Blackjack is a card game in which the player attempts to beat the dealer by making a hand with at least an ace and one other card. All cards have a value, from the ace (worth 1) through the picture card (worth 10). In some casinos, jokers are included in the deck of playing cards, but they do not count for anything other than their face value. The rules of a game vary widely, and the amount that a player can win is determined by a combination of house rules and player decisions.
In most games, a player who makes a total of 21 on the first two cards is paid 3:2 on their bet; this hand is called a “blackjack”. A blackjack beats any other hand that does not have a blackjack, including hands with a higher point total. Many games also allow players to take insurance, which is an optional side wager that pays if the dealer has a blackjack. This bet loses money in the long run, but some players find it psychologically comforting to have a chance of winning a large sum if they have an ace and a ten-value card.
Some casinos have additional side wagers, such as the Over/Under 13 wager, which pays on a pair of numbers that add up to 13. The odds on this bet are more than 2:1, but it is still a losing proposition for the player in the long run.
Other casino rules that can affect a player’s edge include whether the player can split, double down, or surrender their hand. Some casinos will only allow splitting if the initial cards are of equal value. Others restrict doubling down to certain situations, such as when the player has an ace and a five. Some casinos will also only allow re-splitting if the original cards are 10 or more.
Counting cards can give a player an advantage in blackjack, but most people who play the game are not serious about trying to get the edge. In addition, most casino-goers don’t even understand basic strategy, which is easy to learn but can make a big difference in the odds of winning. In fact, only about 20% of players learn how to count cards, and only a small percentage of those actually do it correctly. The Blackjack Traveler spends 48 weeks a year on the road in an attempt to find games with an edge, and often comes away empty-handed. Nonetheless, his trips do provide material for his column in a Taiwanese magazine. He also contributes to blackjack strategy websites and publishes a newsletter called Blackjack Insider.