Blackjack Basics for Beginners
Lesson description
Learn the fundamentals of blackjack rules with a dealer and other players. Mr Blackjack covers the rules, gameplay, aim, and reasons blackjack is better than any other casino card game.
Welcome to lesson one of this video series where we will take you from novice to card counter over eight seasons of our Blackjack Academy by and . In this video, we'll cover the basics of blackjack so you can start playing the game in minutes.
The objective of blackjack is to get closest to 21 with a combination of two cards or more without going over. In order to win, you need to have a higher score than the dealer without going over.
Players sit at a blackjack table. They typically look like this, whether you are playing live or online. There are usually 5-7 seats at a typical blackjack table. Pick your seat and let's get started.
Your chips go directly in front of you either in the rail on or the felt. In front of your chips are the betting circles, where you will place your bet every hand. In front of the dealer is a chip tray where the casino's chips are held.
To the dealer's left is the shoe where the cards are held and to the dealer's right is the discard tray where cards are put after the hand is over. Some casinos have a shuffling machine with continuous shuffling. In this case there is no discard tray.
The dealer works from their left around the table, and gives every player two up-cards and gives himself one card face up and one card face down.
After the hand is played, if you have a smaller total than the dealer you lose. If you go over 21 you lose and if you have the same amount as the dealer without busting you will tie, which is called a push in blackjack.
Cards marked 2-10 have a value of 2, 3, and 4 all the way to 10. All face cards (J, Q, and K) have a value of 10 and the Ace has either a value of 11 or one. The Ace always has a value of 11 unless your total goes over 21 then it switches back to one which makes the ace the most valuable card in the game.
Those are the essentials every player should know before hitting the blackjack tables. If you want to blend in with the experienced players, check out our next video on table rules. We cover blackjack etiquette so you don't look like am amateur at the table.
What this lesson covers
- The objective to blackjack
- How basic gameplay works
- How the dealer manages the table
Meet Mr Blackjack
With a career spanning two decades, Mathieu Blake knows his way around a blackjack table. He's taught and entertained over 100,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel . In this series he'll take you through basic strategy, card counting, and bankroll management. Take a seat with Mr Blackjack and become a winning player.
Blackjack Rules & Gameplay
Blackjack Basics for Beginners
Blackjack Table Rules
Player/Dealer Etiquette
How to Bet in Blackjack
Basic Moves in Blackjack
Special Rules in Blackjack
How do blackjack tables work at casinos?
Online vs Brick-and-Mortar Blackjack
Common Mistakes All Blackjack Newbies Make
What every player should know about insurance bet in blackjack
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FAQs
- Can you play blackjack by yourself?
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With online blackjack, you can play by yourself through our Free Blackjack arcade. No download or registration is required to play these games, meaning you can play straight away.
- Where can I play blackjack online?
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There are thousands of online casinos, but our real money blackjack games guide lists recommendations of the best to play with, along with bonuses to redeem at these gambling sites. You can join other players at live blackjack games online, too.
- How can I play blackjack effectively?
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For beginner players, knowing blackjack rules and how casinos vary these to keep the odds in their favor will help you make smarter bets, which Blackjack Academy covers this season. As you progress, other skills like basic strategy and card counting will help you get the edge over the casino.
- Is blackjack easy?
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Blackjack is one of the simplest card games to learn. It has one objective and simple rules, so you can start playing in minutes.
- Why do some blackjack rules change?
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Casinos will adjust some rules in blackjack to keep the game’s odds in their favor. Mr Blackjack’s lesson on table rules covers common changes, including payouts for blackjack and betting limits.
- Does blackjack go by other names?
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Blackjack also goes by 21, Vingt-Un, and Pontoon. These variations mainly appear in Europe, but 'blackjack' is well-known internationally.
- Who wins if the dealer and the player get 21?
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This is called a ‘push’ or a tie. When this happens, the dealer returns the player’s bet to them.