How To Play Blackjack In The UK Strategy, Rules, And Actions

With its immense popularity all over the globe, Blackjack is often considered one of the simplest casino games around, but it’s important to know how to play Blackjack UK card game with all its rules and strategies before you join the table. In this post, we’ll guide you through the game step by step, including all the rules, side bets, strategies, and actions you can take for a successful game of Blackjack UK card game.

At first glance, Blackjack also looks like one of the simplest table games you can play. With a low house edge compared to other casino table games, Blackjack is often considered to be the casino game that offers the best odds for players. The main goal of the Blackjack is simple: you always play to beat the dealer. However, there are several other factors and strategies to keep in mind, which is why it’s important to make sure you know how to play Blackjack card game UK in order to play with the best strategy.

Like all casino games, Blackjack is also a game of chance, but there is also a big element of skill and strategy involved. The cards are always dealt randomly so in this sense, Blackjack is a game of chance, but once you have your hand, there are several strategies you can use to play to your advantage.

Variants Of Blackjack Around The World

Most players know how to play blackjack UK card game, but there are many other variations which are played all around the world, and which could be worth exploring. The most common is Classic Blackjack, which is typically the version that every player learns before trying out other variances. In the traditional game of Blackjack, the main goal of the game is always to beat the dealer’s hand.

A popular variation of this Blackjack game is Blackjack 7 which is particularly popular in the UK. Blackjack 7 is played with a 52-card deck as well but seven cards are dealt to each player at the start of the game, instead of the usual two. The rest of the cards are placed on the table face-down and the game and the game will begin with the first player sitting to the left of the dealer. Furthermore, blackjack can be played as an online table game or in a live casino environment as well.

 

The Aim Of The Game – Blackjack Rules

 

When you learn how to play Blackjack UK card game, the first thing you’ll learn is that you’re always playing against the dealer. This is what makes Blackjack online significantly different to other table games like Baccarat or Poker where you have to play to beat the other players.

The object of Blackjack card game UK is to beat the dealer by getting as close as you can to a card value of 21 without exceeding it. However, it’s important to note that to beat the dealer, you simply need to have a hand with a higher value than the dealer’s hand, as long as it’s not more than 21. So, for example, if your hand is 13 and the dealer’s is lower, you still win.

Blackjack UK card game follows the same rules of traditional Blackjack but if you’re familiar with how to play Blackjack UK card game, then you’ll know that the UK version has one important difference: the dealer must always stand on a soft 17. A soft hand refers to a hand with an Ace value of 11, meaning that your hand won’t go bust if you take another card. On the other hand, if the Ace has a value of one, this is considered a hard 17.

 

What Actions Can A Player Take During Blackjack?

 

If you’re trying to learn how to play Blackjack UK card game, you’ll need to know every possible action that you can take during the game once you have your cards. Below, we’ll take a look at all the actions you can take during the game.

It’s important to keep in mind that Blackjack is a combination of both chance and skill, so there is no strategy that will guarantee you will always win.

Action	Description
Double Down	Doubling down is an action you can take to double your original bet if you’re in a good position. In exchange, you get one additional card. For example, if the dealer is holding a hand between two and six, it could be advantageous to double down.
Split Pairs	You can split your cards into two separate hands if you’re dealt a matching pair. To split a hand, you also need to place the same bet as your original hand on the second hand. The dealer will then add an additional card to each hand.
Double Down After Splitting	If you split a pair, you then have the option to double down after splitting which doubles your bet on both hands. This is a good option to take if there is a chance that when the new card is added to the split cards, you have a good position to double down.
Insurance	Insurance is an action you can take if the dealer’s card face-up card is an Ace. This ensures half of your original bet in the case of the dealer getting a blackjack.

 

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Playing Blackjack – Step By Step

 

Now that you know the main actions you can take during the game, it’s time to take a look at how to play Blackjack UK card game by following seven basic steps.

Step 1 – Place your initial bet

The first step in Blackjack is for all the players to join the table and place their initial bet. This is where you need to decide your initial bet amount by placing your chips in the betting area on the table. The initial bet amount will depend on the limits set by the particular table you’re playing at. Some Blackjack tables allow you to play with small stakes while other table require a high minimum bet to join the game. Before you join a table, it’s important to note what the betting limits are.

Step 2 – The dealer deals the cards

Once every player at the table has placed their bets and is ready to play, the game begins with the dealer dealing out two cards facing up to each player, starting with the first player to the left of the dealer. The dealer will give out the cards in a clockwise direction and they will also receive two cards. While the players’ cards are dealt facing up, the dealer will have one card facing up and one facing down.

