Do you have what it takes for Blackjack?

If there is one game that embodies the casino it is probably Blackjack the card game has been used in a number of films and television programmes and is synonymous with the glamour of the online casinos. Because of its cult status, when you first start playing Blackjack it can seem a little daunting, but in fact even a novice can get the hang of the game really easily.

The basic premise of Blackjack is to get a hand of cards with a total as close to 21, without going over 21 and going bust. The players on the table are playing against the dealer and, unlike in some forms of poker, not each other.  So, the aim is to have a higher hand than the dealer, without ever going over 21.

So if you are playing Blackjack for the first time, it is important to know what each card is worth. The number cards are simply worth their face value so a three is worth three etc.  When it comes to the face cards it is slightly more complicated, but not overly so. The King, Queen and Jack are all worth 10 and the Ace is either worth one or 11, depending on the hand the player has so if you have Jack and an Ace, the Ace will be worth 11 making 21 but if you have a nine, ten and ace, if it was worth 11 that would make you bust, so is worth one in this case.

Ultimately, if you have a higher hand, without going bust, then you win even if another player has a higher hand then you. However, even if the dealer goes bust and you then go bust the dealer would win in this case. If you have the same value hand as the dealer, known as a push, then neither of you would win.

When you sit down to play Blackjack you will place an initial bet before the cards are dealt. Once that has been done you will be dealt two cards and can then decide and anyone with Blackjack (21 with two cards) will automatically win. From there betting continues until and the players can decide whether to stick with what they have or get another card.