Blackjack 101: The Basics

[Marcwantstowin]

Let's throw in a stupid question.
Is split possible ONLY with the first two cards?
So getting 8+2+8 can't be turned into split?

Hi @Tero

No question is stupid.

Okay, so you get dealt 2, 2 on the 1st hand, and you decide to split, then you get 2, 8, one on each of the 2's. You can then split the 2, 2 hands again. However, if you get dealt 2, 2 and split, and then you get 8, 5, so you have 2, 8 and 2, 5. You then double the 2, 8 and get another 2. You cannot split that as the 8 came 1st.

Hope that is clear for you.

 

[Tero]

The explanation sounded complicated but I think I got it.
So getting 2 and 8, and asking for a third card which is 2, cannot be split.

 

[Marcwantstowin]

The explanation sounded complicated but I think I got it.
So getting 2 and 8, and asking for a third card which is 2, cannot be split.

Yes, you are exactly right with your summation,

 

[hilary antonik filho]

Cool, I had a little knowledge, now I have a better knowledge, thanks for your information and help

 

[S3mper]

Let's throw in a stupid question.
Is split possible ONLY with the first two cards?
So getting 8+2+8 can't be turned into split?

As Marc mentioned you can only split pairs when you start with them (including on the split) Some casinos differ in rules on how often you can split and what you can/can't split Mostly you can split ~3x (for a total of four hands) and some casinos/tables don't allow you to re-split Aces. And some after you split Aces can't split again

 

[infonazar]

I think blackjack can be a profitable game in the long run if the player is attentive, experienced, disciplined, patient, and most importantly, not greedy

 

[Tero]

Let dumb this down even further...
When a player takes hits and busts this ends the game.
But then it is possible to reach a point where this:

Once all players have finished their turns, the dealer reveals their face-down card and plays their hand according to strict house rules:

• Dealer must hit until they reach 17 or higher.

does not apply. And house can win even with 12.
It would certainly be more interesting if in a situation where a player busts the house should still have to reach a result between 17-21. If house would go over too it would be a tie.
There is more to this game than meets the eye 🧐

 

[Lena M]

I once lost $70 playing blackjack and it was a psychological trauma for me. But that was quite a long time ago, more than 7 years ago. I think now that I have the support of our community in this direction I will try again. Disciplined and step by step

 

[S3mper]

Let dumb this down even further...
When a player takes hits and busts this ends the game.
But then it is possible to reach a point where this:

does not apply. And house can win even with 12.
It would certainly be more interesting if in a situation where a player busts the house should still have to reach a result between 17-21. If house would go over too it would be a tie.
There is more to this game than meets the eye 🧐

Would be nice but nope. Going last is where the house gets its edge by having situations where the dealer wins without needing to risk busting themselves or winning even when the dealer busts (In situations where they are playing against multiple hands)

Also, this would be quite costly to the house if say 4 people were playing 2 bust, 2 stay and the dealer busts paying the winners and pushing against the other two.

 

[CRStals]

Let dumb this down even further...
When a player takes hits and busts this ends the game.
But then it is possible to reach a point where this:

does not apply. And house can win even with 12.
It would certainly be more interesting if in a situation where a player busts the house should still have to reach a result between 17-21. If house would go over too it would be a tie.
There is more to this game than meets the eye 🧐

Even if the house played out their hand, most casinos will take the player's bet the moment they bust. Consider this:

Two people are at a blackjack table. Player 1 shows 12; Player 2 shows 10, and the dealer has a 7 up. Player 1 hits, draws a 10 and busts. Dealer takes their bet. Player 2 hits, and gets a ten. Stands on 20. Dealer flips their down card over and shows a 9 for 16; hits and draws a seven, busting.

Technically, player 1 & the dealer both busted but it's not a push - the player busted first, and the bet is lost, even though the house also bust.

 

[CRStals]

As Marc mentioned you can only split pairs when you start with them (including on the split) Some casinos differ in rules on how often you can split and what you can/can't split Mostly you can split ~3x (for a total of four hands) and some casinos/tables don't allow you to re-split Aces. And some after you split Aces can't split again

And some casinos will only deal you one card when you split aces as well...

