Blackjack: Lucky 21

Blackjack historians trace its routes back to the classic French game of Vingt-et-un (French for twenty one), which was popular as a French parlor game in the 18th century. As with many French games of chance, its popularity soon transferred to the United States. Not such a hit initially, the game's popularity was enhanced when gambling houses began to improve the winning odds. One critical chance was the offer of a 10:1 payout when the player's hand held a jack and ace of spades, hence the game's now popular name. The casinos soon realized that the odds offered for this win were losing them money, so that particular payout was abolished, but the name still remained. Now a blackjack is any two-card combination of twenty one.

The card game of Blackjack, or Pontoon, is one of most familiar casino games in the world. The blend of skill and chance can prove irresistible, with the recent media attraction on card counting (see the movie "21") adding further to the game's allure.

Learning to play Blackjack takes minutes, but it can provide you with a lifetime of entertainment. The first point to note is that you play the game on a one-to-one basis against the casino, or house. The house is also called the dealer, and the two terms are used interchangeably.

The dealer passes out four cards - one to you, face down, and another to himself, also face down. He then deals another card to you face down, and then a final card to himself, this time face up. The result is two cards that only you can see, while the dealer can only see his top card, with his second card still unrevealed.

Now the Blackjack player takes over! He looks at his two cards, without showing them to the dealer, and adds up the total. Number cards count as the face value, while face cards merit ten points each. An ace can count as either one or eleven. The game now requires each player to reach as close as possible to a total of 21. Be aware that the dealer always holds an advantage over the player. If both the player and dealer score the same total, then the dealer always wins. This is called dealer's advantage.

If the player's cards total less than 16, for example a five and a six to total 11, then he must ask the dealer for another card. The common term that players use is hit me, which simply means deal me another card, face up. The player must keep asking the dealer for further cards until his total is 16 or over, at which time he declares that he will stand meaning he will not take any further cards. Of course, the Blackjack player may ask for a card, and the total may exceed the 21 target, at which point the player is declared over 21 points, or bust, and the dealer wins by default. The dealer then turns over his hidden card, and must keep drawing cards until his total reaches a minimum of 17 points. If he manages to draw cards bringing his own total closer to 21 than the total of the player, then the dealer wins. If the dealer goes bust, then the player wins.

Figure 1: Blackjack Table

Blackjack game variations include splitting, where the player receives two cards with the same value, and he splits his hand and simultaneously plays two hands against the dealer's one. Naturally, the Blackjack player must put an additional bet on the other hand, which doubles the risk, but also doubles the opportunity of winning against the house.

Another variation to the standard game involves what is called doubling down, where the player can double his initial bet if he feels confident that he can win the round. The player makes this choice when he sees his second card, and then posts an additional bet. At this point, he is only permitted to draw one further card.

A final variant is the ability to protect the player against the dealer when the dealer receives an ace as his second card. The player can buy insurance against the dealer scoring exactly 21 points, or Blackjack, which essentially protects against the risk of the dealer scoring the perfect hand.

Mathematically, it is possible to determine the chance of going bust when a player hits on a specific card total. The following table illustrates the percentage chance of breaking 21 when taking a further card on hand values of 11, or less, to 21.

The following table illustrates the chances of the dealer going bust following the initial deal of a card from 2 to ace.

Recent media focus on the practice known as card counting has only increased the interest in the game of Blackjack. Card counting involves players using a variety of mathematical techniques to improve the chance of them making a correct call on their hand versus the house.

In spite of all of the attention, card counting is not simple. If it was, everyone would be doing it, and the game would soon become unplayable. It requires a sharp mind and cool nerve to maintain an air of nonchalance in view of the fact that the house can ask a player to leave if it suspects him of card counting. Further measures such as using several packs of cards in the dealing shoe decrease the chances for successful card counting.

• Follow Blackjack basic strategy (see table). This is a game of simple mathematics so leave your lucky rabbit's foot at the door.
• Use money management wisely. Don't sit at a table where the bet size is greater than 5% of your funds.
• Find a relaxing but fast-paced table. Avoid drunk players who can prove distracting, or slow players who can limit the speed of play and therefore your chance of winning.
• Tip,or toke the dealer. They don't share in the profits of the casino, and by and large they make a moderate income. It's a tough job, and they deserve a pat on the back.

• A-J Bonus: A popular variant rule where a bonus payout for the ace and jack of spades is offered.
• Break/Bust: Exceeding 21, automatically losing the game and the pot.
• Double Down: Betting option which enables the player to request one card to try and beat the dealer. If successful, the player receives double the original wager placed.
• Hit: Request to be dealt another card.
• Hole Card: Any card dealt face down to a player or the dealer.
• Insurance: When a player wagers up to half their original bet on the dealer receiving a natural 21. Insurance pays 2:1.
• Las Vegas Strip Rules: The most commonly used rules on the Las Vegas strip, as opposed to Downtown Las Vegas. These rules are less favorable to the player and use more decks of cards to make life more difficult for card counters.
• Natural: Two-card hand that equals 21. Also called Blackjack.
• Push: When player and dealer have equal hand values.
• Resplitting: Splitting a second pair after receiving another pair after the initial deal. (Resplitting is often not permitted).
• Split: If a starting hand contains two cards of equal value the player can choose to double the wager and receive each card as the first card in a new hand.
• Stand/Stay: Stick with the current card and receive no additional cards.
• Surrender: When surrendering a hand half your original bet is forfeited and the other half returned to you without further play.
• Toke: Tip the dealer.
• Up Card: The dealer's face up card in the initial stage of Blackjack.
• Vig: The house edge on a bet.
• Win Rate: How much a player wins per hour.