How to play Blackjack for the first time: tips and tricks

Have you ever seen a casino scene in a movie? You can expect drama! Remember that actor fighting for his life while playing in “Casino Royale”? That is one of the most common games you can see in movies: blackjack. The British superspy played by Daniel Craig loves blackjack. If you haven’t seen that movie, maybe you remember the card counting Dustin Hoffman makes in the Oscar-winning film called “Rain Man” or the role played by Tom Cruise. And except for movies, blackjack is a game preferred by many sports starts, socialites or artists like Ben Affleck, Michal Jordan, or Paris Hilton.

But have you ever played it?

What’s the game about?

The first thing you need to know about blackjack is that you can’t just sit down at a table and win a game right away. But don’t worry! This game isn’t super hard and difficult or challenging to play. And once you know the basic rules – or at least a few of them – you’re good to go. You will build your knowledge and grow and get better and better at the game with every experience.

Because blackjack isn’t just a game you can play at a casino! In fact, you can do your practice online – there are a lot of blackjack apps and platforms – even before you do it physically in a public space. Wanna start off good? Here are some tips and tricks and the basic rules that will help you learn and be confident!

What are the Blackjack rules?

In simple terms, you are playing against the dealer and the objective is to get as close to 21 as possible, but without going over. So, to reach the blackjack, you just need to get 21 with your first two cards. If this happens, you win. You can also get a higher score than the dealer but it must be under 21 or equal to it.

If you’re not familiar with the cards, know that kings, queens and jacks have a value of 10 and aces can be either 1 or 11. For example, when you get a 4 and an ace, you need to decide if your hand values 5 or 15. This way, you also decide if you want another card or hit, or you just sit back and stick to your cards. While the ace offers you flexibility, it’s not a guarantee that your hand will get better with a new card.

Find more about the basic rules of blackjack online! There are plenty of resources out there about this game. But just know that you might encounter some different versions of blackjack and the rules may vary depending on the variant you’re about to play.

Beginner’s tips
It’s always good to read a few tips before you start playing, just so you know what to expect and how to give your best performance. Here are some tips!

Make sure you check the dealer’s face-up card and don’t act before you see it. This card can be bad (2 to 6) or good (7 to 11)

Start small when you first sit down at the table because it’s better to assess first and then take any risks. Pay attention to the dealer and notice if they are winning or losing, so you can adapt to the situation. Always be careful to evaluate the cards before putting money on the table!

Advanced player’s tips

If you’ve been around the tables before (and maybe for a while now) it’s possible that you know what to expect by now. But you can still benefit from some tips! Because you never know… so here are some tricks to help you get even better:

You can split double aces and 8s if you receive them. What does that mean? That you will play two hands which could give you a better chance at winning.

It’s not worth taking insurance in case the dealer has blackjack. Why? Because insurance gives the dealer a great edge but it will only win you your wager back. If the dealer’s card is an ace, you can take out insurance in case they have blackjack. But if the dealer’s second card is a 10, you know they have blackjack and you’re safe. Learn what the odds of the dealer having blackjack are – they can be fairly low and it’s best you don’t take out insurance.

Although blackjack is considered a simple game, it doesn’t guarantee you a big win from the start! Because first, like with any game you haven’t played before, you need to understand the rules, learn some tips and get behind the tricks and the basics so you can make sure in time you’ll put the game at work and win. How about a taste of victory? Enjoy your game!