To become a successful blackjack player one needs to know basic strategy. The vast majority of players start learning basic strategy using basic strategy chart which can be easily found on the web. This strategy explains how to play your first two cards depending on the dealer’s card.

Here’s an explanation of how to interpret the strategy chart:

If the first two cards dealt to you are 3 and 5 then you have 8 total. The chart suggests to hit. You get another 3, and that is 11 total. The chart suggestes to double on 11, but remember, that this only concerns first two cards dealt. In this case you should hit. It is very important to remeber that chart offers strategy applicable to the first two cards.

If the dealer’s up card is an ace you will be offered an insurance. Actually, you are not insuring your original bet but make a side bet that the dealer has a ten in the hole. If you make insurance bet and the dealer has the ten you are paid 2 to 1. In this case you lose the initial bet but you win the insurance bet. If you have a blackjack and the dealer’s up card is an ace you will offered even money for your blackjack instead of 3 to 2. If you didn’t take the even money and the dealer has blackjack you will have a push. Even money and insuranace bets are sucker bets.

Surrender

Some of the online casinos offfer surrender option that allows you to surrender your hand and receive half of your original bet back after the dealer checks for a blackjack. It is called late surrender. Sadly, many blackjack players agree to surrender more hands than they should.

Knowing blackjack rules and following basic strategy will allow you to gain valuable experience. As an experienced player you will know more about the blackjack game and that will allow you to develop and practice your own strategy.

If either you or dealer is dealt a ten-value card and an ace it is called blackjack. In case you are dealt blackjack you win 3 to 2 for your bet in case the dealer does not have blackjack. If you and the dealer both have blackjack it is called a push and you get your bet back. If the dealer is dealt blackjack and you are not you lose your bet.

Hitting

If you want to draw another card it is called a hit. Just push the hit button to hit. If you want one more card you push the hit button again.

Standing

Whenever you think you are satisfied with your cards whether it be first two cards ot more cards you push the stand button (unless you are “busted”).

Doubling Down

Double down means that you have the possibility to double your bet after first two cards were received. The majority of online casinos allows to double down on any two cards. Other casinos only allow doubling down for hands that total ten or eleven.

Splitting

If your first two cards form up a pair (two cards of the same rank) you are allowed to split them into two separate hands. In order to do this you have to push split button. Each of your two hands will be played separately. It means you will be automatically dealt one card for each hand and then continut to play both of these hands the usual way.

If you have a soft hand and three cards have value higher than 21 then this hand becomes hard hand beacuse ace’s value changes from 11 to 1. For example you are dealt an ace and a five – the total value of your cards is 16 or 6. Then you hit and get a jack. In this case the value of your cards becomes higher than 21 and therefore ace is counted as 1.

Offline Blackjack is played on a special table that is semi-circle shaped. It has a separate square or circle for each player. When you sit down you have to buy chips from the dealer or bring them from cashier or another table. Tne player decides on the amount of bet and puts it in the betting circle in front of him. Remember, only chips in the betting circle count as your bet. The play begins after all bets were made.

Depending on variations, blackjack is with one to eight decks of cards. In double and single deck games the dealer deals the cards. The cards are dealt out of small box called shoe in multi-deck games.

The cards are dealt face down and the player is allowed to pick up his cards in hand held games. In a shoe game the cards are dealt face up and the player is not allowed to touch his cards. The gameply is the same for both hand-held and shoe games.

As we already know the objective of the game is to beat the dealer. If your cards total value is higher than the dealer’s and is not higher than twenty one you win. If your hand is higher than twenty you are “busted” which means that you automatically lose. If the dealer is “busted” and you are not you win. The player acts first and if he is “bust” he loses regardless even in case if the dealer is “busted”.

If you don’t know which Blackjack game to choose, you can try an instant play version, which allows to play all the basic online casino games free. Free play is a perfect way not only to choose a game to play, but also to test the software of the casino and decide whether you want to open a real-money account here.