Blackjack 101: How to Play Blackjack

Name: Blackjack 101: How to Play Blackjack
Rating: 4.4 (32 reviews)

Go from novice to expert as a player, or develop a foundation for learning to deal!

Created byMatt Kime

Last updated 10/2020

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Blackjack terminology
How to play using Basic Strategy, with at least 15 practice questions
Card Counting
Blackjack, as a foundation for a career in the gaming industry
Social etiquette
Blackjack

Course content

4 sections • 12 lectures • 55m total length

0.1 Introduction to Playing Blackjack1:35
Explore blackjack basics, including its history, terminology, and card values (2–10, face cards as tens, and ace as 1 or 11), to prepare for table games and casino roles.
0.2 The History of Blackjack8:17
Trace the history of blackjack from its origins to modern rule changes, card counting by Edward Thorp, side bets, and casino evolution shaping the game's appeal.

I-2. Shoe Blackjack9:33
Learn the nuts and bolts of a shoe blackjack game, including table layout, dealing and betting, hand values, hits, splits, doubles, insurance, surrender, and how the dealer resolves hands.
Shoe Blackjack Quiz
I-3. Single Deck Blackjack4:29
Explore the differences between single deck blackjack and shoe blackjack, including pitch game handling, hand-delivered dealing, hit/stand rules, double down and surrender options, and casino rule variations.
I-4. Double Deck Blackjack3:30
Double deck blackjack offers loose rules and higher stakes in many casinos. It attracts high rollers and card counters with deeper deck penetration and more frequent shuffles.
Pitch Blackjack Quiz

II.1 Finding The Game You Want3:39
Evaluate dealer pace and rule sets to find a blackjack game, avoid superstition, rely on probabilities, and compare casinos for slow dealers and 3-2 payouts with doubling after splitting.
II-2a. Basic Strategy2:56
Find a game with a low house edge and use a tailored basic strategy card for its rules, including eight decks, surrender, and double after splitting.
II-2b. Basic Strategy5:38
Master blackjack basics with core strategy principles, including when to split aces and eights, surrender, and avoid unsafe plays; then practice through a quiz to apply the strategy.
Basic Strategy Shoe Quiz 1
Basic Strategy Shoe Quiz 2
II-3. Counting Cards - Hi-Lo6:51
Master hi-lo card counting, true counts, and deviation from basic strategy, using 4 surrender scenarios and 18 indices to guide bets and detect expert counters.
II-4. Counting Cards - Omega II2:10
Omega II card counting extends high-low by using more card values to compute true counts and edge, with 18 indices and forced surrender scenarios requiring practice to build reflex counting.
Card Counting Quiz

III-1. 10 Points of Social Etiquette4:47
Explore ten etiquette tips for blackjack, from signaling clearly and tipping appropriately to respecting basic strategy, handling deck cutting, borrowed checks, and interactions with dealers and players.
III-2. What to Learn Next2:26
Discover practical next steps after the blackjack course by exploring dealing, floor supervising, and card counting, or focus on playing-focused lessons for nine games with learning materials.

Requirements

It will help to have a basic understanding of card values. For instance, Jacks are each worth 10 points in Blackjack, and Aces may be 11 or 1.
Practice materials will help, but are not necessary. Wax covered playing cards, chips, a shoe and a felt table layout (in order of importance) will all help.
A high school diploma (or equivalent) knowledge of math.

Description

Whether you have been playing Blackjack for years, or you have never set foot in a casino, limited practice materials and a basic knowledge of mathematics can help you use this class to master Blackjack as a gambler, or to your career as a table games dealer or leader. Learn from someone who has (at seperate points) been both a card counter and a table games manager.

If you take our class, and master the material, you will know what you need to know to have the Blackjack experience you want.

Who this course is for:

This class has been designed with as wide an appeal as we could manage. Whether you want to change professions to casino employment or card counting, or you just want to develop the expertise you need to have a great time in Las Vegas, this class will help you.
Card counters
Blackjack players

Blackjack 101: How to Play Blackjack

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

I-1. Introduction2 lectures • 10min

How Blackjack is Played3 lectures • 18min

II. Blackjack Strategy5 lectures • 21min

III. Post Knowledge Checklist2 lectures • 7min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: