Blackjack

Blackjack is a classical casino card game that blends skill, strategy, and luck in just the right amounts. And what is a blackjack? The rules of this quick-paced game are quite simple: beat the dealer by having a hand value closest to 21 without going over. It is a game of decisions, so let’s explore how does blackjack work in detail.

History

Blackjack guide via rich history that spans several centuries and many continents. Its origins are often traced back to the French game “Vingt-et-Un,” which translates to “Twenty-One. ” This game gained widespread acceptance among French casinos during the 18th century. The goal was to reach a hand value of 21 without bursting it.

Some historians hold that similar card games involving numerical targets were also played in Spain, most notably “Trente-un” or “Thirty-One,” and in Italy, “Sette e Mezzo” or “Seven and a Half.”

The first known literary reference to a game resembling blackjack occurs in the early 17th century. Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, most famous for Don Quixote, wrote Rinconete y Cortadillo, which features a pair of protagonists who are proficient cheaters at Veintiuno (Spanish for “Twenty-One”). This story implies that such a game was played in Castile at the time.

As “Vingt-et-Un” spread across Europe, it evolved and adapted to regional preferences. During World War I, the game became known as “Pontoon” in Britain.

The game crossed the Atlantic to North America in the early 19th century and continued to evolve. To attract players, gambling houses offered bonus payoffs. One bonus was a ten-to-one payoff if the player’s hand contained the ace of spades and a black jack (either the jack of clubs or the jack of spades). The hand was called a “blackjack,” and the name stuck even after the bonus was withdrawn.

The 20th century saw serious developments in blackjack strategies. Back in 1956, a group of U.S. Army engineers by the names of Roger Baldwin, Wilbert Cantey, Herbert Maisel, and James McDermott published a paper known as “The Optimum Strategy in Blackjack” in the Journal of the American Statistical Association. This work laid a foundation for mathematically sound strategies to reduce the house edge. Building on that, in 1963, the mathematician Edward O. Thorp published a book titled “Beat the Dealer,” in which he introduced the concept of card counting. Thorp’s work revolutionised the way blackjack was played, giving birth to professional players and teams using such strategies to win big in casinos.

Rules of play at casinos

Blackjack is a popular card game in which players must have their hands closer to 21 than the dealer’s without exceeding 21. Each player collaborates with a dealer only and doesn’t compete with other players.

Card values:

• Number cards (2-10): Face value.
• Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): 10 points each.
• Aces: 1 or 11 points, whichever benefits the hand without causing a bust.

Gameplay:

1. Betting: Players place their bets in designated areas on the table before any cards are dealt.
2. Dealing: Each player receives two cards, typically face-up. The dealer receives one face-up card and one face-down card (the “hole card”).
3. Player decisions: Starting with the player to the dealer’s left, each player decides:
   • Hit: Take an additional card to increase hand value.
   • Stand: Keep the current hand and end the turn.
   • Double Down: Double the initial bet and receive exactly one more card.
   • Split: If the first two cards have the same value, split them into two separate hands, each with its own bet.
   • Surrender: In some games, forfeit half the bet and end the turn immediately.
4. Dealer’s Turn: After all players have acted, the dealer reveals the hole card and must hit until reaching a hand value of at least 17. In some variations, the dealer must hit on a “soft 17” (a hand totalling 17 with an Ace counted as 11).
5. Outcome:
   • Player busts: If a player’s hand exceeds 21, they lose the bet.
   • Dealer busts: If the dealer exceeds 21, all remaining players win.
   • Comparing hands: If neither busts, the hand closest to 21 wins. A tie results in a “push,” and the player’s bet is returned.

Blackjack (Natural 21):

A two-card hand totalling 21 (an Ace and a 10-point card) is called a “blackjack” and typically pays 3:2. However, some casinos offer different payouts, such as 6:5, which increases the house edge.

Additional rules:

• Insurance: If the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, players can place an insurance bet, up to half their original bet, wagering that the dealer has a blackjack. If the dealer has blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2:1, but the original bet loses. It’s generally advised to avoid insurance bets due to their unfavourable odds.
  
• Number of Decks: Blackjack can be played with one to eight decks. Fewer decks slightly favour the player, but casinos may adjust other rules to maintain their advantage.

Rule variations and effects on house edge

Blackjack’s appeal lies in its blend of strategy and favourable odds. However, various rule variations can significantly impact the house edge, influencing a player’s chances of success.

Dealer hits soft 17

When the dealer is required to hit on a soft 17 (a hand containing an Ace valued as 11 and totaling 17), it increases the house edge by approximately 0.22%. This rule benefits the casino, as it provides the dealer with an additional opportunity to improve their hand

Number of decks

The number of decks in play affects the house edge. Fewer decks generally favour the player, reducing the house edge. For instance, a single-deck game might have a house edge of 0.17%, while an eight-deck game could see it rise to 0.66%. However, casinos often adjust other rules in single-deck games to maintain their advantage.

Late/early surrender

Surrender allows the player to give up half their bet to exit a round. An early surrender is more beneficial to the player than a late one because the player can surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack. The house edge is related to whether both early and late surrender are available and, in particular, if early surrender is available.

Resplitting

Permitting players to resplit pairs can decrease the house edge. For example, allowing the resplitting of Aces reduces the house edge by about 0.03%. The ability to resplit offers players more opportunities to capitalise on favourable hands.

Hit/resplit split aces

Allowing players to hit or resplit split Aces is advantageous. Being able to hit split Aces reduces the house edge by approximately 0.13% while resplitting Aces decreases it by about 0.03%. These options provide players with greater flexibility to improve their hands.

No double after split

Restricting players from doubling down after splitting pairsgives the house an additional 0.14% edge. This limitation reduces the player’s ability to maximize potential gains on favourable hands.

