Blackjack is a casino game of chance and skill that requires analytical thinking, composure, and tenacity. The game was the king of casino tables for decades and enjoyed a revival following the 2008 movie 21 based on the real-life exploits of the MIT card counting team. But nothing lasts forever, and competition from other games like baccarat and slot machines has taken a toll on blackjack. To stay atop the gambling heap, the game must constantly adapt to new challenges.
In a standard game of blackjack, players try to get a total value of 21 or come closer than the dealer without going over. The cards are dealt face up and suits are irrelevant. If a player’s first two cards are an ace and a “ten-card” (a picture card or 10) this is known as a “blackjack” and the player wins one and a half times their initial bet. If the dealer has a blackjack, they collect the bets of all other players and push (give back their original bet).
During the game, players may split their cards into two hands or double down. They can also take insurance, which pays out 1:1 if they have a blackjack and the dealer has a blackjack. The dealer must hit his or her hand before a player can double down, and only the controlling player can make a split.
Players can also play blackjack in casinos using other rules than the traditional ones. Some of these include:
In some casinos, the game of blackjack is played on a semicircular table that can accommodate varying numbers of players. Most blackjack tables are set up for seven players (or seven “spots”), although some are able to accommodate more. The game is usually played with a standard deck of 52 cards.
There are many variants of blackjack, but the basic rules remain the same: Each player has two cards dealt face down and must try to get a higher total than the dealer’s. The game is typically played against a dealer, but some variants allow players to wager against each other as well.
Some casinos have introduced changes to the game of blackjack that have increased the house edge for players. One of the worst is 6:5 blackjack, which reduces the payout for a blackjack to six chips instead of three. This change went over about as well with serious blackjack players as spore drive did with Star Trek purists, and rightly so: It increases the house edge by nearly two percent.