Beginner Guide: How to Play Blackjack

How to play blackjack like a Don at Syndicate Casino

Blackjack tips - Read top blackjack tips and win

Greetings, consigliere; welcome to the most exciting table at the online casino. If you want to know how to play blackjack, we’ve got your back, compagno.

No member of our gang will look like a Mortadella at the blackjack table. Read on for the breakdown of this adrenaline-pumping game, including the steps, standard terms and rules.

What’s the aim of blackjack?

Blackjack is a 1v1 game where it’s you versus the dealer. Even if there are other players, the aim is to beat the croupier. So, how do you beat them?

If you draw a hand value that hits 21 on your first two cards. (In this case, the dealer can’t have the same luck)
If the dealer gets a hand that exceeds 21
If you end up with a higher hand value than the dealer

You lose if your hand is more than 21 or the dealer has a higher score. The good news is as part of the mafia; you can always try again on a new blackjack game at Syndicate Casino.

Mechanisms of blackjack

How to Play Blackjack

Blackjack is a popular go-to option for first-time casino goers. Although it’s a game of luck and strategy, it’s relatively easy to learn.

All players aim to hit 21 without exceeding it. Try to get the score before the dealer hits 17, and whatever you do, don’t bust. Here are the steps for how to play blackjack at a casino:

Step 1: Placing bets

The first step in most casino games is to place your wager. Ensure you meet the minimum bet, and if you’re a beginner, it’s advisable to start small.

Step 2: Hand value analysis

The croupier hands out the cards. Each player receives two, and the dealer shows one of his. Look at the value of the cards you’re holding. Suits don’t matter here; these are the quantifiers in blackjack:

Ace is taken as a 1 or 11, depending on which value is more beneficial to your hand.
K, Q, and J are face cards valued at 10 points.
Cards 2–10 are taken at face value. For example, 3 counts as three, 8 counts as eight points and so on.

Step 3: To hit or not to hit: that is the question

Once all cards are given out, players may raise their initial bets. If your hand seems promising, increasing your wager is a good idea.

If your hand has a total value that’s significantly lower than 21, you should “hit.” What does that mean? It’s when you choose to take another card in an attempt to raise the amount and bring you closer to blackjack.

When your hand value is already sitting at a high total that’s close to 21, it’s advisable to “stand.” This option means you choose not to take any more cards from the pack.

You’ve got blackjack if you get a 10-value card like a Queen or a 10 plus an Ace. If the dealer doesn’t match your luck, you win without even playing the round.

Should they also have blackjack, you don’t get a payout, and you don’t lose your initial wager. The term for this occurrence is “push”.

Step 4: The dealer unveils their cards

You’ll notice the unveiling when you learn how to play live blackjack. The dealer reveals their “hole” card, i.e., the one faced down since the beginning of the game. They will then “hit” if their hand value is 16 or lower and “stand” if it’s 17 or higher.

Unlike players, dealers don’t get the chance to “split,” “surrender,” or “double.” After the cards are revealed, they either:

Make a hand: If the dealer has a higher hand, they sweep your bet, and if they have a lower hand, they pay you. If you both have the same results, it’s a “push”, and you can keep your wager.
Bust: The dealer pays a fee to every remaining hand, usually 1x the wager.

Step 5: A winner is decided; ye who is closer to 21

When the round is over, the person who gets blackjack or the closest to 21 wins the “pot”. It’s the sum of all the bets combined that goes to one player or gets split between all winners. Once the payout is made, the dealer sweeps the cards and commences the next round.

Essential blackjack rules

how to play online blackjack

Like all games, Blackjack has specific rules, terms and prize opinions. Before we get into how to play blackjack at a casino, let’s address some of the standard blackjack terms:

Term	Definition
Up card	The dealer reveals one card throughout the game. It’s a face-up one, while the other is face-down. The visible card is known as the up card.
Multi-deck	Many blackjack games have multi-decks. They use around six to eight decks instead of the usual one.
Flat betting	If you make the same wager constantly without changing your amounts between hands, it’s flat betting. It’s considered a safe but unadventurous strategy.
House edge	The estimated advantage that the casino has is called the house edge. Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of casino games at approximately 1%. In theory, this means if you spend $200, you only lose $2 but remember, nothing is guaranteed.
Burn card	Before the cards are dealt, the croupier places the first one face-down. It sits on the side and removes the possibility of players knowing what their first card will be. It changes how they might place their wager.
Cold deck	When all the cards the shoe is dishing are unappealing, and players are losing more than usual, it’s called a cold deck. It’s the opposite of players running hot, which refers to when the cards are good, and many players are winning.
Blackjack	The title of the game and the best hand to have in blackjack. It consists of a 10-value card and an Ace used as an 11, making the perfect 21.

