New Game: Blackjack

Blackjack

Rules

Blackjack, also known as Twenty-One, is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. Blackjack is a comparing card game between a player and a dealer, meaning that the players compete against the dealer. It is played with one or more decks of 52 cards. The object of the game is to beat the dealer which can be done in a number of ways:

• Get 21 points on the players first 2 cards (Blackjack), without a dealer Blackjack
• Reach a final score higher than the dealer but not exceeding 21; or
• Let the dealer draw additional cards until his or her hand exceeds 21.

The player or players are dealt an initial two-card hand and add together the value of their cards. Face cards (kings, queens, and jacks) are counted as ten points. A player and the dealer can count his or her own ace as 1 point or 11 points. All other cards are counted as the numeric value shown on the card. After receiving their initial two cards, players have the option of getting a "hit", or taking an additional card. In a given round, the player or the dealer wins by having a score of 21 or by having the highest score that is less than 21. Scoring higher than 21 (called "busting" or "going bust") results in a loss. A player may win by having any final score equal to or less than 21 if the dealer busts. If a player holds an ace valued as 11, the hand is called "soft", meaning that the player cannot go bust by taking an additional card; 11 plus the value of any other card will always be less than or equal to 21. Otherwise, the hand is "hard".

Probability

You see, what you may not know about Blackjack, is that there are a number of subtle rule changes a casino can make (their 'house rules') that alter their edge considerably in this game.

In many casinos a dealer/player tie is called a push, and you win your money back. In fact if a player lost on ties from 17-21, it would give the house an extra 8.86% house advantage, on top of their other house edge.

In fact, according to the respected Wizard Of Odds web site, there are over 3,000 subtle rule combinations that can massively affect the edge when playing blackjack.

The link I've given you explains this in more detail, and there is even a calculator provided that allows you to enter the rules from the specific casino you play at and see the house edge.

Once you know the house edge, that's only part of the battle. The next issue is how you play. If you don't play perfect mathematical strategy, you start to give up more edge to the casino.

So when someone tells you that blackjack has a really low house edge, for the most part they are wrong. The exact edge is determined by the rules in place, together with the skill and ability of the player. In a casino with bad blackjack rules, and a player who is not playing perfect strategy, the edge could easily be worse than a slot machine.

For all of these reasons, it's not possible to answer your question. The odds of you beating the dealer, depend very much on the rules, and your ability as a player to make the right decisions.

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWn8xHKhYYs

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