 

[najisami]

I think blackjack can be a profitable game in the long run if the player is attentive, experienced, disciplined, patient, and most importantly, not greedy

To those qualities, 2 things must be added.

1) In order to score any profit, the famous "Basic Strategy" has to be used, just a simple chart that tells you when to stand, hit, double down or split depending on the dealer's face-up card. It is mathematically proven and gives you the optimal move that will make you money on the long run, think +EV in poker, only much easier since the math is already done for you (You're allowed to have it in front of you when playing).

2) Card counting. Not as easy as the use of a simple chart, but if combined with it, it can take your game to the professional level.

Basic Strategy 101 for Blackjack - Simple Blackjack Strategies

Watch Casino.us's video guide to Basic Strategy 101 for Blackjack from our Blackjack Academy video series, presented by Mr Blackjack.

www.casino.us

Blackjack Card Counting 101- How to Card Count in Blackjack

Watch Casino.us's video guide to Card Counting 101 from our Blackjack Academy video series, presented by the one and only Mr Blackjack.

www.casino.us

 

[riff_raff312]

Thanks for the info i'll have to give Black Jack another try the next time i'm at the casino maybe with this new thread i'll be able to win a little more lol.

 

[najisami]

Thanks for the info i'll have to give Black Jack another try the next time i'm at the casino maybe with this new thread i'll be able to win a little more lol.

Before going to a casino and start putting your money on the table, give this course a try if you haven't yet:

https://www.casino.us/blackjack/academy/

I found it very helpful and easy to follow.

 

[CNXRegie]

I haven’t fully grasped how to play Blackjack yet, especially its rules on betting and the different types of bets.

Question: What does the bet called “21+3” mean? 🎲♠️🤔

 

[SPANKYSN]

There's a lot of them Tammy. Sometimes, in the same casino, you find tables where the dealer cannot hit the soft 17, and tables where he must do so. That's why it's important to pay attention to what's written on the felt before sitting at any table.

There are many variations of the standard game of blackjack...free double downs and splits, which also have dealer push with 22...not busting...they giveth and taketh away. I played primarily blackjack in my early Las Vegas visits, but I remember $2 tables in the late 70s, then $5 in the 80s...now it is hard to find anything less than $15/hand tables ($25 after dinner hour and on weekends...on the Strip). I no longer play blackjack, as it is too expensive...very hard to come back if you have rotten luck early. I think the last time I played blackjack was when my wife and I took our son when he turned 21...played $5 tables in Red Rock Casino (well off the Strip).

 

[Debi]

So in live tables players cards are visible or hidden but the House keeps them always hidden until the end?

The thing that was not explained was possible multipliers. Does winning a hand have always (excluding insurance) the same return (the multiplier) and what that is, or can it be changed/chosen?

What I've seen in the movies tells me that a dealer can have multiple decks of cards on the pile where the cards are drawn to make calculating cards more difficult. Is this true, and are those decks shuffled with each other? If so, then it's possible to even have three same cards (say 3 x Th) on the table at the same time?

We always get to see the dealers first card face up once we have received our cards.

It is very hard to find blackjack games with less than 4 decks now, most tables use 6. The decks are shuffled together and a player gets to "cut the deck" by placing a black card anywhere in the stack. The dealer then places the entire deck in a shuffler and once the black card is reached those cards are reshuffled and a new stack is ready to go. At most casinos they alternated 2 sets of 6 decks.

Avoid 6-5 blackjack payouts and tables where dealer hits soft 17.

They are very hard to avoid in live casinos unless you play high stakes.

Let dumb this down even further...
When a player takes hits and busts this ends the game.
But then it is possible to reach a point where this:

does not apply. And house can win even with 12.
It would certainly be more interesting if in a situation where a player busts the house should still have to reach a result between 17-21. If house would go over too it would be a tie.
There is more to this game than meets the eye 🧐

This never happens in any casino - we would take them to the cleaners if so.

