Introduction to blackjack and basic rules

Blackjack, also known as Twenty-One (called Xì Dách/Xì Lát in Vietnam), is a card game between the player and the dealer, not between two players. The dealer and player each draw two cards, which are then added together to form the initial score. The goal of the game is to get a score as close to 21 as possible, without going over (known as "busting").

The closest score wins, so the player needs to have a score closer to 21 than the dealer. Players can request additional cards (known as "hit") to get closer to the goal, or they can "stand" and hope their current total is enough. The difficulty of the game lies in weighing the risks.

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Further reference: What is Blackjack and the latest Blackjack term today 

4 simple rules when playing blackjack

When to hit, when to stand

The "simple" strategy of Blackjack is to know when to stand or hit. This is the only decision the player makes in the game, and it determines everything. Is your current score close enough to 21 to beat the dealer's score? The dealer may draw a favorable card in their next draw, but the closer your total is to 21, the greater the risk of busting by hitting.

When your starting total is low, especially equal to or less than 11, there is nothing to lose by hitting. Even if the highest card is worth 10, you will still reach 21 points. Remember that you need to reach 21 to win, so you just need to get as close to it as possible, or wait and see if the dealer busts before deciding to hit again. Many players will not hit again for a "hard" hand (when the value of the Ace is counted as 1) that reaches 17 points, as the risk of busting becomes too high at this point.

The value of the Ace card

The best position to be in is to have an Ace card. This is where the term "hard" becomes more meaningful; a "hard" hand does not have an Ace, but a "soft" hand does. This is because the Ace can be counted as 1 or 11 points. If you have a hand of 5, 7, and an Ace, you have a total of both 13 and 23. You can only continue playing because the value of the Ace is not fixed. Because you can turn 11 into 1 in an emergency, you can take more risks with a "soft" hand.

When to double down

Another advanced option is to double down. The player can choose to increase their initial bet, in exchange for one more card, and then must stand no matter what the outcome is. Of course, this can be profitable but comes with a lot of risk. It is best done with an Ace and a low card, or above 11, especially if the dealers have less than 10.

Effective card splitting

Card splitting is dividing a hand into two. This can happen if your first two cards have the same value, and you must place a bet for the second hand. Then, two hands will be separately bet on. The opportunity will come to you easier if you have two strong starting cards, such as two Aces, meaning you now have two strong hands.

Blackjack strategy

• S=Stand.
• H=Hit.
• DD=Double Down.
• P=Split.
• H/P=Split if Double Down is possible or Hit.
• H/R=Surrender or Hit.

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Blackjack Rules

Using a standard deck of 52 cards, the dealer will draw two random cards for both themselves and the player (only one of the dealer's cards is face up). The values of the cards are added together, for example, a 5 of clubs and a 6 of hearts would give a starting point total of 11. All face cards (jacks, queens, and kings) count as 10, while aces can be either 1 or 11. The goal is to have a total number of points as close to 21 as possible, but not exceeding it.

The outcome of blackjack lies in the choice of what action to take next; if no one achieves 21 points from the opening cards dealt (referred to as a "natural" or simply "blackjack"), then the player may choose to draw another card. The new card drawn is added to the current total points. If the new total exceeds 21, the player busts and loses. Each player on the table will make their choice in turn. The dealer must continue to draw cards until they reach 17 points or higher, or bust. The player hopes to "stand" and stop taking cards as they get closer to 21 points.

The dealer typically has to continue to draw cards until they reach 17 points, but this may vary in the case of a soft hand with an ace. Casinos may or may not require the dealer to draw cards with a soft 17 hand. If the game requires the dealer to stand on a soft 17 hand, it will benefit the player, reducing the house edge by about 0.2%. Wagering websites are also free to choose the number of decks they use, with more decks favoring the house.

Some games also allow for a "surrender" option, losing the hand immediately if the player feels they have a small chance of winning. This typically occurs after the dealer checks for blackjack, but there are some casinos that only allow the surrender option early on, which is much more advantageous.

Conclusion

The rules of blackjack are very simple and easy to understand, with players only needing to be familiar with the card values and point calculations to participate easily. Blackjack provides a great gaming experience for those who love to challenge themselves because to win, it takes not only luck but also the ability to calculate and make the right decisions. However, understanding the rules of blackjack does not guarantee that players will win against the bookmaker, as playing skills and correct evaluations are also necessary.