Blackjack

“Blackjack is the only casino game an amateur can learn to play and at which he can definitely win.” -from Playing Blackjack as a Business by Lawrence Revere

The game of blackjack is known to be the most popular card game at casinos everywhere. This is most probably because blackjack rules are easy enough to learn and straightforward enough to understand, making it a game that anyone can play. Also known as 21 and pontoon, blackjack is one of the card games that actually gives a player an edge over the house. Blackjack is a counting game, with mathematical strategies involved. This is also one of the reasons for its immense popularity: the use of skill plus luck in winning a game.

The basic objective of blackjack is for the cards you hold, or your “hand” to reach 21. Anything over 21 is a bust, and the player with the highest total of cards below 21 wins. Blackjack can be played using any number of decks from 1 to 8, and the ultimate goal is to beat the dealer with a winning hand.

The cards' values are those printed on them, regardless of the suit, except for the face cards: jack, queen and king. These cards are equivalent to ten. The ace is a special case. It can either be a one or an eleven depending on your hand.

Basic blackjack rules are simple, and keeping up with the variations should be no problem once you get the hang of it. If you want to start playing, you can check out the rest of this site for more information on blackjack.