How to Play Live Casino Blackjack 21

Gamblers often jump between different live casino games, but is this the best approach? While it can be fun, it's not the most effective way to play if you're aiming to win. Trying to play multiple games at once can actually hinder your performance. So, what's the best way to play effectively? It's simple – pick a game from a live casino and learn how to play it well.

If you're here to learn how to play and master Blackjack 21, you've landed in the right spot. In this guide, we'll dive deep into how to play and master Blackjack 21. Keep reading to pick up all the rules and strategies you'll need. Let's get started!

What is Blackjack 21?

Blackjack 21 is a classic casino game that's been a hit with players for ages. It's a thrilling mix of skill, strategy, and a bit of luck that has captivated millions worldwide. Played with a standard 52-card deck, it stands as one of the most popular table games you'll find in live casinos across New Zealand.

The goal in Blackjack 21? Beat the dealer by getting a hand worth more points than theirs, without going over 21. Each card has a point value: face cards (King, Queen, Jack) are worth 10, and Aces can be either 1 or 11, depending on what helps your hand the most.

Blackjack 21 truly is a game of both luck and smarts. Players need to make strategic calls based on the cards they're dealt and what the dealer is showing. This means deciding whether to 'hit' (take another card), 'stand' (keep your current hand), 'double down' (double your bet and take one more card), or 'split' (when you have two cards of the same rank, you can turn them into two separate hands).

The game boasts a rich history, with roots stretching back to 17th-century France, where it was known as Vingt-et-Un (French for "twenty-one"). It quickly gained popularity across Europe and eventually found its way to the US, where it became known as Blackjack.

Today, Blackjack 21 is a global favourite. You'll find it in casinos all over the world, and it's even spawned variations like Spanish 21 and Pontoon. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, Blackjack 21 promises hours of entertainment and excitement for players in New Zealand.

How to Play Blackjack 21 in NZ

Just like anything new, you need to get the basics down first. In Blackjack, your main aim is to beat the dealer's hand and get as close to 21 as possible without busting. So, how do you get there? Let's break it down.

• Number cards (2 through 10): Their points match their face value. Jack, Queen, or King? They're all worth 10 points.
• Ace: This card is a wildcard, worth either 1 or 11 points. Keep these point values handy!

When you play in a live casino in New Zealand, you'll typically find games using multiple decks, often six or eight. While it's rare, some places might use just one. Generally, fewer decks work in your favour as they can improve your odds. So, most casinos opt for either 6 or 8 decks. After bets are placed, you and the dealer each get two cards. Your cards are usually dealt face-up, while the dealer gets one face-up and one face-down.

Now, if nobody hits Blackjack, you'll have several options. We'll cover the main ones below:

• Hit: Ask the dealer for another card.
• Stand: Stick with your current hand and pass your turn.
• Double Down: Double your bet and receive just one more card from the dealer.
• Surrender: Forfeit half of your bet and bow out of the hand.
• Split: If you have two cards of the same rank (like two 7s), you can split them into two separate hands. Each hand then gets its own subsequent cards and options. Note that a King and a Queen, despite both being worth 10, are not considered the same rank and cannot be split. Some New Zealand casinos might let you split multiple times if the new cards also match rank. Remember, splitting means placing a new bet on the second hand, so you'll be playing two hands, potentially doubling your stake.
• Insurance: If the dealer's up-card is an Ace, you can opt to buy insurance for half your original bet against the dealer getting a natural Blackjack.

Keep in mind that the dealer's moves are way more restricted than yours. They must hit if their hand totals 16 or less and must stand if it's 17 or higher. They can't double down, split, or surrender. If the dealer goes over 21, they bust, and all remaining players win. When the dealer busts, you win even if your hand is lower.

Unless the dealer has an Ace and hits Blackjack, any player dealt a natural 21 wins straight away. If the dealer's first card is an Ace and their second revealed card is a 10-value card, it's also a Blackjack. If you both get Blackjack, it's a tie, or 'push', and your bet is returned.

These are the essential basics for playing Blackjack 21. But what's next on the road to mastering the game in New Zealand? Keep reading to find out how to play effectively and boost your wins.

Set a Budget for Your Blackjack Sessions

It's crucial to set a budget when playing online games. Many online gamblers overlook this step, which leads to poor bankroll management. Consequently, they often end up spending more than they can afford, resulting in significant financial losses. To avoid such a situation, it's essential to manage your bankroll. You can do it easily by determining how much you're willing to spend each day. You must stick to your daily limit, even if you haven't played for a day or two, and avoid exceeding it in the following days.
It's natural to feel tempted to overstep your budget. However, it can lead to an uncontrollable spending spree, causing more significant losses in the long run. Therefore, it is crucial to set a budget while playing all games, especially Blackjack 21 in a live casino.

