Blackjack Advice
Blackjack Advice
We've got the best blackjack advice here for you at Online Blackjack Questions! Remember that Online Blackjack Questions is a work in progress so check back often to see what new mysteries we've uncovered in the exciting world of online blackjack.
We've answered some of your most pressing questions below. Check out the pages we have up so far:
How To Play Blackjack - The first question any blackjack pro has ever asked is "how do I play blackjack?" because nobody was born knowing how to play blackjack! And asking this question is the first step to asking a lifetime of questions, as the true blackjack pro always knows he has more to learn.
Do Dealers Count Cards - This is a common question because it's only natural to assume that a blackjack dealer can be in a very lucrative position to cash in. When they watch the game all day, aren't they ever tempted to count cards? This question is answered by our blackjack experts.
Is Card Counting Illegal - we'll find out what card counting technically is, where card counting is illegal as well as explore some of the most famous card counting heists in history. You'll be surprised by these fascinating facts!
If you've got a pressing blackjack question that you'd like our experts to answer, check out our Ask page and let us know! We're answering new questions all the time, so don't forget to check back on the Blackjack Advice page to see more online blackjack advice! If you want to play online blackjack right now, we recommend Cinema Casino, Maple Casino and BetFair Casino as they all have a great variety of online blackjack games that you can play for free.
How to play Blackjack
How Do I Play Blackjack?
This question is the first step to becoming an amazing blackjack player. Nobody was born knowing how to play blackjack, and everybody has to grasp the basics before they moved onto more complicated strategy.
Blackjack is what's called a 'comparing' card game, in the same group of games as Baccarat. In blackjack, the player is not playing against other players but against the dealer, who represents the casino's interest. The dealer gives each player at the table two cards which are valued on a points system, with face cards counting as ten points. The objective of the game is to get an overall hand that amounts to 21 points. This can be achieved by adding more cards to your hand by 'hitting' (asking the dealer for another card) but be careful, because you could 'bust', or get a total hand whose value is over 21. This can happen to either the player or the dealer, making the other person the winner even if their hand is less than 21 points in value. If neither hand busts or hits 21, the highest scoring hand wins. If the dealer and the player have the same amount of points, it's known as a push and usually results in the player's bet being returned.
Plenty of variations of blackjack exist, but usually the dealer will hit their own hand until they get 17, then stop. It is considered immature to ask "Why are you hitting yourself?" while this occurs.
Do Blackjack Dealers count cards?
Do Blackjack Dealers Count Cards?
This is a question that has come across the minds of many casino patrons when they see a blackjack dealer play hand after hand of blackjack. They must be so well versed in the game that counting cards must become second nature to them, and they have a great cover - being a casino employee - to keep their scheme under wraps. So is playing against a blackjack dealer dangerous because they may have an unfair advantage? The short answer is NO! Check out the video below for an explanation of why blackjack dealers don't count cards.
It's not about whether the blackjack dealer can count cards, but the age old question, what's in it for them? Dealers never work on commission and actually tend to be on the gambler's side, giving them tips because they know if you win they'll get a bigger tip than if you lose. Also the dealers have to follow the casino's rules for when to hit and when to stand, while these rules are usually printed on the very felt table they're working at, it would be very silly for them to break the rules. And the truth of the matter is card counting requires a huge amount of concentration and mathematical prowess, and a dealer who has to focus on dealing, paying out and collecting bets will hardly have the energy to spare for this endeavor on top of everything else. So now that you know it's safe to play against the dealer why don't you head to some online casinos – the best online casinos guide in canada in 2017 - and try your luck. The playing field is level; who knows, you might win big.
Is card counting illegal?
Is Card Counting Illegal?
The frustratingly vague answer to this commonly asked question is: it depends. In America at least, every state makes its own laws regarding these sorts of things, but at the end of the day we can tell you that straight up, clean card counting is certainly not illegal anywhere in the USA... but that doesn't mean you're not going to get kicked out of the casino!
Why would anyone get thrown out on the Las Vegas strip if card counting's not illegal? Basically because casinos don't like it, and the second you whip out a notepad or an iPhone with a card counting app on it, you'll be asked to leave. The official reason for this is that you may be cheating or compromising the casino's security by doing these underhanded (or blindingly obvious) little things. In Nevada, it's illegal to go to the casino with anything that will help you gain an advantage against the house, and that might include anything from a smartphone to loaded dice! Apparently the casino gift shops themselves sell 'strategy cards' which basically give you tips and hints on how to win, but that certainly isn't equal to using a card counting app on your phone! The general consensus is that if you do the card counting purely in your head, you can get away with it until someone at security notices you winning and starts tracking your play - card counting calls for wild variations in betting size and that's how they'll catch you out and you'll be asked to leave.