How to play American Blackjack?
In this game, you can play against the house, represented by the dealer. You can beat the dealer’s hand by getting a score of 21 or as close as possible without going over 21. The game offers a 3:2 payout if you hit Blackjack or beat the dealer.
American Blackjack retains the basics of classic blackjack gameplay. You aim to form the best hand and beat the dealer, with ‘21’ as the magic number. However, it still differs from other popular game variants, including European Blackjack, particularly in dealing with the cards.
In the European variant, the dealer initially gets a single card. Then, the dealer receives the other card after all players have made their moves.
Though the gameplay is easy, it still pays to know the basics of American Blackjack. In this article, we look closely at American Blackjack rules and gameplay.
How to Play American Blackjack
American Blackjack uses a 52-card deck, and your ultimate goal is to beat the dealer. In this card game, you can win by collecting a blackjack or getting the best hand to beat the dealer. In American Blackjack, the magic number is ‘21’; if you exceed this, you go bust. The dealer stands on soft 17, with an Ace card and a seven or 17.
The gameplay relies on the value of the cards you collect. Playing cards from 2-10 retain their ace values, and face cards, including Jacks, Queens, and Kings, with a value of 10. If you get an Ace, it has a value of 1 or 11, whichever is the best for the hand. You can choose the value depending on the value of the other card. For instance, if your current cards total 20, then the value of Ace will be 1 to achieve Blackjack.
Initially, the dealer receives two cards. One is face up; the other one is face down. Players are offered insurance before showing off the second card if the dealer has an Ace face-up. However, you lose your insurance bet if there is no blackjack. During the gameplay, players can choose to Hit, Stand, Split, or Double Down based on their current cards.
There are some American Blackjack rules on hitting, standing, or splitting that you should know. You can hit if you get a value of 11 or less and stand if your score is 12 or higher. For example, you can split your cards if you get two Aces and two Eights. Double down means increasing the initial bet and collecting an extra card.
Tips on How to Play
If you think your cards are not that good, it’s better to choose the ‘Surrender’ option. However, this option may not be allowed if the dealer gets a Blackjack. There’s also an option for a ‘late surrender’ if you’re playing American Blackjack and all variants of Atlantic City Blackjack. This will depend on which blackjack online casino you choose.
You can also opt to split cards with the same value, such as Aces and Eights, for better chances of winning.
The double-down option may give you big wins but can also be risky. For example, you can double your bet if your cards have a total of 11 or when you have a soft 17.
If you’re a beginner in this game, you may want to download and use a free American Blackjack chart. You can print out the chart, which you can use as a guide on the best time to hit, stand, double down, or split.
Play American Blackjack for Real Money
American Blackjack is easy to play, with huge cash prizes at stake. However, deciding whether to split, stand, double down, or surrender takes work. Nevertheless, there are strategies you can use to increase your chances of winnings, though they may not guarantee wins. Nevertheless, American Blackjack is still one of the best variants of Blackjack that Indian players can enjoy and win.
