The most important element, in a Blackjack game, is the value of the cards. The numerical cards, from 2 to 9, maintain their nominal value unchanged (by way of example, five is five, seven is seven, and so on). The situation with axes and figures is different. The former, in fact, can assume a dual value based on needs (1 or 11); the figures, for their part, are worth 10. If there is no ace present in the two cards initially received, determining the total value is very easy. With an ace (a situation to which the name “soft hand” is attributed), you will decide whether to assign a value of 1 or 11 to the card.
In the event that the other in your possession is a 5 or 6, you could opt for the ’11, bringing the total value, respectively, to 16 and 17; an important result that could lead you to stop, avoiding asking for an additional card. If, on the other hand, you received a 3 in addition to the ace, with an ace value of 11 you would only reach 14, making the call of a third card practically indispensable. This, however, could expose you to the risk of busting (this situation would occur if you receive a card with a value equal to or greater than 8). By assigning a value of 1 to the ace, you would reach 4 (3 + 1), which would protect you from this possibility by asking for an extra card. Moving on to examine the figure of the croupier, the latter is subject to two particular rules. What is it? If the two cards in his possession reach a sum not exceeding 16, he will be obliged to call another card. For values from 17 onwards, however, you will be forced to stop game. There are also rules regarding players.
By receiving two cards of the same value at the beginning of the game (regardless of which one it is), you can make the so-called “Split”, ie split the cards in order to play 2 hands at the same time. This option is also available when the two identical cards are Axes; however, in this case, it is possible to request a single additional card. Another rule establishes that, realizing between 9 and 11 points with the first two cards, you will be entitled to request the “Doubling” of the bet, always within the limits of the call of a single additional card. It could also be the case that the first card the dealer gives is an Ace. This would allow other participants to request an insurance.
What is it about? When betting a certain amount of money (the value must not exceed 50% of the initial stake), on the assumption that the dealer makes a Blackjack. What does it mean to get a Blackjack? Achieve the score of 21 with the two initial cards; this can only be done by placing a figure alongside the Ace. In the presence of the Insurance, if the dealer actually reaches 21, he will be required to pay the 2: 1 bet; gaining any other value, the players will lose the bet amount. Previously we have emphasized how the different versions present, in substance, the same rules. At this point in the guide, we would like to dedicate a few lines to the few differences. If in Europe versions have spread that see the use of 6 decks, in US territory their number is reduced to 2. As we have already written, European Blackjack involves the assignment of two uncovered cards. In America it is not uncommon to find versions where both cards given to players are covered.
Blackjack in online casinos
If you have always played Blackjack in land-based casinos so far, try to do it in a virtual platform will allow you to have fun and, why not, to earn interesting figures, simply by relying on the screen of your PC. Keep in mind that, in many cases, you will be given the opportunity to play for free; this will happen by choosing the demo version. This option is particularly useful for less experienced players. The latter, in fact, will be able to familiarize themselves with Blackjack and its rules without investing their money, simply using the virtual one. Any winnings will not be recognized but, at the same time, you will avoid losing money.
Another advantage of this type of game is that it does not force users to register at the casino. If, on the other hand, you already have sufficient knowledge of Blackjack, why not try your luck with the classic version, investing real sums of money? By doing this you can also take advantage of the bonuses offered by most virtual rooms. Once the expected playthrough is reached, your “Fun Bonus” will be transformed into money, made available in your gaming account. We continue the online Blackjack analysis by examining the terms normally used during the games. The word “Hit” indicates, in fact, the request by a player for an additional card.
The doubling of the bet is known as “Double down”, while the division is called, as previously written, “Split”. The term “Surrender” underlines the decision of a participant to abandon the hand. This happens when the user, once you have seen the cards obtained, it compares them with the value of the dealer’s open card, feeling you have no chance of winning. Half of the bet amount will be returned to the player who has decided to leave the game. On what occasions can withdraw be useful? For example, in the event that the dealer’s up card is a 10 or an Ace, and the player ends up finding himself in a 16 hand. However, several Blackjack experts advise against making excessive use of this strategy, as the risk would be to lose significant figures (remember that only half of the investment is returned to the player).
The combination known as Blackjack, already described in this guide, is also called “Natural 21”. We would like to underline, however, how the Blackjack obtained from the dealer is destined to prevail over the score of 21 made by a player through 2 or more cards. We would like to remind you that, before registering for a virtual casino, it is essential to make sure that the platform operates legally and at the same time is safe and reliable. How to do? Connect to the official casino site of your choice and check that the registrator/regulator logo is present on the home page. What does it mean? That the platform has succeeded in obtaining certification from the Monopolies to carry out the activity. It is precisely the certification that reassures users of the site’s full compliance with the rules, and the fact that the transmission of personal data, and the transactions made (whether incoming or outgoing) is safe. Finally, if you believe that the land casinos are unparalleled in terms of atmosphere and adrenaline, the live streaming versions of Blackjack will make you think again. Today, in fact, it is possible to play live, thanks to the webcams engaged in taking back a croupier in the flesh.