Double on 9/10/11 or 10/11 only

Limiting doubling down to specific hand totals, such as 9, 10, or 11, increases the house edge by approximately 0.18%. This restriction curtails players’ strategic options, potentially diminishing their advantage in certain situations

No hole card and OBO

The dealer’s not taking any hole card results in about 0.11% higher house edge. Most of the player’s decisions, in this case, are involved with doubling down and splitting because the risk of loss of the extra bet is great when the dealer eventually makes a blackjack.

Altered payout for a winning blackjack

Standard blackjack payouts are 3:2. Reducing this to 6:5 increases the house edge by about 1.4%, and a 1:1 payout raises it by approximately 2.3%. Such changes significantly disadvantage players, making it crucial to seek tables with traditional payouts.

Dealer wins ties

In rare variations where the dealer wins all ties, the house edge increases dramatically, by approximately 8.38%. This rule is highly unfavourable to players and is generally best avoided.

Blackjack strategy

Blackjack strategy offers players a variety of options to enhance their gameplay and potentially reduce the house edge. Understanding these strategies can significantly impact success at the table. We will explore way of how to win at blackjack below.

Basic strategy

The blackjack basic strategy allows players to make the best possible decision in any hand, considering their hand and the dealer’s upcard. This approach can reduce the house edge to less than 1% in most cases. Decisions such as hitting, standing, doubling down, or splitting pairs depend on the specific rules of the game being played.

Composition-dependent strategy

While the basic strategy takes into consideration only the total value of a player’s hand, the composition-dependent blackjack strategy table considers what exactly the constituent cards making up that total are.

This subtlety can pay off with better decisions under some circumstances. For instance, a hand of 12 consisting of a 10 and a 2 would be played differently than one made up of a 7 and a 5. The house edge is further diminished by employing a composition-dependent strategy, although the resultant advantage is small.

Advantage play

Advantage play encompasses techniques that allow players to gain a statistical edge over the casino. These methods require skill, observation, and often extensive practice. While legal, casinos discourage advantage play and may take countermeasures.

Card counting

Card counting involves tracking the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the deck to inform betting and playing decisions. By maintaining a running count, players can identify favourable situations to increase their bets. Although this may seem like the perfect strategy of blackjack, counting is not illegal, and casinos strongly discourage this basic strategy of blackjack and may ban players suspected of employing this technique. 

Shuffle tracking

Shuffle tracking is an advanced technique in which players monitor groups of cards through the shuffling process. By predicting the distribution of high or low cards, players can make strategic betting decisions. This method requires keen observation and is more challenging to master and detect than card counting.

Identifying concealed cards

Some players try to gain an edge by tracking cards with identifiable markings or by watching the dealer in an attempt to see the down card. Both techniques give a player an edge, but both are illegal in many places, and casinos may ban players they suspect of doing so.

Side bets

The side bets in Blackjack are additional bets parallel to the main game that offer players an opportunity to receive payouts depending on the particular card combinations or the result of a hand. These bets are independent of the main game of blackjack; you might lose the main hand but win the side bet, or vice versa. Although side bets are potentially offering higher payouts, they do come with a higher house edge than standard blackjack, making it more risky.

Common Blackjack Side Bets

1. Perfect Pairs: This bet wins if your first two cards form a pair. Payouts vary based on the type of pair:
   • Mixed Pair (different suits): 5:1 payout.
   • Colored Pair (same color, different suits): 10:1 payout.
   • Perfect Pair (same rank and suit): 30:1 payout.
2. 21+3: This wager considers your first two cards and the dealer’s upcard, forming a three-card poker hand. Winning combinations include:
   • Flush: 5:1 payout.
   • Straight: 10:1 payout.
   • Three of a Kind: 30:1 payout.
   • Straight Flush: 40:1 payout.
   • Suited Trips: 100:1 payout.
3. Insurance: When the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you can place an insurance bet, wagering that the dealer has a blackjack. This bet pays 2:1 but carries a high house edge, making it generally unfavourable for players.
4. Lucky Ladies: This bet wins if your initial hand totals 20, with higher payouts for specific combinations, such as two Queens of Hearts. Payouts can reach up to 200:1, but the house edge is notably high.
5. Bust It!: Here, you’re betting that the dealer will bust with a specific number of cards. Payouts increase with the number of cards the dealer uses to bust, offering higher rewards for more extended bust sequences.

The house edge for side bets is generally higher than for the main blackjack game, often exceeding 10%. For instance, the house edge for the Insurance bet is approximately 7.4%, making it a less favourable option for players. It’s essential to understand the specific rules and odds associated with each side bet and to approach them with caution.

Variants and related games

Blackjack has inspired numerous variants, each introducing unique rules and strategies that add depth to the classic game. Here are some notable versions:

• Spanish 21: This variant offers liberal rules, such as allowing players to double down on any number of cards and providing bonuses for specific hands like five-card 21s. However, all 10-spot cards are removed from the deck, increasing the house edge.
• Blackjack Switch: Players are dealt two hands and can swap the second card between them to form stronger hands. Natural blackjacks pay even money, and if the dealer reaches 22, it’s a push against all non-busted hands.
• Double Exposure Blackjack: Both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face-up, giving players more information. To compensate, player blackjacks pay even money, and ties result in a loss for the player.
• Super Fun 21: Players can split hands up to four times and win automatically with a six-card hand totalling 20. However, blackjacks typically pay even money, slightly increasing the house edge.
• Pontoon: Popular in the UK and Australia, this game is similar to blackjack but uses different terminology and rules. For instance, a “pontoon” is a hand totaling 21 with two cards, and players must hit on hands totaling 14 or less.