Also known as Twenty-One, the objective of all the players in blackjack is to ensure they hit 21 without busting.
In doing so, they will try to beat the dealer’s card and produce a blackjack hand while not going exceeding 21. With a high RTP of around 96%, blackjack is one of the most popular games available at casinos.
Before you begin to play, you need to have a deep-rooted understanding of the cards inside out and their respective values, as well as when to stick or twist after the first card and second card has been handed to you by the dealer.
You can try out one of the various free blackjack games that will be available at most casinos, which will give you an idea of what you can expect once you receive a card face down.
Carry on reading to find out about the value of cards, as well as explore the process of how a blackjack game is carried out.
CARD VALUES IN BLACKJACK
Vingt-et-Un (French for 21) or Blackjack, as it is commonly known comes with many cards, and cards will be valued as such.
- Cards 2 to 10: The value will be equal to their numerical value.
- Jack, Queen, and King: These face cards will be worth 10.
- Ace: This card can be worth one or 11 depending on what a player decides.
When you play from a single deck, the hand value for the player’s cards can be drilled down further into soft and hard blackjack hands. And it all comes down to the ace card.
A hard hand may not contain an ace or if it does, then it will be valued as 1, whereas with a soft hand, an ace will count for 11 after the deck of cards has been distributed.
Whatever hand you have will dictate your basic strategy. So, for example, picking up one more card or additional cards on a hard 16 could backfire in a game as you could well exceed 21 and bomb out.
DEALING CARDS IN BLACKJACK STEP BY STEP
A blackjack game has a few rules for players to contend, with which we have outlined once the dealer starts dealing. So, without further ado, let’s see how things operate from the shuffle onwards.
The shuffle
Before the dealer can begin to deal at the table, time must be taken to shuffle the cards. This will be different when you are playing with multiple decks, as you need to ensure that the cards are completely randomised.
Once the cards have been shuffled, cue the dealer. Those players who have a shoe will have to place the cards in the shoe face down. The cards will need to be well aligned, so it will be easy to pull from the slot once you start dealing.
Players place their bets
This is crunch time. Players will need to place their bets before the dealer’s cards come into play, and there will be a minimum and maximum bet imposed by the casino for any given table game.
The dealer stands at this point until all players have placed their wagers. Bets will be placed one at a time, and those who haven’t made their bets before the dealer starts will sit out the round of a particular game, and wait until the next round before making their next bet.
Start dealing
It’s now the dealer’s chance to start dealing. The dealer will present one card face up, and the play will swing from left to right.
The dealer can take one card out in the face up position, and place it in front of the next player. While the new dealer may have their own technique, you may choose to flip it over face up in front of the player. You will repeat this until all players have a single card facing up.
Finish the dealing
When all the players have been dealt at least one card face up, the remaining cards will be distributed around the table.
The top card will be in the face up position, and you will work logically through the deck and the next card until all the used cards have been dispensed with.
Bet collecting
This is where things reach a climax at the table. A player may choose to stick or twist, and should they do the latter, then they will pick up an additional card.
Depending on the hand value of two cards, a player may decide to place a bet or side bet, and test their luck before the dealer’s turn.
It is always fascinating to see whether the players cards put themselves in a strong position after a particular play. and the dealer pays up if you land a treasured blackjack.
WHAT IS FACE DOWN CARD IN BLACKJACK?
After the player receives their first card face up, the second card, otherwise known as the hole card, will be placed face down, which the dealer can peek at, but he will only reveal the players cards if he makes blackjack.
INSURANCE FOR ORIGINAL BET
The insurance should be viewed more as an optional bet, and it comes into play when the dealer’s cut card is an ace, and they haven’t checked in to see whether they have blackjack or not.
The optional bet carries odds of 2:1, and it will be paid out at this price if the dealer holds a blackjack. Unlike a side bet, this is only applicable when the initial cards have been dealt from the deck.
Of course, a player loses if they exceed 21, so they have to weigh up the risks and rewards of taking on an additional bet once they have seen the cards face up.
THE DEALER AND HIS ROLE IN A BLACKJACK DEAL
Whether you are playing a single deck or double deck game, the dealer is responsible for ensuring that the games run smoothly.
They are there to ensure that the rules are adhered to, and if any overhand shuffles that need to take place, there are no discrepancies. Without the dealer, there may be more fraught situations with players around the table.
The dealer is like the orchestrator, as they will determine when bets can be placed, and players will have to follow his command during a game.
WHAT CAN THE DEALER ALLOW THE PLAYER TO DO
The dealer will allow players to hand over money for each bet they make, and they will handle the shuffling and drawing of cards from a deck.
Also, the dealer will allow players to question the hand value of their cards if they are unsure about something.
WHAT CAN THE DEALER FORBIDDEN TO THE PLAYER
There are a few things that the dealer is forbidden from doing. Firstly, they can’t advise or help players once they have placed their bets.
The dealer also can’t allow players to place objects on the table. At all times, the dealer needs to have a clear view of the deck, and chips.
HOW TO DEAL BLACKJACK TO WIN
Once the cards from the deck have been dealt diagonally to players, the dealer should either hand them to a player who is ready to twist. This is where the insurance bet comes in as players will fear that the dealer has blackjack.
At the showdown, the dealer will show his hand after the player has revealed theirs, and whoever has 21 will be declared the winner. Payouts will be sorted there and then before a new round can commence.
CONCLUSION
Blackjack is an eminently simple game to play and understand, but we have tried to show you there are a few steps and decisions to make at the table.
The dealer plays a prominent role, and they are held to account from the moment they shuffle cards in the deck. While there are plenty of regular online blackjack games, Energy Casino also has a few live titles that are immersive which will appeal, so go and check them out today!
⭐ Are two aces blackjack?
While having two aces is great, it's not perfect, and it won't be considered a natural blackjack by many casinos.
⭐ Is there a best blackjack deal strategy?
There isn't one perfect blackjack deal strategy in place, however, the dealer should be scrupulous in the deck and make sure that the cut card is well placed.
⭐ Does the dealer always have an advantage over the player?
Yes, from the moment the deck is shuffled, players will automatically assume that the dealer has a blackjack, and they are often good at squeezing players out of a game.
⭐ Is card counting in blackjack legal?
Card counting in blackjack isn't illegal per se, nevertheless, casinos will be wary of such moves, and they can reserve the right to boot players out of a game if they are concerned about suspicious activities at the table.
⭐ Is the dealing of cards the same for online blackjack and live blackjack?
Yes, the cards will be of the same value, and you will need to hit the desired same total (21), but it will just be the environment in which the games that take place will be different. Some people will prefer to play the online version as they can play at their own pace, and don't have to worry about missing a seat at the table.