Online Casino Blackjack

HISTORY

Although the exact origins of BlackJack are unknown it is commonly believed to have derived from other French games such as "chemin de fer" and "French Ferme". The card game BlackJack appeared in French casinos around the 1700, where it was called "vingt-et-un" ("twenty one").

Although Nevada was the first state to legalize casino gambling in 1931, it is thought that blackjack was played in the US as early as the 1800's, then in 1978 casino gambling was legalized in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and since then some other states followed the trend.

Until aprox the 1960's players were, for the most part, not aware of the basic strategy for blackjack and because of this the casinos reaped unheard of profits from the blackjack tables, that is untill the year 1956 when things began to change for the Casinos, blackjack players had begun to study both the table and the cards shown and ushered in the new era of Blackjack stratgeties and card counters!

The first recognized effort to apply mathematics to BlackJack was recorded in 1956, when Roger Baldwin published a paper in the Journal of the American Statistical Association entitled "The Optimum Strategy in BlackJack". In 1962 Professor Edward O. Thorp refined basic strategy and developed the first card counting techniques. He published his results in a book that became so popular that for a week in 1963 it was on the New York Times best-seller list "Beat the Dealer".

RULES

The blackjack table in a casino is generally set up with seven betting spots, although some games have as few as five. A dealer acts for the house and stands behind the table to distribute the cards.

When you've decided upon the game you want to play by examining the sign that announces the minimum and maximum wagers, you will buy in for chips. Do not place your money in the betting circle, however. Instead, set it to one side and wait for the dealer to convert it into chips.

After you receive your chips place your bet in the circle in front of your seat. The blackjack dealer shuffles the cards, and if he\'s dealing more than two decks, he'll place the shuffled cards in a box known as a "shoe." After he shuffles, he'll ask a player to "cut" the deck, by using a colored card, known as the cut card. The player simply slides the colored card into the deck at any point. The dealer divides the deck at the cut point, and takes the cut card and places it about two-thirds the way into the deck. This deck "penetration" varies from casino to casino, and sometimes even from table to table.

The dealer then places the cards into the shoe, or arranges them in his hand (for two or less decks). The dealer will then discard-"burn"-the first card, and check to make sure that all players have their bets in the right place and in the right amount. He begins distributing the cards to the players from the front of the shoe or the top of the deck.He'll begin with the player farthest to his left-known as "first base"-and then proceed to give one card to each player, including the dealer's "upcard." He'll repeat the motion until every player has two cards. He completes the deal by sliding his "hole card" under his upcard.

TIPS

If allowed, surrender (where a player may forfeit half his bet and decide not to play the original hand against the dealer) hard 15 against a dealers 10, and 16 (but not 8s) against a dealers 9, 10 or Ace.
Never take insurance unless you are counting cards.
Never split 10s.
Always split Aces and 8s, no matter what the dealers showing card is.
Double down on two card combinations totalling:
9 if the dealers up card is 3, 4, 5 or 6.
10 if the dealers up card is anything but a 10 or an Ace.
11 if the dealers up card is anything but an Ace.

Stand if you hold hard 12 to 16 and the dealer shows 2 to 6.
Hit if you hold hard 12 to 16 and the dealer shows a 7 or higher.
Stand on 17 to 21, but hit soft 17.
Always split pairs of aces and 8s.
Never split 10s, jacks, queens, kings, 5s or 4s.
Double down on 10 or 11 if dealer shows an 8 or lower.
Always stand on hard 17 or higher if the dealers showing card is 7 or lower.
Always stand on hard 13 through 16 if the dealers showing card is 6 or lower, but hit if the dealers showing card is 7 through Ace.
Always stand on hard 12 or higher if the dealer is showing 4, 5 or 6.
Hit a hard 12 if the dealers up card is 2, 3, 7 or higher.
Hit until you have at least 17 against a dealers 10.
Hit a soft 17 against a dealers 10.
Standing on 17 and lower relies entirely on the dealers busting to win. Since you cannot bust a soft hand with just one hit, do the following:
Hit soft 13 through 17 against a dealers 7 or higher.
With hands of three or more cards, always hit soft 13 through 17.
Double down with two-card soft 13 through 17 against a dealers 5 or 6. (You can only double down with your first two cards).
Double down soft 17 against a dealers 3.
Double down soft 15 through 17 against a dealers 4.
Most players will stand on soft 18, but you may find that in the long run you will be better off to hit a soft 18 if the dealers up card is 9, 10 or Ace , stand on soft 18 if the dealers up card is 2, 7 or 8, and double down if the dealer shows a 3, 4, 5 or 6.
Always stand on soft 19 or higher.