Blackjack, Twenty-one or Pontoon, is the most popular table game in casinos. This goes for both land based and online casinos. The game can be played with a single deck of 52 cards or, with several decks. In traditional casinos 8 decks are generally used. The more decks that are used the less chance of an accurate count. The object of the game is to add the value of the cards in your hand in hopes of getting twenty one. If the value of the cards in hand is less than twenty one the player may choose to receive individual cards that are added to the value of the hand.

This may continue until they reach a value of twenty-one, the player is confident he has a winning hand or the cards reach a value that exceeds twenty one. The winner is the player or dealer that has a hand with a value nearest to twenty one without exceeding it. Twenty one is the best possible hand. There are many variations of blackjack in casinos with different table rules. Online casinos offer even more variations. The popularity of blackjack is due to the mix of chance and skill. This offers the player more control than games of complete chance.

Blackjack is derived from a game called twenty-one. Twenty-one was played in France and Spain since the 16th Century. Twenty-one introduced in the United States in the 1800’s. It was originally not popular so local casinos began offering bonus or progressive payouts to get players to try the game. One of these bonuses was a 10 to one payout if the ace of spades and a blackjack were dealt to the player. This became known as Blackjack. The name stuck although the bonus did not.

In casino blackjack there may be anywhere from one to seven players plus a dealer. The game is played at a horseshoe shaped table. Each player plays against the dealer and not each other. Before the hand is dealt, each player places a bet. They then receive their initial hand of two cards. The object of the game is to get a hand that totals more than the dealers hand without going over twenty-one. If a players hand does total more than twenty one they automatically lose no matter what the dealer does. Going over twenty one is called breaking or busting. In totaling the hand the jack, queen and king each have a value of 10. Cards with the numbers two through ten printed on them hold that same value.

The ace can be either a one or eleven according to the player’s choice. The player to the dealers left goes first and can either hold pat with the cards that he has been dealt or he may take additional cards. If the additional cards bring his hands total to over twenty one, he busts and loses his initial bet. The deal goes around the table and each player has the same options as the first player had. The dealer then plays his hand. The dealer must hit on all hands under 16 and stand on all hands over 17. If the dealers hand totals more than 21, he busts and all remaining player hands that have not busted win. Ties count as a push or tie and the original bet is returned to the player.

For more information on Online Casinos and Online Gambling

Blackjack History

It’s widely accepted that Blackjack originated in a French game called Vingt En Un in the early 17th century, though card playing began as early as 900 AD in China. Gamblers, scholars and people of all walks of life have enjoyed trying their luck at a hand of cards or two. Once confined to the casinos, Blackjack is now played at parties and in other casual settings, through video games, even on the computer. This is one card game which can be learned by everyone, and with a little basic strategy anyone can become a master of 21. Even before you could play Blackjack online free, this game was enjoyed by many different gamers.

Basic Blackjack

The objective for all parties in Blackjack is simple: reach 21 without going over. You’ll be dealt two cards right away, and can either accept more cards or stay with the cards you already have. Within this very simple structure, lots of different strategies can be employed in order to achieve a win.

In all forms Blackjack, online or otherwise, all face cards (the royal family of King, Queen and Jack) have a point value of 10. All the numbered cards, from 2 to 10, are worth the same number of points as their numerical value (for instance, the 2 is worth 2 points and the 10 worth 10). The Ace is a special card in the Blackjack deck, as its worth either 1 point or 11 points depending upon what other cards you have in your hand. Using these point values, your goal is to get as close as you can to 21 without going over. If you do go over, even only to 22, you’ve instantly lost. If you get 21 with your first two cards, however (a face card or 10 and an Ace), then you’ve instantly won.

There are some other, lesser known blackjack rules that you should get to know if you are going to play at the casinos, so get to know your game!