How to Play Live Casino Blackjack 21

Many players in Nigeria jump between different games at a live casino, but is that the smartest move? While it can be fun, if your goal is to win more often, it's not the most effective approach. Trying to play too many games at once can mess with your focus and performance. So, what's the best way to really play to win? It's simple – pick a game from a live casino and learn how to play it like a pro. This guide is all about helping you do just that!

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 break down exactly how to play and get good at Blackjack 21. Keep reading to soak up all the rules and strategies you need to become a master of the game. Let's dive in!

What Exactly is Blackjack 21?

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

The main aim of the game is to beat the dealer by getting a hand value that's higher than the dealer's, but without going over 21. Each card has a point value: picture cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10 points, and Aces can be either 1 or 11 points, depending on what helps you most.

Blackjack 21 is a game where both luck and skill are key. You'll need to make smart decisions based on the cards you're dealt and what the dealer is showing. This means knowing when to 'hit' (take another card), 'stand' (keep your current hand), 'double down' (double your bet and take one more card), or 'split' (if you have a pair, you can turn them into two separate hands).

The game has a fascinating history that stretches back to the 17th century. It's thought to have started in France, where it was called Vingt-et-Un, meaning "twenty-one" in French. The game quickly became popular across Europe and eventually found its way to America, where it was rebranded as Blackjack.

Today, Blackjack 21 is a global favourite. It's played in casinos everywhere and has even branched out into different versions like Spanish 21 and Pontoon. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, Blackjack 21 promises hours of fun and excitement right here in Nigeria.

How to Play Like a Boss in Nigeria

Mastering any new skill starts with the basics. In Blackjack, your mission is simple: beat the dealer's hand and get as close to 21 as possible without busting. But how do you get there? Let's break down the card values.

• Number Cards (2-10): These are worth their face value. Picture Cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10 points each.
• Ace: This card is flexible – it can be worth 1 or 11 points. Keep these values handy!

When you play in a live casino in Nigeria, you'll typically find games using multiple decks, usually six or eight. While it's rare, some places might use just one deck. Generally, fewer decks mean better odds for you, but most Nigerian casinos stick to 6 or 8 decks. After you place your bets, you and the dealer get two cards each. Your cards are usually dealt face-up, while the dealer gets one card face-up and one face-down.

If nobody hits Blackjack right away, you'll have a few options on how to proceed. Here they are:

• Hit: Ask the dealer for another card.
• Stand: Stick with the hand you have and don't take any more cards.
• Double Down: This means you double your bet and will receive only one more card from the dealer.
• Surrender: Give up your hand and forfeit half of your bet.
• Split: If you have two cards of the same rank (like two 7s), you can split them into two separate hands. You'll then play each hand with new cards dealt to them, and all the options above apply to both hands. Note that a King and Queen, despite having the same value, are not the same rank and cannot be split. Some casinos might let you split multiple times if you get another matching pair. Just remember, splitting means you're placing a new bet on the second hand, so you're essentially playing two hands instead of one, doubling your potential stake.
• Insurance: If the dealer's up-card is an Ace, you can take insurance. This is a side bet, usually half your original bet, that protects you if the dealer gets a natural Blackjack.

Keep in mind, the dealer has less freedom with their moves compared to players. They must hit if their total is 16 or less and must stand if it's 17 or more. They can't double down, split, or surrender. If the dealer goes over 21, they bust, and all players who haven't busted win. If the dealer wins, naturally, all remaining players lose.

If you get a natural Blackjack (an Ace and a 10-value card for a total of 21 on your first two cards), you win instantly, unless the dealer also has a Blackjack. In that case, it's a 'push', and your bet is returned. If the dealer's face-up card is an Ace and their hidden card is a 10-value card, they win.

These are the fundamental rules to get you started with Blackjack 21 in Nigerian casinos. But if you're serious about winning and becoming a top player, there's more to learn. Read on to discover how to truly master the game!

Set Up Your Bankroll Like a Pro

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.