Blackjack is a game that can seem intimidating to a beginner, but it actually has an easy-to-understand set of rules and strategies. The main objective of the game is to score higher than the dealer without surpassing 21. Although there are many different versions of the game, we will go over some of the universal rules and strategy.
The game is played with one or more 52-card decks. Each player is dealt two cards and may choose to stand, hit (request more cards), or double down based on a simple rule. The dealer then draws cards until they have a total of 17 or more. If they have a blackjack, the hand is won; if they do not, all player bets push (no money is exchanged).
When a player has an ace and a 10-value card in their first two cards it is called a “blackjack” or “natural.” This beats any hand that does not have a blackjack and is paid one and a half times the initial bet. The dealer’s blackjack also wins immediately if the player does not have a blackjack, but if the dealer has a blackjack, all bets lose.
A side bet called insurance is available in most games. This bet pays 2-1 if the dealer has an ace up and is usually half the size of the initial bet. Taking this bet reduces the chances of losing the original bet and makes the game more favorable for players.
Some blackjack players try to count cards, a practice known as “Wonging” or “back counting.” This method involves watching the cards that are being dealt and only playing when the count is in favor of the player. The disadvantage of this strategy is that it can be spotted by casino security and is generally prohibited.
Many players make the mistake of standing on 16 regardless of the dealer’s up card. This is a bad strategy because the dealer will bust about 80 percent of the time on a showing of 7 or above. A player should always hit if they have 16 or less.
The dealer will collect all the bets after the round ends, reshuffle and start a new round. Then the player will get their original bet back if they won. If the player and dealer both have blackjack, the bets push.
Previous research has shown that unjustified confidence in blackjack results in higher outcome expectations and anxiety, increased risk taking, and reduced use of hints designed to improve play. The current study uses a controlled laboratory setting to investigate these psychological and behavioral consequences of unjustified confidence in blackjack. The results from the two experiments showed that unjustified confidence in blackjack increases outcome expectations, anxiety, and risk taking, but does not significantly increase information search or consideration. These findings have important implications for educational interventions aimed at improving blackjack knowledge and play.