Understanding Blackjack

Many of us have tapped an app or logged in via a desktop to seek out an adventure or two within an online casino. 

But when it comes playing online casino at Paddy Power Games, or your other favourite casino site, there are so many to choose from that it can sometimes be a little overwhelming. 

With this in mind, we wanted to remind you of one casino classic that has stood the test of time, claiming the title of ‘casino classic’, as well as securing one of the top spots for players around the world. 

We are of course, talking about Blackjack.

Blackjack

Blackjack has evolved over time to become more accessible to the masses, rather than just those that visit brick-and-mortar casino establishments, introducing itself to new audiences and players, as well as casino connoisseurs who like to dabble both in-person and online.

Blackjack is a card game that’s played using one or more52 card decks, where all that counts is the value of the card, rather than the suit. The objective of the game is to hold a higher hand than the dealer, without exceeding a total of 21. 

To begin a game, the dealer will issue two cards for you, and two cards for them. The dealer will only reveal one of their cards at the start of the game – the other will be turned over at the end. You, however, will turn both your cards over. If your hand totals 21 then this is a Blackjack and you win. 

If it’s near 21 you can ‘stick’, or if you feel you can reach higher with another card, you can ask to be ‘hit’ and take one more. If your third card takes your total over 21, you lose.

Cards’ values are easy to master; cards two to ten are their face value and the royal cards, Jack, Queen and King, all hold the value of ten. The ace, however, holds two values, which you get to decide, to best suit the hand that you hold within gameplay – this can either be a value of one or eleven. 

Ways to win or lose

There are three ways in which you can win within gameplay: holding a hand where the total is higher than the dealers, if the dealer’s hand exceeds the value of 21, or if you’re dealt a hand to the value of 21 with your first two cards and the dealer doesn’t. 

However, where there’s a chance to win, there is also a chance you could lose to the dealer. This can happen when the hand you’re dealt exceeds the value of 21 or if the dealer holds a higher value hand than you, without exceeding 21.

The other players that sit around the table with you during your Blackjack games, do not in any way affect your gameplay. The only person you need to beat is the dealer, not the players that sit beside you. If you win, this would be as an individual, not a team.