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The Basics of Blackjack

Blackjack, or 21, as it is often called, is played with an ordinary deck of 52 cards, in which the jokers have been removed. There are four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs; the suits have no intrinsic value. An ace of spades has the same value as an ace of hearts.

There are thirteen cards in each suit - the Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, and king. In some casinos only one deck is used. In the majority of casinos, multiple decks of four-or-more are dealt. Even if multiple decks are used, the composition of the decks remain the same.

The Value of the Cards:

Cards have individual values, according to their spots or numbers, with a few exceptions. The 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 each has its individual value. A 9 is worth 9 and 6 worth 6, for purposes of counting the value of a hand. A jack, queen, and king - each has a value of 10.

Since there are four cards of each rank, except for the 10, jack, queen, and king (which make up sixteen 10-value cards), the 10s dominate the game, and special regard must be given to them in any strategy used for beating the casino.

Last, but most important, we have saved the ace for discussion. It alone, amongst all the cards, has a dual value. It can count as 1 or as 11, at the option of the player. Having this dual value makes it the most important and powerful of all cards in blackjack. It also has another powerful function. Combined with any 10-value card, the hand becomes a blackjack, the strongest of all hands.

The Original Hand:

We have discussed individual card values. But in blackjack, the original hand dealt to the player, or by the dealer to himself, consists of two cards. The total of these two cards must be added together in order to determine future strategy. In the game of casino blackjack, if a player is not satisfied with their two-card total, they may draw or hit the hand to improve it.

We mentioned before that the game is also called 21. That is the highest total allowed for any valid hand. If a player's total value goes over 21, they are said to have a bust hand, or to have busted.

However, a player cannot bust with just the two cards dealt to them, originally. The highest total they can have is 21, or a blackjack, if they are dealt a 10 and an ace. This is an immediate winner, and the most desirable of all hands. The next highest original total is 20, which consists of either two 10s, or an ace and a 9, with the ace counting as 11.

Busting:

Busting is going over 21 and losing. A player can only have a valid hand if it is 21 or less. The same holds true for the dealer.

By the rules of blackjack, if a player busts, they lose immediately. If a dealer busts, they lose only to those players who have remained with valid hands. Thus, if you bust, and subsequently, in the same round of play, the dealer busts, it doesn't help you. You have lost.

The question then is "Why draw or hit your hand if you are in danger of busting"? For example, anytime you have a hard total of 12 or more, you are in danger of busting if you hit. For example, if you have 9-3, and hit, any 10 you draw will bust your hand. So why do it?

There is a basic strategy at play in a blackjack game, and there are times when you must take the chance of busting in an endeavor to improve your total points.