black jack

In general, blackjack is a card game that is considered one of the essential games and involves the participation of a player and a dealer. Unlike virtual casinos, there are several people around the same table in land-based establishments. The basic principle is to play with 52 shuffled cards stored in a box called a "shoe". Where exactly does it come from?

The origins

Like all ancient games, the origin of blackjack is not well known, despite some theories. The first appearance began in the 17th century, inspired by a game called "Vingt et un" available in establishments. The name remains closely linked to blackjack and shows many aspects of it. We can see a great resemblance between the two, noting a certain distinction, especially in the role of the dealer, who is allowed to double, and the betting methods. In traditional or classic blackjack, the goal is to reach a "natural" or a total of 21 using a hand ranking formula. As for the name, it refers to an additional wager as long as a hand contains a jack and an ace of spades. The discovery leads to Italy with the variant "Sept et demie," a game consisting of the figures 7, 8, and 9, whose goal is to get a value of seven and a half points. The value of the numbers is equivalent to one point, while face cards are worth half a point. Additionally, the king of diamonds replaces any other card, like a joker.

Brief history

Blackjack experienced a great turning point after the French Revolution by emigrating to North America. In the absence of legislation in the prohibition of card games, it acquires a certain notoriety inviting beginner and professional. Everyone begins to detect the advantages by implementing strategies to increase the winnings and increase the probability of luck. Its reputation goes beyond borders, especially at the beginning of the 19th century. At that time, the United States government passed a law to prohibit gambling as a source of corruption and criminality. Current regulations drive blackjack underground and have had the opposite effect as the game has grown in popularity over the past 20 years. Finally, the territory of Nevada liberalized gambling in 1931, the period when Las Vegas began to rise from the ground. Subsequently, blackjack aroused unprecedented enthusiasm and enjoyed growing interest. A scientific study of the latter was even carried out in 1953 by Roger Baldwin and his partners with the aim of applying statistical theories and calculation methods. This is followed by the active participation of Professor Edward Thorp, releasing the bestseller “Beating the Croupier” and the famous Ken Uston with his books retracing counting techniques that have inspired thousands of visitors. Today, blackjack is a classic game playable around the world and continues to attract the attention of enthusiasts in the field.

Blackjack is almost always present in land-based casinos and in online casinos. THE blackjack rules They are far from being complicated and mastering the basics allows beginners to play. It should be noted that this card game offers players a rather attractive advantage. Players do not compete against each other, they play against the dealer or the house. It only takes one player to start a game of blackjack.

Technical terms

In order to be able to play and possibly win at Blackjack, here is some important information.

• The purpose of blackjack The player's objective is to beat the dealer with a score approaching 21 without exceeding this value. To do this, they receive two cards and can draw more in order to obtain a score higher than that of the house or the dealer.
• Value of cards : an “ace” can be worth 1 point or 11 points. Cards from 2 to 10 keep their face value while face cards (jack, queen and king) are worth 10 points.
• The number of players around the table : the capacity of a Blackjack table varies according to the establishment or the casino. In general, a table can accommodate up to 7 seated players.
• The table elements : in principle, a Blackjack table consists of 5 elements:
  • The spots or the 7 boxes intended to accommodate the bets of the players.
  • The cash, installed in front of the croupier, is used to put the chips to pay the players.
  • The sabot, which is a box used to hold the necessary card decks for the game. Currently, many casinos have replaced this sabot with Continuous Shuffling Machines (CSM) or continuous card shufflers. .
  • The discard rack which has the function of accommodating the cards played throughout the game.
  • The tip slot.

The course of a game of Blackjack

After the players have placed their bets in the corresponding boxes, the dealer distributes two cards (face up) to each player. The dealer also receives one visible card and another hidden card. If the value of the two cards received by a player reaches 21, it is a blackjack. This is called a natural. The player is then paid 3 to 2 of their initial bet. The other players at the table have the choice to stay, double, split, surrender, or take insurance. In order to reach a high enough value to beat the dealer's points, a player can draw one or more cards until the total exceeds 21. The dealer serves one player at a time before their turn comes. If the dealer or house gets a blackjack, they collect the bets. Otherwise, they continue to draw cards until they reach a value of at least 17. If the dealer busts (loses), all players who have not been eliminated win the game. Furthermore, in the case of a tie called "Push," nobody wins.

There is no denying that Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. But what is the best way to play blackjack and maximize your chances of winning?

Is it necessary to plan a game maneuver?

Blackjack is based on probability, which in turn translates into profitability. The more one establishes a strategy, the more chances of winning rewards one has. And for once it gives players the opportunity to compete with the house, a good playing tactic must always be predetermined before joining a game. In the game, each hand will affect the outcome of the match. Basic and advanced strategies are perfectly designed for all variants with common rules. In mathematical terms, when a player correctly uses the right procedure, it reduces the house's advantage. Normally around 4% to 5%, it will be reduced to just under 1%. Understanding a few methods should therefore be a fundamental element of any player's knowledge.

What is the basic strategy?

The goal of the basic strategy is to win as often as possible, but also to maximize your winnings. It uses statistical probabilities to calculate the best possible move in every situation. This basic system depends on your initial cards and the dealer's card. That being said, before making a decision, you should always consider the dealer's face-up card instead of just your own. Having a hand with a low value doesn't always mean you should take another card. You can hit when the total of your hand is between 2 and 8. The same goes for when the total of the cards is between 12 and 16, if the dealer's face-up card is 7 or higher. Stay when the total has reached 17 to 20. There are many possibilities that can be listed here. Regardless of what the dealer has, you can always ask for a split, double down, or hit, and surrender until you get at least a 12. In short, to follow the rules properly, just look at your first two cards, compared to the dealer's, and act accordingly to the circumstances.

The Hi-Lo (high-low) system

Considered a good starting point for beginners, this method is one of the most popular when counting cards, as well as one of the easiest to learn. Created by Harvey Dubner, it is an excellent way to improve your winnings. It assigns values of +1, 0, and -1 to each card. When using this system, the cards 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are considered "low" values, or +1, while the 10, J, Q, K, and A are assigned a score of -1. These are the "high" values. The cards 7, 8, and 9, on the other hand, have a value of 0. If a sequence of cards is dealt as follows: 10, J, 3, 5, Q, the value would be: -1-1+1+1-1, for a total of -1. The counting should be done after the deck is shuffled, following the distribution of the first card. Keep in mind that the more negative value cards are played, the more likely it is that you will draw a positive value card. This is the simplest strategy to recommend to beginners in order to improve their chances of winning at blackjack.

The Knock Out (KO) System

The "Knockout" counting method, also known as the KO method, is said to be the best system ever designed by Ken Fuchs and Olaf Vancura. Most card counting systems require converting the current count in play into a true count by adjusting for the number of cards that have not yet been played. The KO method simply uses the current count. It is easy to apply and gives you an advantage over the house. Similar to the Hi-Lo method, the difference is that the 7 is treated as a +1 value card, while the 8 and 9 are treated as 0. Unlike the Hi-Lo method, the trick is to not continue converting during play. Therefore, when using the KO method, you end up with four additional positive numbers, as there are four 7 cards in each deck. It is also based on a +2 count. In other words, when your count reaches +2, you should start increasing your bet with each hand. This slight counting imbalance was created to avoid the need for true conversions.