Blackjack Strategy Chart: Terminologies and Basic Playing Strategy in Blackjack

Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one. This is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. This is comparing card game between a player and dealer and played with one or more decks of 52 cards. Getting a blackjack means you have an ace and a ten or a face card, giving you a score of 21. Since every player plays against the dealer, it doesn't matter what other players have to you, only the dealer. This game needs both the luck and strategy a player could get wherein blackjack strategy chart could be of great help.

Before playing blackjack here are the basic terms used:

•    Hit - Receive a card: in Black jack the player may hit as long as he has not went over 21.

•    Stand - End the player's turn and pass to the next player.


•    Double Down- This means to double the player's bet, he will get one more card, and then ends your turn.

•    Split-If the player have two of the same card (like two 6's), heu can split them and play each as a separate hand. He'll get one more card for each, and then he hit or stand on each hand. He has to put up another bet since now he's playing two hands.

•    Surrender- Surrender allows the player to bow out of his hand and lose half of his bet. This is a good option when he'd likely lose his whole bet if he stayed in, such as when he has a total of 16 vs. a dealer up card of 10. Although this was a popular play, it is hardly used in top casinos any more.

•    Bust-If the player go over 21, he is busted, and he loses. Even if the dealer busts.

•    Push-If the player and the dealer have the same total, it's a push, or a tie, and the player neither win nor lose his bet.

•    Natural-If the player dealt an ace plus a ten (or a face card, which is worth ten), that's called a natural or a Blackjack.

Upon knowing the basic terms used in blackjack the player must be also familiar with the blackjack strategy chart so he can be knowledgeable enough which will prompt him to win the game. There are online sites which provides basic information about how to use the blackjack strategy chart or better yet, he must go to casino and observe the game. Before getting started with playing, here are the basic steps in playing blackjack:

•    The player must first put a wager.

•    Upon placing a wager, the player will be given two cards while the dealer gets one face up, one face down.

•    Each player in turn either stays or takes more cards to try and get closer to 21 without busting.

•    Players who do not bust wait for the dealer's turn.

•    When all the players are done, the dealer turns up the down card.

•    By rule, on counts of 17 or higher the dealer must stay; on counts of 16 or lower the dealer must draw.

The aforementioned basic playing techniques and terminologies can be applied in playing the blackjack game. Blackjack does not only gives you wins and loses but it also improves your calculating ability and your mental alertness. A player must study the blackjack strategy chart to make him fully equip on the know-how of the blackjack game for greater chances of winning.