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Blackjack 101 Part 1

Blackjack is what I call a 'value' casino game. For casino players who use basic strategy, blackjack tables with specific conditions and rules offer an opportunity to compete on a level playing field with the casino. Some of those specific conditions and rules that combined will offer up the best blackjack tables are: "Dealer Must Draw to 16 and Stand on All 17s" statement, use a single deck, have no restrictions on doubling down, allow resplitting, and have a surrender option available.

Now, let's review some basic terms of the game: 21 wins: An ace is counted as 1 or 11, face cards 10, all other cards counted as marked.

Hard Hand: a hand that does not include an ace. What you see on your two cards is your total count, such as 9 + 8 = 17.

Soft Hand: a hand that includes an ace in the first two cards dealt. It has two values, depending on whether you use the ace as 1 or 11. So a 5 and an ace could be 6 or 16.

Stiff Hand: a potential bust hand, such as a 13 or 14, but especially a hard 15 or 16, which are the two worst hands you can get (unless the 16 is two 8s, then you split). Push: same count as the dealer — a tie — no money is exchanged, you don't win or lose.

Burn Cards: number of cards casino discards at the beginning of a new shuffle. Multiple Decks: four or more decks played in a game, always dealt face up.

Single or Double Decks: played in a game, first two cards are dealt face down.

If you play blackjack with poor strategy or instinct, you give the casino an advantage of over 5%.

Remember, focus on the dealer. The objective is not to get as close to 21 as possible, but to beat the dealer. It's very possible to win with a 13 or 14 count.

For this first part of your blackjack education, I have included a strategy card that will assist with those crucial blackjack decisions. We will discuss further strategies in future articles, but for now you have Blackjack 101 basics to confidently play this 'value' casino game.

Until next time we meet… Hit those blackjacks and stand on your winnings!.

» part 2

Gayle Mitchell is the author of Casino Gambling Made Easier books, ebooks, booklets & the Slots Trilogy