How to Play Live Casino Blackjack 21

Many punters enjoy trying their luck at different games in a live casino, but is this the best approach? While it can be fun, it's not the most effective way to play if your goal is to win. Playing multiple games at once can actually hinder your performance. So, what's the best way to play effectively? It's simple – choose a game from a live casino and learn how to play it well.

If you're here to learn how to play and master Blackjack 21, you've come to the right place. In this guide, we'll thoroughly explain how to play and master Blackjack 21. Keep reading to learn all the rules and strategies needed to conquer the game. Let's get started!

What is Blackjack 21?

Blackjack 21 is a classic casino game that has been a favourite among players for generations. It's a game of skill, strategy, and a bit of luck that has captured the hearts of millions across South Africa and the world. Played with a standard 52-card deck, it remains one of the most popular table games in live casinos.

The objective of the game is to beat the dealer by achieving a hand total higher than the dealer's, without exceeding 21 points. Each card in the deck has a point value: number cards are worth their face value, face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10 points, and Aces can be worth either 1 or 11 points, depending on what benefits your hand the most.

Blackjack 21 is a game that requires both luck and skill. Players must make strategic decisions based on the cards they are dealt and the dealer's visible card. They need to decide whether to 'hit' (take another card), 'stand' (keep their current hand), 'double down' (double their bet and take one additional card), or 'split' (if they have two cards of the same rank, they can be separated into two independent hands).

The game boasts a rich history, with origins believed to trace back to 17th-century France, where it was known as Vingt-et-Un (meaning "twenty-one" in French). The game quickly spread across Europe and eventually made its way to the United States, where it became widely known as Blackjack.

Today, Blackjack 21 is one of the most popular casino games globally. You'll find it played in casinos all over the world and it has even inspired its own variations, such as Spanish 21 and Pontoon. Whether you're a seasoned player or a total beginner, Blackjack 21 promises hours of entertainment and excitement for South African players.

How to Play Blackjack

Basics are essential for any game. When learning to play Blackjack, the core goal is to beat the dealer's hand by getting as close to 21 as possible without going bust. Let's break down how to get close to 21.

• Number cards (2-10): Calculated by their face value. Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are all worth 10 points.
• Ace: Can be valued at either 1 or 11 points – choose whichever benefits your hand most. Keep these point values in mind.

When you play in a live casino in South Africa, you might encounter games using up to 8 standard 52-card decks. While less common, some casinos might use a single deck, but most opt for six or eight. It's generally to your advantage to find games with fewer decks involved, as each additional deck can slightly reduce your winning chances. Typically, most casinos use either 6 or 8 decks. After bets are placed, the dealer deals two cards to themselves and each player. Cards are dealt face-up to each player. The dealer receives one card face-up and one card face-down. play in a live casino.

Now, if no one achieves a natural 21 with their initial two cards, players have several options, which we'll discuss below:

• Hit: Request an additional card from the dealer.
• Stand: Keep your current hand and pass your turn.
• Double Down: Double your bet and receive exactly one more card.
• Surrender: Forfeit half of your bet and fold your hand.
• Split: If you have two cards of the same rank (e.g., two 7s), you can split them into two separate hands. A new bet is placed on the second hand. Each hand can then be played independently with its own set of options. Note that a King and a Queen, despite both being worth 10, cannot be split as they are not of the same rank. Some casinos may allow splitting multiple times. Remember that splitting means you're placing a fresh wager, effectively playing two hands instead of one, which doubles your potential stake.
• Insurance: If the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, you can take insurance. This is a side bet up to half your original wager, paid out at 2:1 if the dealer hits Blackjack.

Keep in mind that the dealer's options are much more restricted than players'. They must hit on a hand of 16 or less and must stand on a hand of 17 or more (including a 'soft 17' in some variations). They cannot double down, split, or surrender. If the dealer busts (goes over 21), all remaining players win. Conversely, if the dealer doesn't bust and has a higher score than you, you lose.

Unless the dealer has a natural Blackjack (an Ace and a 10-value card), any player dealt a natural 21 wins instantly. If the dealer also has a natural 21, it's a tie or 'push,' and your stake is returned. If the dealer's upcard is an Ace and they don't have Blackjack, and you have one, you win.

These are the fundamentals you need to know to start playing Blackjack 21. But what comes next? Read on if you want to truly master the game and play like a pro.

Set Up a Budget

It's crucial to set a budget when playing online games. Many online gamblers overlook this step, which leads to poor bankroll management. Consequently, they often end up spending more than they can afford, resulting in significant financial losses. To avoid such a situation, it's essential to manage your bankroll. You can do it easily by determining how much you're willing to spend each day. You must stick to your daily limit, even if you haven't played for a day or two, and avoid exceeding it in the following days.
It's natural to feel tempted to overstep your budget. However, it can lead to an uncontrollable spending spree, causing more significant losses in the long run. Therefore, it is crucial to set a budget while playing all games, especially Blackjack 21 in a live casino.

