The three most important facts to know about Blackjack

Blackjack has long been one of the most popular games on offer in casinos around the world. With its simple blend of card comparison and chance, it’s no surprise that Blackjack is such a consistent hit with players.

But for players who aren’t as familiar with the game, there are some important facts to be aware of before joining a round. Even if you’re already experienced with Blackjack gambling, check out these three essential facts for any player to know about the game.

1. The role of player decisions

During a game of Blackjack, players get to decide how they want to play their hand. Depending on the value of the initial cards dealt to them, there are a few options to weigh up and choose between.

While Blackjack is still a game of random chance at heart, players do have some influence on how their hand plays out. Deciding whether to hit – taking another card – or stand – leaving their hand at its current value – rests entirely on the choice of the player themselves.

That’s why it’s good to brush up on at least the basic odds before entering a game. If players have an understanding of how various hand values affect the odds of going bust on an extra card, then they can choose actions that take these into account.

2. The house edge

All casino games involve something known as the house edge. This is a built-in advantage that the casino has over their players, tipping the odds slightly more in their favour.

Blackjack is generally considered to have the lowest house edge compared to other popular classics, with an edge of roughly 0.5%. This does vary depending on factors such as the specific rule variations in play, including the payout rate for a natural Blackjack, the rules on dealer standing or the number of decks in use.

Always check the stated house edge for a given variation before starting a game.

3. Blackjack variations

Like many classic casino games, Blackjack has more than just its vanilla format to choose from. The rise of online casino play has only increased the variety of formats available to players.

Each of these variants will feature twists on the classic gameplay formula or ruleset, so it’s important to read up on the details of any of these Blackjack games beforehand.

Some of the most popular variants to look out for are:

  • European Blackjack – where the dealer only receives their second card after all players have finished their turns. This often comes with stricter rules on splitting and doubling down than other formats.
  • Spanish 21 – which is played with all tens removed from the deck. To compensate for this the format generally offers players the opportunity to surrender at any time and bonus payouts for certain hand compositions.
  • Atlantic City Blackjack – where players are allowed to split as many as three times and double down on any set of cards. There are a total of eight decks in play here.

Before you decide on a game of Blackjack to play, consider which variations best suit your personal tastes and how they affect the game odds.

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