A Blackjack Prologue

Blackjack, the century old card counting game has been making waves around casinos all over the world. It is because people find the game not only easy and enjoying but also winnable.

Well, they are right! In order to win in a blackjack game all we need to do is to get a 21 card total. If we fail to do so let us say we get a 22 or above then sorry we fall out of luck. However, if we get below 21 let us wish that our total is greater than the dealer.

Let us review first on how to determine card values in blackjack. Numbered cards take their original value so a 2 of spades and 2 of clubs is worth 4. The suites do not play significant role in blackjack. Now the face cards (jacks, queens and kings) have a value of ten. What about the aces? An ace is one or eleven, depending on how the player and the banker will use it.

To illustrate further, let us simulate a typical blackjack one-on-one scenario. After you have placed your bet on the table, the dealer will shuffle a deck of cards. This deck could be multiple decks meaning it could be 104 cards or more. In blackjack, it is called a shoe. It is used by most casinos as means of protecting profit loss. The dealer will then distribute the cards, two cards for us and another two for himself. How the dealer distributes the cards in blackjack depends on the policy of the casino itself. Some casinos distribute the cards alternately: one card for the player one card for the banker. Others give a player his two cards before the banker receives his. Furthermore, other casinos allow the winner to do the shuffling after he won a blackjack round.

We notice that one card of the banker is already exposed; in blackjack it is called an upcard. On the other hand, the unseen card is called an hole card. If by chance we get an ace and any card worth ten in value, our cards are said to be natural. Furthermore, we win automatically that blackjack round. Unless, the dealer ties or pushes us meaning he too also has a total of twenty one. Otherwise, his cards sum up to twenty one while hitting or asking for additional cards.

Having a natural card is somehow less probable. So in order to win blackjack this time is to outvalue the dealer but never get busted. We can make a hit to improve our card total. We can stand if we are confident enough that ours is greater than dealer. Or finally, surrender, which we give up half of our bet.