The purpose of playing blackjack. Take the dealer down.
It’s a common misconception that the goal of the game of blackjack is to beat the dealer, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
How can one outwit the dealer?
- By drawing a hand value that is greater than the hand value of the dealer.
- By drawing a hand value from the dealer that exceeds 21.
- When the dealer does not, by drawing two cards that give you a hand value of 21, as opposed to the dealer.
It’s also crucial to remember that, unlike in poker games, the hands of the other players at the table have no bearing on whether you win at blackjack. Practically speaking, the dealer and you are the only players. Unskilled players will try to persuade you that “it’s a team sport,” but don’t fall for it.
How Do You Calculate the Total Value of a Hand
Blackjack is played with a standard 52-card deck, and the suits don’t matter.
- 2 through 10 are counted at face value, i.e. 2 counts as 2, 9 counts as 9.
- Face cards (J, Q, and K) add up to 10.
- Depending on which value is most advantageous to the hand, an ace may be counted as a 1 or an 11.
A semicircular table that can fit a range of player counts is typically used for blackjack. We’ve seen tables that only allow 5 players and others that have 12 spots!
The dealer stands behind the table and chip rack, and the players sit on the other side. The most typical tables accommodate 7 players (or seven “spots”); however, we’ve seen tables that have up to 12 spots.
Blackjack Game
Numerous rule variations and various deck counts are present in blackjack games. The most popular blackjack game is dealt from a 6-deck or 8-deck “shoe,” which is a plastic card dispenser. Even though not all casinos that offer blackjack will have single and double deck games, they are still very much in existence. As a result, “shoe games” are somewhat more prevalent.