Terms and Slangs

Each gambling game has its own terminology and jargon. For instance, words like a flop, turn, and the river are used in Texas hold 'em. Craps terminology includes point, snake eyes, and shooter. It is the same in Blackjack 21 too. It's crucial to comprehend the game's language. In any case, how can you learn to play blackjack if you don't understand what the other players are saying? The terms you need to be familiar with are:

• Bust card: A card that is dealt if the hand total exceeds 21.
• Bust: A card total exceeding 21
• First base: The betting area to the left of the dealer, which is also the first to receive and deal cards.
• Hard hand: An ace-less hand is referred to as a hard hand. Except for the ace, each card in the deck has a fixed value. It's "hard" since the value won't change.
• Hit: To request a new card.
• Hole card: The dealer's card is handed face down, and players are not permitted to see it until they have used their hands.
• 5-card Charlie: When a hand has five cards without busting, you may receive a bonus or an automatic victory in various games. Whenever a player draws five cards without busting, this is an automatic win in some games.
• Natural: The first two cards dealt add up to 21 (blackjack).
• Pairs: Two identical cards are regarded as a pair.
• Push (Tie): Occurs when both the player and the dealer have hands that total the same.
• Shoe: A holding mechanism for card decks. Typically, this has up to 8 decks when used in casino games.
• Soft hand: It is one that includes an ace together with any other card. An ace can be played high or low, making it worth 1 or 11 and therefore having a "soft" or mutable value.
• Stiff: Any hard hand that has a chance to burst by drawing a further card, such as a 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16. Having 17 or higher means that you'll never have a stiff hand.
• Third base: The betting area is the last to act and is to the dealer's right.
• Upcard: The card the dealer is now displaying face-up.

Basic Strategies

Now that you know what all the slang and terms of blackjack are, let’s get right into the basic strategies. There are many different strategies, but let’s start with something simple. Most Blackjack 21 players follow different strategies, which we will discuss below:

For soft hands:

• If the total is 19 or more, you should stand.
• If the total is 18 and the dealer is displaying a 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, or king, you should stand. If the dealer is showing a 2, 3, or 4 on his face-up card, you should hit.
• If the total is 17 or lower, then hit unless the total is 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18, and the dealer’s face-up card is a five or a 6 in this case. Simply double down.

For hard hands:

• You should stand at 17 or higher.
• You should hit on 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 if the dealer is showing seven or higher. If the dealer is showing 2 through 6, then stand.
• You should double down if the dealer is showing any cards 2 through 9 and you have cards valued at 10 or 11.
• You should hit if your cards total nine or lower.

When you have a pair, use the following strategy:

• Never split a pair of cards for four, five, or ten points.
• When you have a pair of Aces or an eight and an Ace, you must always split.
• If the dealer is displaying a 4, 5, or 6, you must always split any pairs of 2s, 3s, 6s, 7s, or 9s.

If the dealer is showing a 9, J, Q, K, or A, and I have 16, then you simply surrender. With this strategy, you will reduce the house edge to about 1%.

Table Rules

There are no restrictions dictating how a live casino must conduct a game or provide rewards. As a result, you'll need to investigate the casino you want to play at in order to be aware of the details. The chances are one instance. Typically, casinos provide 3 to 2 odds for blackjack 21.

However, some live casinos currently offer chances of 6 to 5 for a blackjack 21. A game at a live casino may employ one to eight cards. This is done to confuse card counters. With each additional deck utilized in the game, the house edge grows. The dealer must stop at 17 in the majority of blackjack games, even if doing so results in a loss for the dealer.

Never Use Insurance

Making careful to reduce loss sounds like a wise decision. Unexpectedly, that's not the case when playing blackjack 21. After the initial round of dealing is complete and the dealer has an ace showing, insurance becomes available. You stake half of your initial bet in order to obtain insurance.

You win 2 to 1 odds if the dealer has a natural, so you break even. You lose the insurance bet if the dealer doesn't have blackjack. If you have a total of 20, there is frequently a predisposition to take this bet. But bear in mind that you already possess the two necessary cards for the dealer to create a blackjack.

Side Bets

There are four side bets you should know.

• 21+3: Based on the first two cards you are dealt and the dealer's upcard, the 21+3 side bet pays out. You win if the three cards make a flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, or straight flush.
• Royal Match: If the first two cards you are dealt are suits, you win the Royal Match side bet. The odds are 5 to 2. The reward increases from 25 to 1 if you have a suited king and queen. A matched blackjack pays off at a rate of 5 to 1.
• Over/Under 13: As the titles suggest, you wager on whether your total will be greater than or less than 13 (13 results in a loss). An ace is low in this wager.
• Super 7s: For 7s, this is the aim. 1-7 pays out 3 to 1. The odds are 50 to 1 for unsuited and 100 to 1 for suited if the first two cards are 7s. The odds of getting three 7s are 500 to 1 unsuited and 5,000 to 1 suited. The maximum you can win is $5,000 because the wager can only be $1.