Many real-life and virtual casinos make big money on careless or inexperienced players who do not bother to learn how to play blackjack correctly before they enter the game. If you do not want to be one of those people, take time to review the following recommendations that explain how the classical version of blackjack, also known as Single Deck Blackjack, plays and which strategies will help you win.
How to play blackjack?
In traditional and online blackjack, the player always plays against the dealer, regardless of how many other participants are involved in the game. The player’s goal is to score a combination worth 21 points or anything close to 21 but more than the dealer’s hand. Any hand valued at more than 21 points is an overkill that automatically implies a loss.
- Value of cards
In blackjack, all picture cards give 10 points, and numbered cards come at their face value. The Ace can be worth either 1 or 11 points, whichever creates a better hand. A combo where the Ace is worth 11 points is a soft hand, and the one with the Ace worth 1 is a hard hand.
- Gameplay
Before the game begins, all players make their bets. Once all bets have been placed, each game participant, including the dealer, is given two cards, face up or face down. It is time for the player to start making decisions that will determine the game outcome: they can either “hit” – draw another card to improve their current hand or “stay” – not take any extra cards. The dealer continues to draw cards until there is a solid 16-point hand but stops at 17 points.
- Blackjack bonus
The luckiest hand in blackjack is Natural Blackjack that features a picture card and an Ace. It offers a payout of 3: 2 instead of the standard 1: 1.
- Insurance in blackjack
If the dealer gets an Ace face up, the likelihood of the player losing increases. In this case, players can deposit half of their original bet as insurance that will pay at 2: 1 if the dealer does hit the blackjack.
Why play online blackjack on HomePlay?
HomePlay is a modern and friendly online casino that has a lot of surprises in store for SA gamblers who are eager to play their favorite games online. The platform has a great design, robust but simple functionality, and round-the-clock customer support. HomePlay offers an extensive collection of over 160 video slots and card games, including the immensely popular Single Deck Blackjack.
