Blackjack, Pontoon (English variation), or twenty-one is one of the most popular games in any casino. It has become very popular due to the fact that it is played by chance with a mix of your own card skills. When it was first introduced in the United States, it did not appeal to casino players. So, casinos tried ways to make blackjack a favorite among their games, like giving bonus payouts. Ultimately the game reached popularity simply because it is a very simple game to play. Furthermore, the development of online gambling has contributed more to blackjack’s popularity.
Blackjack’s Popularity
This game is played not only in casinos and online sites but is also enjoyed at home with families and friends. The difference between poker and blackjack is in poker you play against everybody. In blackjack, it is the single player, and the banker (who is put up by the house).
Player Games Blackjack
Basically, it is like a series of two-player games. Despite the game’s simplicity, there are certain rules to follow; the basic rule is to have cards that are close to 21 but not over 21 in value. Each card has a corresponding value, the ace is either 1 or 11, and card numbers 2 to 9 are the same value as the card says. Then all the face cards are valued at 10.
Since this is a card game, there are certain norms to follow; like you are only allowed to touch cards with one hand, keep the cards at the table, and any card dealt by the dealer should be placed at the left side of the table. There are also some decisions the player has to make while playing blackjack. Surrender is a player’s choice to fold her hand, at the cost of half of the original bet. Hitting is when a player decides to draw another card to the hand. Standing means stopping at the current total of your card.
Double down, allows you to double your bet and receive one additional card to the hand. And Splitting pairs is when a player has a matching card and chooses to split them into two and played each card independently. A first-timer to the rules of playing blackjack can be confusing and intimidating at first. But when you get a hang of it, it will be very easy for you. Unlike other card games, rules in blackjack are not very strict. A player is allowed to ask especially if he is a newcomer to the game. Do not hesitate to do so.