Watching from the outside, blackjack is one of those card games that seems more complicated than it actually is. On the surface, it can look like there’s a lot going on and that there is a huge amount to learn – watching without understanding the terminology means seeing people making decisions and moving chips around – it is easy for somebody watching for the first time to get confused.

Once the basic rules are laid out, it becomes clear that blackjack is actually pretty straightforward and there are way more learning resources online now than ever before. The game has a simple concept and revolves around simple rules. It does have an element of strategy but fortune is also involved in this game.

Simple History of Blackjack

Blackjack is an incredibly old game and has been on a journey (literally and figuratively). It’s fair to say the origins can’t be known exactly but historians have studied texts and tried to date the game – many people are of the opinion that the game came from Europe and was first played in the 1600s and 1700s.

When the internet became mainstream and the 1990s changed the way people live their lives, online blackjack started to become popular. It may have been clunky and there weren’t as many options in the 1990s compared to the blackjack we see today – it has since become the main way people choose to play the game. People may also choose to play some of the current variations of the game that are on the market as there are a few different formats and ways of playing. Players should always check the rules of a specific game before they choose to play.

People also call the game different things throughout the world. Blackjack was thought to come from some special promotions that may have been used in American casinos but in the UK the game has been referred to as Pontoon. The records of this stem back to the World Wars when the game was a popular card game among some soldiers.

Blackjack Terminology: Hit, Stand, Split, and Double Down

Some of the language that people come across when first viewing blackjack can be confusing without a definition. Four main choices define a round of blackjack: hit, stand, split, and double down. Each has a simple meaning:

• Hit: Ask for another card to be added to the current total. This is done to try to get closer to 21, but there’s always the risk of going over and as a result, going bust.
• Stand: Decide not to take any more cards, staying with the current total. This is typically chosen when the player feels their hand is strong enough.
• Split: When dealt two cards of the same value, the player can split them into two separate hands, sounds complex, but this just involves placing an additional bet equal to the original and continuing to play with two hands.
• Double Down: Players may have heard this term before in other contexts – some forms of blackjack have a double down option after seeing the first two cards, the player can choose to double their initial bet and take another card. This is a strategic choice some players make if they feel like they may get a strong total with one more card. Interestingly, this is a term that has entered day-to-day life for a lot of people in forms like “doubling down on effort” – not everyone realizes this term comes from blackjack.

It doesn’t usually take too long for somebody to get used to these terms.

The Role of the Dealer

In most forms of blackjack, the player is simply up against a dealer who has an important role and usually has to stick to set rules that can vary in each form of the game (variations may have altered the rules). 

Unlike players, the dealer in blackjack follows a strict set of rules, which removes any guesswork from their actions. The dealer must draw cards until reaching at least 17. If the dealer reaches 17 or more, they must stop drawing cards. These rules mean the dealer doesn’t always make decisions, and may just follow the guidelines.

Dealers can also be important in how the game is played and some sites are adding a live element with people connecting to the dealer via a video feed. The rise of widespread high internet speeds has helped with this aspect of playing. Video can be demanding on internet connections.

Getting a grip on blackjack isn’t just about reading rules. Actually playing a few rounds helps make everything clearer. Watching the flow of the game can also help. Even playing online games or apps designed to teach blackjack can help get the basics down in no time.

Blackjack doesn't require much calculation to figure out whether a win or loss has occurred. After everyone makes their choices, the dealer reveals their hidden card. The totals are then compared. The highest total under or equal to 21 wins the round. Getting 21 with an Ace and a 10 or a face card brings us to the score of “blackjack”. 

By GamesAndCasino