Blackjack is a game of chance where the player risks a set number of chips, typically five, against the dealer, who risks one chip. The goal is to achieve a higher total score than the dealer. The player’s first card is put up as the wagered amount.
After that, each card is played until it is either a blackjack or a 10 (the “hard” or “natural”), at which point the hand is over and the player’s final score is calculated. The dealer’s first card is always down in blackjack.
In most cases, whether the first card up or down in blackjack depends on chance alone. However, there are certain circumstances in which the dealers’ first card can have an impact on the game. If the dealer has an Ace, for example, it will almost always be down – this means that even if the player had a high card (three of a kind, for example), they would still lose because the Ace beats any two cards.
On the other hand, if the dealer has a two or three and there are no other high cards in play, then the first card up in blackjack would be their Ace. In both cases, what initially looks like luck may actually be based on skill – knowing when to hold back and let other players beat their hands.
