Blackjack is a popular casino game played by a number of players against the dealer. It is played with a standard 52-card deck, and is one of the most popular games at casinos worldwide.
The objective of the game is to beat the dealer by having a hand value that goes over 21 without busting. The dealer can also win the hand by having a hand value that exceeds 21, although this is not as common as it once was in casinos.
There are a number of different strategies that can be used in blackjack. These strategies can help the player minimize the house edge.
Basic Strategy
The optimal blackjack strategy is a set of rules that a player should follow in order to minimize the house edge of a blackjack game. This strategy was first developed in 1956 and is based on millions of hands that have been played over the years.
Using this strategy, a player should avoid playing any hands that are likely to lose because they do not have an optimal chance of winning. In addition, a player should avoid playing any hands in which the dealer has an ace showing (see early surrender) because it is highly unlikely that the dealer will have a blackjack.
Stand, Stay and Split
The player can make a decision to stand or stay at any time during the course of the game. A player can “stand” by not asking for any more cards, or they can “stay” if they want to keep their original bet and play a new hand with the same number of cards. A player can also “split” a pair of cards by placing an equal amount of money in the betting box next to their original bet.
Insurance
If the dealer shows an ace, any player can place an insurance bet. The player’s insurance bet is paid 2 to 1 and the dealer’s original bet is reduced by half the total amount of the insurance bet.
This bet has a negative expected value and is usually considered a poor bet. However, it is possible to win large amounts of money by taking insurance and losing only your initial bet.
6:5 Payouts
Some casinos have a rule that cuts the payout on blackjacks from 3:2 to 6:5. This increase in house edge is extremely bad for blackjack players. This move has been criticized by both card counters and serious blackjack players.
In 2003, some casinos started offering this reduced payout for blackjacks. This move is regrettable and has been criticized by many longtime blackjack players.
Depending on the rules, players can also place a side bet in addition to their main bet. These side bets can be in the form of double or busted split bets.
A side bet can also be placed in the form of a single bet, where a player’s total bet must be equal to or greater than the main wager. This can be especially helpful when the player has a high total.