as ‘21’, the aim of the game is not only to achieve the score of twenty-one. Instead, the simple objective is to beat the dealer’s hand by not going over 21 when the dealer does or having a total value that exceeds the dealer’s.
Having been part of the gambling world since the early parts of the 18th century, blackjack is certainly an iconic trademark of casinos and it remains one of the most popular games today. Let’s review a basic guide of how it’s played.
How To Play Blackjack
Typically played on the iconic semi-circular table, blackjack is often played alongside other players (no more than 6/7 others), despite not being in competition with each other. Before the dealer deals players two cards each (1 card facing upwards, the other one down), bets must be placed. Once bets have been put onto the table, players can look at their cards. The value of cards on blackjack is:
Blackjack Card Values
- Cards 2-10 = Value is the number of the card. Suits have no impact on the value of each card.
- Jack, Queen and King = Value of 10.
- Ace = Players can choose for the card to have a value of 1 or 11.
Once the cards have been dealt, players have multiple choices in how to play their hand:
- Hit: If you wish to take a hit, they will be dealt another card to their pile. Players can hit more than once if they wish but if their total value exceeds 21, they will be bust.
- Stand: If players are happy with their two dealt cards, they can stand and draw no more cards from the dealer.
- Double down: With this option, players bet an amount equal to their original bet and are drawn only one more card, regardless of its value.
- Split: If players are dealt two cards of the same value, ‘split’ gives players the option to halve their original bet and split the pair. These two cards will then act as a separate hand each. For instance, if a player is dealt two 5s, the split option will separate the two 5s and place a second card on top of the first 5 like a normal game.
Once a player has finalised his cards and bets have been placed, the dealer will then reveal their face down card and play their hand. For a dealer to stand, they must have a minimum value of 16. Once the dealer’s hand value lands on 17 or higher, they must also stand. For a player to win, their hand total must be higher than the dealer’s hand or if their card value was 21 or less when the dealer is bust.
Online Blackjack at Hot Streak Casino
With it being one of the most popular casino games across the world, you can play blackjack online at Hot Streak Casino. Play up to three hands at one time and see if you are lucky enough to beat the dealer inside this classic casino feature. Given the advancement of technology and broadband speeds, the gameplay of online blackjack has certainly developed massively over the last few years. The smoother in-play feel has enhanced user’s experience as despite there being no secret bonus rounds or features, the game creates a real feeling of being in a physical casino.
Join thousands of other daily players - take a seat at the table and see if you can land a perfect 21.
