Poker Winner Blog

Odds Paid

Payouts are calculated according to the value of the player’s hand when compared with the dealer’s hand. If a player has blackjack and beats the dealer, the odds paid are 3 to 2. A win pays even money. A stand off results in the original stake being returned.

If a player has taken insurance (see next) against the dealer making blackjack, the insurance bet will be paid out at 2 to 1 if this occurs.

Insurance

If the dealer’s first card is an ace, he or she will ask the players if they want to take insurance. This is an additional bet, equal to half of the player’s original stake, against the possibility of the dealer making blackjack. If the dealer subsequently does make blackjack, the original bet loses, but the insurance bet is paid at odds of 2 to 1. If the dealer does not have blackjack the insurance bet is lost and the original bet is paid out at 3 to 2. Whatever the outcome of the dealer’s hand, the net result is the same; even money is won.

If a player takes insurance, most casinos immediately pay out the bet at evens and remove the player’s cards. Taking insurance is not generally considered a good bet as the dealer’s chances of making blackjack are outweighed by the chance of making other scores.

Additional Bets

Some casinos have introduced additional bets on blackjack. However they do not really offer good value and novices will find that it is better to concentrate on learning how to play the basic game well.

Surrender blackjack If a player is dealt a poor initial hand he or she may surrender half of their stake, which is removed by the dealer, and the player’s hand is not played. However if the dealer has blackjack the entire stake is lost.

Over/under 13 This is simply a bet that the first two cards dealt will be either over or under 13. The additional bet loses if the score is exactly 13. This bet is placed at the same time as the initial bet. Whatever the outcome of the additional bet, the hand is played out as normal.

Multiple action blackjack The player keeps the same hand for three games and the dealer the same up card. The first two cards are dealt as normal and the player may draw on these cards. The dealer follows the normal rules for drawing cards (stands on 17 or over, draws on 16 or under). A good hand has the chance of winning three times over but conversely, a bad hand could lose three times in succession.

Three 7s This is a bet on being dealt three 7s, and can be made at the same time as the initial bet.

Basic Strategies

Blackjack is a game where a player’s individual skills can have an effect on his or her winnings. The average house advantage on blackjack is 5.6 per cent but there are ways that players can overcome this.

Using computer programs to simulate games a system, known as basic strategy, has been developed which determines the best action for players to take according to the value of the cards they hold.

By playing basic strategy players can reduce the house advantage to zero. This involves memorizing the correct action to take for the cards dealt. In its simplest form basic strategy means hitting on a score of 16 or lower if the dealer shows a 7 or above, and standing on a score of 12 or higher if the dealer shows 6 or lower. The chart below shows basic strategy in more detail. It takes time to memorize but is worth studying if you intend to play blackjack seriously.

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