Blackjack is a card game played by two or more players against a dealer. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer by having a hand value higher than theirs or by not busting (exceeding 21). Players make bets and the dealer deals two cards face up to each player and one card face down to themselves. The players can then decide to stand, hit, split, double down or surrender their hand. The dealer must hit on all totals of 16 or less and stand on all hands that are 17 or higher.
Blackjack was first introduced in the early days of casino gambling and had a very simple rule set. The dealer was paid only 3 to 2 on winning blackjacks, and the players were allowed to double down on any two cards, and even after splitting pairs. A player’s untied blackjack hand was also paid at 3 to 2. These rules were the standard for decades in Las Vegas casinos.
As casinos moved to modernize their operations, they made some minor changes to blackjack rules. Some of these were to simplify the rules for dealers, thereby making them easier to understand and follow. The most significant change was a shift from 3-to-2 blackjack to 6-to-5. This was a big deal to serious blackjack players as it increased the house’s edge by about 2%.
The house edge for a player playing perfect basic strategy in a 3-to-2 blackjack game is approximately 0.5%. In a 6-to-5 blackjack game, this edge increases to about 2%. This may seem like a small difference, but over time, it adds up to a sizable loss for the player.
There are some players who try to compensate for this increase in house edge by doubling their bets whenever they have a blackjack. This is a dangerous practice and should be avoided. It is much better to use a predetermined budget and stick to it.
It is also important for blackjack players to know the difference between a hard and soft hand. This is because playing strategies for both types of hands are different. Suppose you are dealt a 10-7 and the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. You will need to determine whether to hit or stand on your hand. A hard hand is a strong play, while a soft hand is an unfavorable situation. If you play your hand properly, you will be able to tie her hand and retain your original bet (a $10 wager in this case). This is known as a push and neither party loses or wins money.