Terms and Slangs

Each gambling game has its own terminology and jargon. For instance, words like a flop, turn, and the river are used in Texas hold 'em. Craps terminology includes point, snake eyes, and shooter. It is the same in Blackjack 21 too. It's crucial to comprehend the game's language. In any case, how can you learn to play blackjack if you don't understand what the other players are saying? The terms you need to be familiar with are:

• Bust card: A card that is dealt if the hand total exceeds 21.
• Bust: A card total exceeding 21
• First base: The betting area to the left of the dealer, which is also the first to receive and deal cards.
• Hard hand: An ace-less hand is referred to as a hard hand. Except for the ace, each card in the deck has a fixed value. It's "hard" since the value won't change.
• Hit: To request a new card.
• Hole card: The dealer's card is handed face down, and players are not permitted to see it until they have used their hands.
• 5-card Charlie: When a hand has five cards without busting, you may receive a bonus or an automatic victory in various games. Whenever a player draws five cards without busting, this is an automatic win in some games.
• Natural: The first two cards dealt add up to 21 (blackjack).
• Pairs: Two identical cards are regarded as a pair.
• Push (Tie): Occurs when both the player and the dealer have hands that total the same.
• Shoe: A holding mechanism for card decks. Typically, this has up to 8 decks when used in casino games.
• Soft hand: It is one that includes an ace together with any other card. An ace can be played high or low, making it worth 1 or 11 and therefore having a "soft" or mutable value.
• Stiff: Any hard hand that has a chance to burst by drawing a further card, such as a 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16. Having 17 or higher means that you'll never have a stiff hand.
• Third base: The betting area is the last to act and is to the dealer's right.
• Upcard: The card the dealer is now displaying face-up.

Basic Strategies

Now that you know what all the slang and terms of blackjack are, let’s get right into the basic strategies. There are many different strategies, but let’s start with something simple. Most Blackjack 21 players follow different strategies, which we will discuss below:

For soft hands:

• If the total is 19 or more, you should stand.
• If the total is 18 and the dealer is displaying a 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, or king, you should stand. If the dealer is showing a 2, 3, or 4 on his face-up card, you should hit.
• If the total is 17 or lower, then hit unless the total is 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18, and the dealer’s face-up card is a five or a 6 in this case. Simply double down.

For hard hands:

• You should stand at 17 or higher.
• You should hit on 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 if the dealer is showing seven or higher. If the dealer is showing 2 through 6, then stand.
• You should double down if the dealer is showing any cards 2 through 9 and you have cards valued at 10 or 11.
• You should hit if your cards total nine or lower.

When you have a pair, use the following strategy:

• Never split a pair of cards for four, five, or ten points.
• When you have a pair of Aces or an eight and an Ace, you must always split.
• If the dealer is displaying a 4, 5, or 6, you must always split any pairs of 2s, 3s, 6s, 7s, or 9s.

If the dealer is showing a 9, J, Q, K, or A, and I have 16, then you simply surrender. With this strategy, you will reduce the house edge to about 1%.

Table Rules

There are no restrictions dictating how a live casino must conduct a game or provide rewards. As a result, you'll need to investigate the casino you want to play at in order to be aware of the details. The chances are one instance. Typically, casinos provide 3 to 2 odds for blackjack 21.

However, some live casinos currently offer chances of 6 to 5 for a blackjack 21. A game at a live casino may employ one to eight cards. This is done to confuse card counters. With each additional deck utilized in the game, the house edge grows. The dealer must stop at 17 in the majority of blackjack games, even if doing so results in a loss for the dealer.

Never Use Insurance

Making careful to reduce loss sounds like a wise decision. Unexpectedly, that's not the case when playing blackjack 21. After the initial round of dealing is complete and the dealer has an ace showing, insurance becomes available. You stake half of your initial bet in order to obtain insurance.

You win 2 to 1 odds if the dealer has a natural, so you break even. You lose the insurance bet if the dealer doesn't have blackjack. If you have a total of 20, there is frequently a predisposition to take this bet. But bear in mind that you already possess the two necessary cards for the dealer to create a blackjack.

Side Bets

There are four side bets you should know.

• 21+3: Based on the first two cards you are dealt and the dealer's upcard, the 21+3 side bet pays out. You win if the three cards make a flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, or straight flush.
• Royal Match: If the first two cards you are dealt are suits, you win the Royal Match side bet. The odds are 5 to 2. The reward increases from 25 to 1 if you have a suited king and queen. A matched blackjack pays off at a rate of 5 to 1.
• Over/Under 13: As the titles suggest, you wager on whether your total will be greater than or less than 13 (13 results in a loss). An ace is low in this wager.
• Super 7s: For 7s, this is the aim. 1-7 pays out 3 to 1. The odds are 50 to 1 for unsuited and 100 to 1 for suited if the first two cards are 7s. The odds of getting three 7s are 500 to 1 unsuited and 5,000 to 1 suited. The maximum you can win is $5,000 because the wager can only be $1.