Learn to Play Blackjack and Win Part 1

Learning to play blackjack is easy and it is the one casino game where statistically you can hold an edge over the casino.

You can learn blackjack easily the rules are simple but to win at blackjack you need to play correctly and bet when the odds are in your favor

This article will give you the basics of how to learn blackjack and the next article will go into winning strategies. So let's get started and learn blackjack rules and how to play.

Learn Blackjack The rules

The object is to take cards with point totals as close to 21 without going over 21. The face cards (Kings, Queens and Jacks) are worth 10 points each. Aces are worth 1 or 11, whichever is advantageous to your hand. All other cards are represented by their designated number.

Should the player and the dealer tie, it is called a push and there is no winner. The ace and a 10 (called a natural or Blackjack) on the first two cards dealt is an automatic player win paying out at 1.5 to 1, unless the house ties with a blackjack as well.

Winning at blackjack means you must beat the dealer without busting. You bust if the cards in your hand total to more than 21.

Learn Blackjack - betting

A casino blackjack table usually seats 6 players. Most tables used to use one or two decks of cards to play, but to counter the professional card counters; the casinos now use six decks of cards. These are shuffled together by the dealer and placed in a card dealing box called the 'shoe'.

To begin play, you must place a bet. The dealer then deals each player two cards (some table leave the cards dealt face up, some face down). The dealer gets one face up, one face down.

At this point, each player in their turn will stay or hit (takes more cards), and to try and get closer to 21 without busting.

If you have not busted, you are still in the game, and its now the dealers turn. The dealer now turns up the hidden card, and by the rules, at sums of 17 or higher the dealer must stay; on sums of 16 or lower the dealer must draw.

If you have a natural (or blackjack) with your first two cards (an ace and a face or ten card), you win automatically, unless the dealer also has Blackjack, then its a push (tie).

Otherwise, any players with a higher score than the dealer wins an amount equal to their bet. Anyone less than the dealer, loses. Should the dealer go bust, all the remaining players win.

Blackjack Terminology

Double Down: double your initial bet following the initial two-card deal, but you can hit one card only. A good bet if the player is in a strong situation.

Early Surrender: surrender allowed before the dealer checks for blackjack.

Even Money: cashing in your bet immediately at a 1:1 payout ratio when you are dealt a natural blackjack and the dealer's showing card is an Ace Insurance: side bet up to half the initial bet against the dealer having a natural 21 - allowed only when the dealer's showing card is an Ace. If the dealer has a 10 face down and makes a blackjack, insurance pays at 2-1 odds, but loses if the dealer does not.

Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace or with an Ace valued at 1 is said to be hard in that it can only be given one value, unlike a Soft Hand. (You can value an Ace 1 or 11 to suit you

Late Surrender: the dealer first checks to see if he has blackjack. If he does, surrender is not permitted.

Soft Hand: A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 is called a Soft Hand.

Split Hand: split the initial two-card hand into two and play them separately - allowed only when the two first cards are of equal value. Use each card as the start to a separate hand and place a second bet equal to the first.

Surrender: giving up your hand and lose only half the bet.

What Are the Odds?

If you have no strategy, the Casinos odds are against you by about 7%.

If you use a good strategy and keep with it, the Casinos odds against you are only 0.5% or less. If you can card count, and know when to bet, you can bring the advantage to about 1% in your favor.

Now you have learned to play blackjack its time to look at some strategies to win in part 2