The origin of Blackjack is somewhat still unclear, however there is a general consensus that it probably originated in France sometime around 1700. Since its introduction, the game has grown in popularity and stature enormously. It has become an essential part of any casino room whether it be in physical or virtual form. Blackjack is up there with Roulette as, arguably, the most popular table game against the house.
The nature of Blackjack is to be fast paced; quick to win and quick to lose. For these reasons casinos have given Blackjack table optimal position on their gaming floors. In other words, they take up ‘Prime’ floor space where the tables will gain the most profit.
In the world of online blackjack, there is a similar story.
Mobile casinos boast a multitude of Blackjack games. Hi or Lo Roller. Bonus. Multi-Hand. Live Dealer. As the world keeps relying on technology, we will see more and more options become available.
The Live Dealer game is the latest addition to Blackjack’s portfolio. This is when a player will be up against a real-life dealer, live, via a webcam. This gives the player the visual stimulation that they receive in a real-life casino, all without actually having to go to a casino.
Blackjack Live Dealer. The Rules.
Blackjack is and easy to learn game, and known for its simplicity. Blackjack has been the go-to card game for beginners as it is the easiest to learn and because of its fast-fun nature, it stays with the player for their entire gaming life. The most important thing you have to know is the value of the cards and to have the ability to count to 21.
A player will stake how much money they want to gamble before the cards are dealt.
Why 21? The whole point of the game is to get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over it. If the dealer and the player are equal or ‘tied’, then the pot will be pushed and the player will receive their stake back in its entirety. An ‘Ace’ is counted as either 1 or 11. The only time a pot will not be pushed is if the player achieves 21 in 3 or more cards and the dealer in 2, or vice-versa. A 2-card 21 (Ace and 10 or Ace and picture card) is known as ‘Blackjack’.
These are the basic fundamentals to the game of Blackjack. However, there are some other rules that players are encouraged to learn before engaging themselves in a money game.
Dealer ‘Stands’ on 17 – The dealer is forced to stand on 17 and cannot pull another card.
Double Down – A player can double their original stake for 1 additional card. The player can’t receive anymore thereafter.
Split – If a player receives a pair in their hole cards, then they have the option to split them. The dealer will then deal an additional card on each of the split cards, essentially making two new hands. If the player splits them then they must put the same as the original stake on the new hand. If a player makes a pair again with the new hand, it is possible to split them again, but the player must stake the same as the original again for the third hand. It is possible to split for as long as you keep getting pairs, however, this may be restricted depending on the casino. Surrender – A player is able to ‘Surrender’ their cards after being dealt their first two cards. If the player chooses to surrender then they will give half of their original stake to the dealer and get back half.
These are the most recent rules of Blackjack. But as the game continues to develop, there will be more things to learn.