There are many variations of the standard game of blackjack...free double downs and splits, which also have dealer push with 22...not busting...they giveth and taketh away. I played primarily blackjack in my early Las Vegas visits, but I remember $2 tables in the late 70s, then $5 in the 80s...now it is hard to find anything less than $15/hand tables ($25 after dinner hour and on weekends...on the Strip). I no longer play blackjack, as it is too expensive...very hard to come back if you have rotten luck early. I think the last time I played blackjack was when my wife and I took our son when he turned 21...played $5 tables in Red Rock Casino (well off the Strip).

Those were the good ol' days! I only play now at the $15 tables. I love to play on cruises because they have $10 tables and we can play all week and always end up ahead or with minimum losses.

 

[pirateglenn]

Great thread again guys with lots of really useful contributions- always good to add to what you think you know.

 

[riff_raff312]

Before going to a casino and start putting your money on the table, give this course a try if you haven't yet:

https://www.casino.us/blackjack/academy/

I found it very helpful and easy to follow.

Thanks Sami i have been looking at the videos and trying them out with some success but not at the casino as of yet just with some friends .

 

[CDNMAN 42]

One basic difference between BJ in USA casinos and most Canadian Casinos...In the USA the six decks are placed in a shoe and at the end of those cards a new 6 deck pack is placed in the shoe, however in most Canadian Casinos the shoe is continuous, that is the cards from every second or third hand are placed back in the shoe so in effect there are infinite cards..counting becomes useless...

 

[userX]

Blackjack is not a difficult game; unlike poker, blackjack is much easier to play. There are some basic rules, and if you master them, you have a chance of winning. Although, to be honest, competing with a casino is probably not the best idea

 

[Tammy]

I haven’t fully grasped how to play Blackjack yet, especially its rules on betting and the different types of bets.

Question: What does the bet called “21+3” mean? 🎲♠️🤔View attachment 391597

Ah! Those are what are called "side bets". Not all tables have them, and they vary from casino to casino, and I imagine depending on the online game you are playing as well. You usually have to place a bet on them if you want to win anything win they hit. They usually don't have anything really to do with blackjack, just another way for the casino to try to get more money out of you. In fact, these are commonly known as "sucker bets" because you are going to lose more often than not. But, they can be fun, as long as you recognize that it's a losing bet, usually.

 

[mdnmdn]

Thanks, when i go to the casinos, everyone at the blackjack tables seem to be having fun!

 

[CNXRegie]

Ah! Those are what are called "side bets". Not all tables have them, and they vary from casino to casino, and I imagine depending on the online game you are playing as well. You usually have to place a bet on them if you want to win anything win they hit. They usually don't have anything really to do with blackjack, just another way for the casino to try to get more money out of you. In fact, these are commonly known as "sucker bets" because you are going to lose more often than not. But, they can be fun, as long as you recognize that it's a losing bet, usually.

Thanks, Tammy! Yeah, I noticed. It's not in every "Blackjack" game.The dealer always take the bets away, "Sucker bets", that explains. 🍭

In the succeeding scavenger hunt I played, I found the right blackjack "App" (I noticed @Yanko57 used the same variation) inside the casino.app that doesn't automatically close after each game, so player can take a screenshot of the game (helpful for the scavenger hunt).

If the 3 questions items I answered were accepted by @Special Events, then I believe I have already completed the scavenger hunt. (I had to resend my answer to quote where I find those answers about "Surrender" and "Split")

 

[najisami]

I haven’t fully grasped how to play Blackjack yet, especially its rules on betting and the different types of bets.

Question: What does the bet called “21+3” mean? 🎲♠️🤔

Hi Regie, though Tammy answered your question perfectly. This is a little video about it. It's a part of the free course available here on CC if you haven't seen it.

21+3 - the 3-Card Poker Side Bet in Blackjack - 21+3 Explained

Watch Casino.us's video guide to 21+3 - the 3-Card Poker Side Bet from our Blackjack Academy video series, presented by Mr Blackjack.

www.casino.us