Regular wins equal 1:1

If the dealer busts, wins are usually paid out 1:1. It’s the normal rate, but it may vary depending on the game.

Blackjack wins get you 3:2

When you get a two-card hand, that equals 21, i.e. an Ace and a 10-value card. It’s called “blackjack” or a “natural”; if you get it, you receive a generous payout of 3:2.

16 and under

If the dealer’s total is under 16, they must take a card (hit). They continue to do so until they achieve 17 or more. Once they get that value, they stand.

Suppose the croupier has an Ace they’re counting as 11 to get closer to 21. In this case, they must claim it as an 11 and “stand”.

Split

This option is up for grabs when your initial two cards have matching values. You can “split,” meaning you may separate them into two sets. If you choose this method, you get additional cards and can play with different hands.

Double down

Here’s one of the best “how to play blackjack in a casino” tips. If you choose to raise your initial bet by 100%, it’s called a “double down”. With this option, you can take one more “hit,” and then you have to “stand”. It’s only advisable if you have an excellent hand.

Alternate betting solutions

Aside from taking a “hit” or a “stand”, there are other betting options in blackjack. Some of these may protect you from substantial losses.

Insurance option

So the dealer’s up card is an Ace. There’s a chance that their other card is a 10-value, giving them blackjack. You’re shaking in your boots, but there’s no need for fear with blackjack insurance.

If you suspect the other card is a 10-value or want to secure yourself, you can make this side bet. It may allow you to break even if the dealer has blackjack.

Note that you can only take insurance by making the side bet before the dealer reveals their “hole” card. It’s only paid out when the dealer gets blackjack. It generally costs approximately half of your initial bet.

Is insurance worth it? This predicament is common, and the truth is it depends. Statistically, the odds are set at 2:1. For example, if you made 50 insurance side bets, you’d only win around 15.5 but lose 34.5 of them.

Insurance may save you from a significant loss. It may also cause you a notable defeat. Use it with discretion, and remember it doesn’t come with any guarantees.

Surrender

Amico, sometimes you don’t have to play the cards you’re dealt; surrender. This blackjack option allows you to fold your hand before the next draw. Consider this method if things are looking down or your hand has a less than 50% chance of hitting a win.

There are two options for surrendering: late and early. The latter allows you to capitulate half of your wager before the dealer checks their hole card.

A late surrender is slightly different. With this option, you can only give up half your bet and tap out after the croupier checks their hand for blackjack.

Soft 17

A crucial part of any blackjack how-to-play guide is a soft 17. What is it? It’s another term for a blackjack hand that’s valued at 17. If you take a “hit”, you can’t bust with this hand. A hard hand with or without an Ace may bust if you take a “hit”.

You can create a soft 17 in multiple ways, such as an Ace and three cards. Why is it called soft? Well, because there’s wiggle room.

If you have no Ace, you have no option to change your hand value. Only the Ace can be taken as a 1 or 11, allowing you to switch the points up or down. If you have a soft hand, you can take a “hit” by using it as 1 or 11, depending on your hand total.

If you have a hand where you have to consider the Ace as a 1 to prevent busting, it’s a hard hand. That’s because you have no wiggle room there.

Typically a soft 17 is spoken about when it’s the dealer’s hand. Generally, the rule is that they hit 16 or fewer in the first round. It lowers the house edge, giving you an advantage.

Enjoy the fun with blackjack

That’s it, Fratellanza; now you know how to rule over the blackjack table at your next visit to Syndicate Casino. What’re you waiting for?

Take your Omertà and join us for a “hit” gaming session of blackjack, slots, live casino games or any other game you desire.