Blackjack is arguably one of the most famous casino games in the world, so much so that Hollywood has made numerous movies about the game, the likes of 21 and Rainman. Vegas Blackjack remains at the top of many bettors lists when they visit the city in the desert. The simplicity of the game is what makes it so attractive as literally anyone can pick up on it within minutes.
There are usually somewhere between five to seven seats at the curved side of the table, with the dealer residing at the straight side. Anyone playing Las Vegas blackjack will know that the game is largely based on luck, however, there is some math to it too. Not just you counting your cards fast as their dealt, but factoring in probabilities into your decisions to hit or stay (more on this shortly).
The Las Vegas blackjack rules involve the player drawing two cards with a value as close to 21 as possible without going over this figure. If the bettor draws cards that take them beyond 21, they go “bust” or “break”. The game is played entirely against the house (dealer), each player only has to beat the dealer’s hand, not one another.
Every table in Vegas will have a minimum bet that must be staked per hand. Of course, you’re free to throw more — and you should if you catch the “hot hand.” Minimums will vary depending on the casino, but if you’re on the Strip, expect $25 minimums.
Most tables also have “side” bets. For instance, there’s a side bet if the dealer goes bust that round. If they do, that bet pays. If not, the casino keeps the chips wagered. That’s only one example, but there are a lot of variations here.
Much like playing at the best blackjack casino in Vegas, online betting offers the same experience to keen blackjack players. The very best online bookmakers available to North American players will provide players with a range of options for blackjack, including live dealers and quick blackjack.
Just because you’re playing online, it doesn’t mean you’ll be playing the cheapest blackjack outside of Vegas. Bettors will have the options to wager big and win big, just as you’d expect to do in any land-based casino.
It’s worth noting that each card counts for the value written on it. But, Jacks, Queens and Kings, count for 10. While an Ace can count as either 1 or 11 — this makes them the ultimate wildcard.
The basic objective of blackjack is to get a hand with the value as close to 21 as possible, ideally an Ace and a 10 or picture card (AKA, Blackjack). In layman terms, this can be achieved in two ways:
But, many will ask the question “how to win at blackjack in Vegas consistently?” Well, it’s simply about finding the right time to step away and the right time to wager. This can be a difficult thing to achieve, but it’s a point bettors can find over time. For players at the table, once they’re dealt their initial hand, they tap the table or say the words “hit me” to get another card, with a maximum of 5 cards available per player.
Blackjack’s simplicity means that there are no complex betting lines, simply establishing the minimum and maximum wagers for each table. An example of this could be that the minimum value is $5 and the maximum is in the region of $500.
Ensure to be clear about your intention at the table, hitting or standing can be communicated using hand signals. Tap the table with your finger or hand to indicate you want to hit. Waving your hand or finger will indicate you standing. If you want to quit/fold, convey this message verbally. At Las Vegas Blackjack tables, using or making phone calls is frowned upon and may even be prohibited in some casinos. It’s customary to tip the dealer, so be sure to do so—especially if you win big!
The odds of winning can be improved by following basic strategy, which we will delve into now:
Lastly, best not to cuss at the dealer if they’re beating you. That’s one way to get security called on you in a hurry.
It’s difficult to say, as there are so many different ways great casinos around, especially in Vegas. So, we’d advise taking a tour around and finding the right one for you.
Yes. Bettors can use a variety of tactics to try and get an advantage in the game, which we’ve stated above.
Not really. There are different decks that people can use, but generally speaking it’s all the same basic format.
In blackjack all the facecards are valued at 10; these include the Jack, Queen, and King.
An ace can be worth two different values, depending on what the bettor wants. These are 1 and 11.
