“blackjack 10” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Themeplus
Casino options remain few and far between in Paisley with just one establishment in town. Even the proposed St. Mirren fans council casino night was cancelled back in 2017, leaving many locals disappointed. Luckily, residents who enjoy the classic table games can find all the action they need online. One of the most popular web-based casino games is blackjack.
Hit, split, surrender, stand or double down? If you are familiar with these terms, then you have probably enjoyed a game of blackjack. But are you ever successful? Do you know how to manage your hand? And do you ever wish you could become a better blackjack player?
Blackjack was first mentioned by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, who you can read about here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news. The game is easy to play but here are a few tips to help you improve your game.
Know the basics
When you play any game that involves wagering money, you must make sure you understand the basic rules. In online blackjack games such as at https://casino.betfair.com/c/blackjack, you are always up against the dealer.
First, you are dealt two cards. Then, the dealer draws two cards for themselves – with only one visible. Now, you decide what to do next. Your aim is to beat the hand of the dealer and any other players at the table by getting the highest score without exceeding 21. Aces count as 1 or 11.
When each player has made their decisions, the dealer reveals their cards. If their cards add up to 16, they automatically draw again. If they bust, the other players win. Otherwise, the highest hand is the winner.
Always make decisions in the same order
You will stand the best chance of winning a hand in blackjack if you make decisions in a certain order. Your first decision should be whether to surrender; if you don’t want to surrender, you should then look at whether it is time to split. If splitting doesn’t look like a good option, you need to decide whether to hit or stand. You should always follow this sequence when making decisions in blackjack.
Understand your options
Surrendering means you choose to give up half your stake without playing out the hand. If you are drawn two cards with a value of 10, you can split them into two hands to increase your chances of turning a winning hand. You can also split two aces, but you only get to draw one more card for each.
On some games, you get the option to double down. This means doubling your stake in exchange for just one more draw of the card.
If you hit, you simply draw again. If your hand goes over 21, you lose. If your hand is below 21, you must decide whether to hit again or stand. If you stand, you stick with the cards you have got.
Know the odds
In blackjack, winning hands are paid out at the following odds:
- A standard win pays out at even money.
- An ace drawn with any card worth 10 is known as a blackjack and pays out at 3/2. This combination beats other hands with a value of 21 that required one hit or more.
“Cards Down” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by smkybear
Learn some strategy
Even if your memory skills are only sufficient to remember as far back as the 2013 Scottish League Cup final – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/, there are many speclialist blackjack strategy charts that are simple to remember and advise you what to do with each combination of cards. These charts have been calculated to give you the best chance of winning.
But remember, as with any casino game, the house still has the edge!
Learn some strategy
Even if your memory skills are only sufficient to remember as far back as the 2013 Scottish League Cup final – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/, there are many speclialist blackjack strategy charts that are simple to remember and advise you what to do with each combination of cards. These charts have been calculated to give you the best chance of winning.
But remember, as with any casino game, the house still has the edge!