Casino games are advancing in the Netherlands, and for good reason. Where we normally only see games such as Craps and voslot Baccarat in American films, we now also see them appear in Dutch casinos. Blackjack is also such a game that is extremely popular in America and is now also gaining popularity in the Netherlands. However, the Blackjack rules are not yet known to everyone, so in this article we answer the question ‘how does blackjack work?’. In addition, we also give some tips that you can apply to improve your happiness.
The Basics of Blackjack
People are often surprised when you explain how Blackjack works, because the dealer is playing along. So the game is basically between you and the dealer. The dealer is an employee of the casino or – in the case of an online casino – a computer. The aim is to get as close to a blackjack as possible. A blackjack refers to the number 21.
How does blackjack work?
The dealer basically deals two cards to all players and one card to himself. It is now the turn of the players to decide what they want to do. They can choose from the following options:
• To buy;
• To suit;
• Double up;
• Split (in case of two of the same cards).
It is therefore the intention that as a player you get as close as possible to the Blackjack, so twenty-one points. For an official Blackjack you must have 21 points with your first two cards. Make sure that you do not go over this, because then you will go ‘broken’ and you will lose your bet anyway. You can keep an eye on your number of points by adding up the numbers on the cards. Cards with a Jack, Queen or King are all worth 10 points. An ace is worth 1 or 11 points depending on what else you have in your hand. The dealer will also try to get as close to 21 as possible. He does play with a handicap, however, as the dealer must always buy until he has a minimum of 17 points, and must fold as soon as he has 17 or higher in his hand.
Tips to remember
Now that you know a little about how Blackjack works, it’s time to put your luck to the test. However, it is not entirely a matter of luck, as there are a number of tricks you can use to increase your chances.
• Always assume that the dealer’s second card is a 10. There is a good chance that the dealer will get a 10, because you can get it four times. Therefore always assume that the dealer will also receive it. Would you still stop at 16 – knowing that the dealer must continue until he has at least 17 – or would you ask for another card?
• Never split cards with a value of 10. You really only want to split low cards. Chances are pretty good you’ll get stuck on 15 and the chance of busting increases if you start with a 10.
• Double your bet if the first two cards have a sum of 11. We just discussed that the odds of a 10 are quite high, and that’s what we’re betting on when we double the bet.