Step 3 – Decide whether you want to double down

Once you have your cards, it’s time to work out the value of your hand to decide if you want to double down. This is an action to take if you feel confident that you could be in a winning position with your hand because you will also be doubling your initial bet with this action. If you double down, you will be dealt just one more card to your hand. If you win against the dealer’s hand after you’ve doubled down, then you get double the payout. However, if you don’t get a good card, you risk losing twice as much.

In most cases, doubling down might be an ideal move if your cards total 11, if you have a soft 16, 17, or 18, or if you have a hard 9 or 10. On the other hand, there are instances where doubling down is not the right action to take, such as, for example, if the dealer’s hand shows an Ace or if your hand is higher than 11, because the chances of going bust are much higher in these instances.

It’s important to note that while these are generally good situations to double down on, it’s not always guaranteed that this action will work to your advantage.

Step 4 – Decide if you want to hit

You can hit once your cards are dealt to you, in which case the dealer will go ahead and deal you one more card. When you hit, the dealer will keep dealing cards until you go bust or until you decide to stand (explained below). This means that it’s up to you to decide how many times you want to hit, i.e. how many additional cards you receive, unless, of course, you exceed 21 and go bust. If your hand goes bust, you automatically lose the game.

Step 5 – Stand

If you’re happy with your hand, you can choose to stand which means that no more cards are dealt by the dealer. Choosing to stand means you’re ready to play your hand and the dealer will move on to the next player in the table. In Blackjack card game UK, the dealer doesn’t have the same options to hit or stand as the players have, instead, they must always stand if they have a soft 17.

Step 6 – Analyse the dealer’s hand

Once every player at the table has had their turn to decide whether they want to play their hand or get additional cards, the dealer will reveal the face-down card. If the dealer has a hand of 16 or lower, they must hit according to the rules of Blackjack card game UK. As mentioned above, if they have a soft 17, they must stand.

Unlike the players, the dealer doesn’t have the option to double down or split their hand. If the dealer’s hand goes over 21, then they go bust and every player whose hand is still in play will get a 1:1 payout. In the case of the dealer’s face-up card being an Ace, every player will have the chance to place an insurance bet. If the dealer gets a Blackjack but you already have an insurance bet going on, then you get back half of your initial bet.

At this point, you need to determine whether you could be in a position to beat the dealer’s hand or not. Learning the dealer’s hand will help you decide on your next move in the game.

It’s also important to mention that if you’re not satisfied with your initial hand, you also have the option to surrender your hand and get back half of your original bet instead of hitting or standing.

Step 7 – Win or lose the game

If your card value is higher than the dealer’s (but not above 21) or the dealer goes bust, that’s a win for you. If you go over 21 or your card has a lower value than the dealer’s, then you lose. If the dealer has a hand between 17 and 21, then it’s simply a case of who has the highest hand. Another possible outcome is a push, which is when you have the same hand total as the dealer. In this case, you keep your bet, but you don’t get a payout.

 

In-Game Blackjack Checklist – Keep These In Mind During Gameplay

Now that you know how to live Blackjack UK card game, it’s time to look at the most important things to keep in mind when playing. Below, we’ve come up with a handy checklist to help you out when playing any game of Blackjack at Platincasino UK.

• The aim is to have a higher hand than the dealer without going over a hand-total of 21. Keep in mind that the goal is not to reach 21, but to have a higher value than the dealer.
• If your hand goes over 21, you go bust and lose the game.
• You have to place your initial bet before any cards are dealt.
• The player’s first two cards are always dealt face up but the dealer always starts with one face-down card that is revealed once every player at the table has decided whether they want to hit, stand, or surrender.
• You should only stand if you’re happy with your initial hand and are ready to play it.
• You should only hit if you want to be dealt additional cards.
• In Blackjack UK card game, the dealer must hit on 16 or lower and stand on soft 17.
• Ace has a value of either one or 11, depending on which value offers the best advantage for you.
• If you have any pairs, you can split them into two separate hands.
• If you double down, you will only be dealt one extra card and you will also double your initial bet.
• A push refers to a score tie between the dealer and the player. In this case, the initial bet is returned to you.
• Remember that 10, Jack, Queen, and King are worth 10 while cards 2 to 10 count as face value.

How To Play Blackjack UK Card Game – FAQs

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