There are some things that are different between cultures, we all know that. For example, what is considered a delicacy in one country, might be frowned upon in another. A ritual that is looked at as a rite of passage in one place, might be considered barbaric and unnecessary in another place. The fact that there are so many different cultures is what makes the world such a fascinating place. However, there is one thing that is popular in many different cultures around the world, and that is the game of blackjack. Below we look at what makes blackjack so popular as well as some strategies to improve your chances of winning.
Why is Blackjack So Popular
There are a number of reasons why blackjack has become so popular all over the world. Below we are going to take a look at three of the main reasons.
It Is Very Easy to Play
One of the main reasons why blackjack is so popular is that it is a very easy game to play. The rules are very simple, and you can learn the basics in next to no time. To put it simply, the aim of this game is to get a higher score than what the dealer has without going above the value of 21. Once you have learned the basics, the next step is to just get better, which is something that you can do just by playing often.
It Is a Very Social Game
When you are playing blackjack, the only person that you are trying to beat is the dealer. You do not care what cards your fellow players have – they could all have a better hand than you, but if your hand is better than what the dealer has, you will win. Therefore, since players are of no risk to each other, there is a camaraderie in blackjack that you will not find in other casino games.
Blackjack is Very Affordable to Play
If you have sat down and had a game of no limit Texas Hold’em poker, then you will know that you can end up losing all of your money in just a very short space of time. However, you will find that this is not possible in blackjack. Even if you go on a big losing streak, it will take a while before you have lost all of your money. However, you will also find that it is not often that you will go on a long losing streak – you are more likely to win just as many hands as you are to lose.
Different Types of Blackjack Strategies
There are many different types of strategies that blackjack players use in order to try and gain an advantage. We shall now take a look at two such strategies below. If you are after some other great blackjack strategies, then feel free to head on over to www.casinobonusesindex.com/blackjack/basic-strategy.html.
The Surrender Blackjack Strategy
The word “surrender” has a lot of negativity attached to it, so this is often a strategy that is very misunderstood in blackjack. However, surrendering your hand will sometimes be a better choice than taking a hit or standing. If you learn how to use it properly, then it can become one of the best strategies in your arsenal. If you are new to blackjack, the surrendering strategy works as follows: If you believe that your hand is poor and the dealer’s hand is a good one, then you decide to surrender half the stake that you placed.
You will find two types of surrenders in blackjack, and these are the early surrender and the late surrender.
With the former, you will be able to forfeit half of the stake that you put down before the dealer looks to see if he has a natural blackjack. However, giving players this option can decrease the house edge quite considerably, so there are some casinos that will not give blackjack players the option of opting for an early surrender.
With the latter, you will only be allowed to forfeit half of the stake that you placed once the dealer has looked to see whether their hand is a natural blackjack. If the dealer goes on to reveal that they do indeed have blackjack, then all of your stake will be lost. A late surrender option does not reduce the house odds by much (around 0.1%), so casinos are happier to make this option available to their blackjack players. Although the reduction in the house edge is small, it is still a nice advantage that blackjack players should look out for.
Card Counting
Card counting is something that many serious blackjack players learn. It is a pretty simple strategy, but it can take some time to master.
The majority of people will tell you that you need a good memory to count cards, but this is not the case. Even those with bad memories can learn how to become very effective card counters.
In order to count cards, you need to give a value to every card. So, the cards with 2-6 on them, we recommend that they are given a +1 value. The cards with 7-9 on them should be given a value of 0. while the cards 10-A should be given a value of -1. When the round is about to start, the deck or decks that are being used will be shuffled. When the dealer deals a card, you will add 1, take away 1, or do nothing depending on the value of the card. If you have a positive count after a round, you can assume that most of the remaining cards in the deck or decks are higher cards and you should increase your wager. If your count after a round is negative, you can assume that most of the remaining cards are lower cards and you should decrease your wager. To put it simply, you should place a higher bet when you get a positive account and a lower bet when you get a negative account.
Is card counting legal? Some blackjack players do not like to try to card count because they feel that they run the risk of getting chucked out if they are caught. This is actually a possibility. The strategy of card counting is not illegal, but casinos are not fond of being outsmarted and casinos can decide not to serve anyone they like. Therefore, although it is not illegal, you might find yourself in a bit of trouble if you are caught. However, if you master the skill, then it will be near on impossible for anyone to realize that you are card counting.