How to Play Blackjack

Before learning how to play blackjack, you must understand the various options available to you. You may be wondering about double-down, Insurance, and no hole card. To help you understand these options, read through the following articles. You will also learn when to hit the dealer on a soft 17 and when to double-down. To avoid making the wrong move, follow these tips. You will find playing blackjack more fun than you ever imagined! Read on to learn how to play blackjack and get the best odds.

Double-down

In Double-down blackjack, players have the option of doubling down their bets after receiving their initial cards. However, doubling down is risky because a player is only allowed one additional card after doubling down their initial bet. The strategy can lead to a loss if a player receives a low card. Instead, players should stay in the game and avoid doubling down, which will only increase the chance of losing money.

Insurance

It might seem like a good idea to insure your wagers when playing blackjack, but a game of chance doesn’t always reward you with the payoff you expect. Even if blackjack insurance does pay out, you are still betting against yourself, and you may end up losing both your side bet and main bet if you hit insurance. As such, it’s best to avoid blackjack insurance if possible. Here are some tips to make the best decision.

Dealer must hit on soft 17

A basic strategy for Blackjack involves hitting or standing on a soft 17. A dealer can’t split on a soft 17, and there are multiple ways to make an 8-8 against an Ace. If the dealer hits, you’ll generally lose 36.4 cents for every dollar you bet. Double down is the best option in such a situation, but it’s not as profitable as standing on a soft 17.

Insurance is a side bet

When you have a natural blackjack, you can opt for insurance. This side bet is worth placing when the dealer’s first card is an Ace. While insurance is tempting, it is not worth placing if you haven’t learned card counting. The odds of winning the insurance bet are 2.18 to one, which is less than optimal. If you don’t know card counting, consider the example below.

Insurance is a strategy

While blackjack players are often told to avoid placing an insurance bet, the math behind it is the same. The odds are in the dealer’s favor when they take insurance, and they also have the same house edge. In short, you should avoid placing an insurance bet unless you have a very high card count or you’re very familiar with blackjack strategy. Even Money is a popular nickname for insurance bets because, when the dealer has a blackjack, the insurance payout will be the same as your wager.