Blackjack Basics

Blackjack is a card game that is otherwise known as twenty-one. It is played using a deck, or sometimes a few decks of cards. The other name for blackjack (i.e. twenty-one) really describes what the game is all about.

The idea or objective in blackjack is to beat the dealer's hand. Most peoople think the idea of the game is to get as close to 21 or exactly 21 to win the game. If ever you go over 21 in your total, then you bust and lose automatically. The truth is you don't need to get a 21 every time. Just remember that in blackjack all you need to do is beat the dealer's hand to win the game.

Let's move on to the deck of cards and check out how the cards are played. Remember that blackjack is a numbers game and the objective is to get a higher total than the dealer's hand. Whenever we play hands in blackjack the suit of the card doesn't count to anything. What you're really after is the total points you get out of a hand. Your blackjack hand starts out as two cards dealt to you by the dealer.

The face cards in blackjack have a value of ten points, while number cards would take card value, the Ace on the other hand would be there to mess you up. Let's take a minute to explain all this. Aces in blackjack either take a value of 11 or one. That value would ultimately depend on the blackjack hand you're playing.

The rule about Aces is that if your Ace makes your hand bust it takes a value of one, if it is good for you and brings you closer to 21 it takes a value of 11. For instance you have an initial hand dealt to you that consists of a Six and a Four, you hit (will be explained later) and are given an Ace. This is good for you since if the Ace takes a value of 11 and adding a Six and a Four totals to 21, then you win. But let's say your hand was a Seven and an Eight then you are dealt an Ace, that Ace takes a value of one so you don't bust your hand.

We mentioned hitting in blackjack. This means asking for a new card to add to your hand. Any player, even the dealer, can hit if their hand is really bad so as to get closer to 21 as they could. The only caution is that if you hit you may bust and lose.

These are the basics of blackjack. Take time to play a few hands and enjoy the game before you proceed to more serious stuff like hard hand or soft hand strategy.