PLAYING ADVANCED BLACKJACK

Other than the basic rules and instructions to play blackjack, there are more advanced strategies you can use when playing blackjack. These strategies are more advanced, as well as more risky, and therefore they are designed to either help you win more money, or lose more money when playing blackjack.

Once the dealer has dealt the initial two card hand on the blackjack table, there are certain things that you can do once you have seen your cards, and it is your turn to be dealt with by the blackjack dealer, these are as follows:

Double down: To double down in blackjack, it is suggested that your initial two card hand total is not less than 8, but not higher than eleven. Doubling down in blackjack involves doubling your initial bet, meaning if you win you will win double what you were originally going to bet, however it also means if you lose, you will lose double of what your initial blackjack bet was. The advantage to doubling down is that if you have a good total for your initial two card hand, you can double your bet to win more; however the disadvantage to doubling down in blackjack is that you will only get 1 additional card, so you will end up with 3 cards in your hand, regardless of your total. Because getting over 21 in blackjack means you will go bust, not many players will double down on a two card hand that is higher than 11, however you can double down on a higher hand if you want, however this is not recommended in blackjack.

Split a Pair: When you split a pair in blackjack, you will end up playing two separate blackjack hands, the bet on both of these hands will match your original blackjack bet. When the blackjack dealer starts to deal your turn, you will ask to split your pair, and you will then play both cards as a separate hand. You will start on the first cards, hitting till you have a good enough hand to stand. Once you have done this with your first blackjack hand, you will do this with your second blackjack hand until you are satisfied with the two hands that you have.

Surrender or Insurance: surrendering in blackjack means you will surrender half of your bet, and will not get to play your hand at all. This is played when you think that your hand cannot be the blackjack dealer’s hand. Insurance in blackjack can be taken when the dealers face up card is an Ace, if you pay insurance, you will lose the insurance paid, but retain your bet if the dealer has blackjack, however if the dealer does not, you will lose your insurance, and play your hand normally. The insurance paid, is generally a set amount that will be paid regardless of your initial bet.

These are the more advanced ways of playing blackjack, and most of these have their own strategies attached when you play blackjack.