Blackjack is certainly one of the most popular card games in the world and many find the allure of this game absolutely irresistible. Simpler than poker in many aspects, many new players believe the aim of blackjack is to reach the elusive 21, but they would be sorely mistaken.
The object of blackjack is to beat the dealer’s total without exceeding 21 – known as ‘going bust’. While many blackjack guides offer game play advice and tips on strategy, this FAQ is designed to answer the questions you didn’t even know you had.
Why Do Dealers Toss the First Card?
The tossing or ‘burning’ of the first card in blackjack games is a move put in place to prove to the player that nothing dodgy has taken place while the dealer shuffled the cards.
The first card in the deck is also the most vulnerable to cheating schemes should the dealer be in collusion with a player at the table, so the burning of the first card in the deck lessens the probability of this happening.
Any Advantage to Playing Multiple Seats?
There is indeed an advantage to playing multiple seats at a blackjack table, as you will decrease your variance in doing so.
However, having said this, this assumes that you split the bet you would’ve placed on one hand across two, instead of doubling the bet you would place on a single hand.
You will risk the same amount by splitting the bet across two hands and you will also increase your playtime, thus increasing your chance of success.
Full Table vs. Alone with the Dealer?
Blackjack is about as social as sports betting NZ, but it’s always best to be alone at the table with the dealer if you’re an accomplished card counter, however we doubt you would be reading this guide if you were!
As such, if you’re a basic strategy player or just getting started, your best bet is to play at a table full of players.
The reasoning behind this is that you will be dealt fewer hands per hour, thus reducing the exposure of your bankroll to the house edge, increasing game play and the chance of success.
Is Online Blackjack Better than Live?
This answer to this question is not a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’, unfortunately.
Online blackjack will always be better than live with regards to the ease of access, the range of stakes available to choose from and online casino bonuses, but this advantage could quickly be diminished if the rules of the table aren’t the same as live blackjack games.
Some online variations only pay even money for blackjack and don’t permit players to double down on soft hands, so be sure to check the rules before placing your bets online.
How Do Multiple Decks Influence the House Edge?
This is quite possibly the most important aspect of game play to remember: the house edge in blackjack decreases as the number of decks decreases.
Take a moment to let that sink in and then allow me to explain – you will get more blackjacks with fewer decks and doubling down also becomes more advantageous.
You will get more blackjacks in a single-deck game as the removal of just one card affects the percentages of the remaining cards more greatly than a six-deck game.