Blackjack is a popular casino table game where your primary goal is to beat the dealer by landing a hand closer to 21 without going over. It is well-known for its blend of strategy, luck, skill, and simple rules. You can play this game at both land-based and online casinos in Nigeria. In this guide, we will go over the blackjack game rules, tips, strategies, and where to play this table game.
Why is blackjack so popular in Nigeria?
Nigerian casino players love to play blackjack games and there are several reasons behind its popularity. Let’s check out why.
- Ease and convenience – nowadays you do not need to visit a brick-and-mortar casino to play the game. There are numerous iGaming platforms that let you play blackjack online. They also offer live dealer games to replicate the social aspect of a land-based casino.
- Low house edge – this is a game where the house edge can be as low as 0.5%, which gives you a 99.5% RTP. Obviously, the house edge can go up or down based on your skills, but you still have better winning chances than any other game.
- Simple rules – blackjack games have very simple and straightforward rules compared to other table games at casinos. It only involves card counting, and you can have a great time and consistently win if you just follow some basic strategies and tips.
- Wide game variety – Nigerian online casinos offer a lot of different variants, such as European, American, Free Bet, etc. Land-based casinos also offer different variants and deck formations. So, whether you are playing blackjack online or offline, you have a lot of options.
Blackjack rules
As mentioned, blackjack rules are simple. However, you need to know every aspect of the game if you want to properly learn how to play blackjack. The game is also known as 21 because that’s the highest number of points you can accrue. Blackjack is played with one or more standard decks of 52 cards.
What you need to know to start playing
To get started, you first need to know the values of each card in a deck. Below are the values or points each card holds in a blackjack game:
- The numeric cards (2 – 10) train their face value, meaning an 8 of clubs has a value of eight.
- Face cards (jack, queen, and king) each hold a value of 10 points.
- An Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11, depending on which value benefits your hand more.
To get started, you first need to choose a reputable online casino. You should study the table rules before buying in. In blackjack, you have to place your bet before the cards are dealt. Each casino table has its own minimum and maximum betting limits. It is important that you choose a table that fits your budget.
Beating the dealer
The goal is to beat the dealer by having a hand value closer to 21 without going over. You have the option to hit (take another card) or stand (keep your hand) after the dealer deals the cards. You can hit if you don’t go over 21. There are other betting options, which we will discuss in later parts of this guide.
The combination of an Ace and a card valued at 10 (king, queen, jack, 10) is called a Blackjack. That makes your total hand value 21, and you automatically win the round unless the dealer also has a Blackjack in their hand. If you and the dealer have the same hand value, it’s called a push, meaning you are in a tie. In that case, your bet amount is returned to you. You automatically lose the round if your hand value goes over 21, which is called a bust.
A regular blackjack win usually pays out 1:1, meaning a winning bet of ₦20 will pay out ₦20. If you get a natural blackjack, the payout is 3:2. This means if you bet ₦20 and win, you get a payout of ₦30.
Step-by-step guide for your first game
Now that you know the basic blackjack rules, it is time to dive into actual gameplay. In this section, we will cover each step of the game, from buying into the player choices in a blackjack game. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Place your first bet
At this point, you already know that you should choose a casino and a table that suits your preferences. If you are playing blackjack online you can directly wager from your casino wallet but for land-based casinos, you need to buy chips to sit at a table.
Next, you need to place a bet within the minimum and maximum limits of the table. It’s important to note that once the dealer starts dealing cards, your bet is locked, and you can’t change it. So, be sure of the amount you want to bet before that. As a rule of thumb, most gambling experts recommend betting between 1% and 3% of your total bankroll on every round.
The dealing process explained
Before the bets are placed, the dealer shuffles the deck or decks to ensure randomness. The number of decks used depends on the blackjack variant you are playing. Multiple decks are often used to minimize the chance of card counting. After the shuffle, you and the other players are on the table, placing and confirming the bets.
Next, the dealer deals two cards to each player and themselves. Yours and all other players’ cards are dealt face up, while the dealer’s first card is face up, and the second one (hole card) is dealt face down. The dealer distributes the cards one at a time, starting from the left, and moves clockwise.
You have few choices when the actual play starts. After all the players are done with their turns, the dealer takes their turn and reveals the ‘hole card.’ Then, they must hit until their hand total reaches 17 or up.
How to understand player choices?
In a Blackjack game, online or offline, you have four to six choices after the cards are dealt. Below, we have broken down these player choices.
- Hit – this is when you ask for one additional card to try and improve your hand. You can keep hitting until you have a satisfactory hand total without busting. This choice is typically used when your hand total is low like 10 or 11.
- Stand – this means you want to keep your current hand without taking any additional card. You would typically do this when you feel like your hand is strong enough to beat the dealer; 18, 19, or 20 for example.
- Double Down – this option allows you to double your bet and take only one additional card. It can be a powerful move if the dealer’s face up card is weak and your hand has a hard 9 to 11 or a soft 16 to 18. Be aware that after you double down, you can not hit for the rest of the round.
- Split – if you are dealt two cards of the same value, you have the option to split. This basically separates the cards and creates two hands, each with a separate bet. You can play both hands independently.
- Surrender – some blackjack games will let you surrender, which basically allows you to forfeit half of your bet and exit the round. This can be useful if the dealer has a strong face up card like a 10 or an Ace. There are two types of choices: early surrender (before the dealer checks for blackjack) and late surrender (after the dealer checks for blackjack).
- Insurance – this is a side bet you can make when the dealer’s face up card is an Ace. You get the chance to bet half of your initial wager, betting that the dealer has blackjack. If they do, you get a 2:1 payout on the insurance bet but lose the original wager unless you also have a blackjack. You should note that insurance bets significantly increase the house edge.
Fundamental blackjack strategies
Now that we have covered how to play blackjack, we will get into some common strategies that our gambling experts suggest that you follow. These tips will help you maximize your chances of winning at a blackjack game.
- Basic strategy – this is a detailed mathematical strategy that provides guidelines on when you should hit, stand, double down, split, or surrender. For instance, when you have a low hand total (9 to 11), you should hit. Plus, if the dealer shows a weak card, you should double down. You should learn the basic strategy to minimize the house edge to as low as 0.5%.
- When to split – always split pairs of 8s and Aces. Splitting Aces gives you two strong hands that have a strong chance to hit Blackjack. By splitting 8s, you avoid playing a weak hand of 16. Never split a pair of 10s as it is already a very strong hand totaling 20.
- Doubling down – you should double down if you have a hard 9 to 11 and the dealer shows a weak card like a 2 or a 6. Also double down when you have a soft 16 to 18 if the dealer’s face up card is weak.
- Hitting and standing – always stand if your hand totals 17 or more if the dealer’s face up card is weak (2 to 6). You should hit on hand totals of 12 to 16 if the dealer shows a strong card like a 10 or an Ace.
- When to surrender: If the game variant you are playing allows this option, it is best for you to surrender if you have a hard 16 and the dealer’s face up card is strong (9, 10, face cards, or Ace).
- Avoid insurance bets – based on the variant you are playing, you may get a chance to use this option when the dealer shows an Ace. However, our experts suggest avoiding this because it is not profitable in the long run.
Remember to manage your budget
Managing your bankroll is equally important in any form of gambling. For starters, you should set a bankroll limit before you join a game of blackjack online or offline. Do not exceed this limit by any means. You can also set time limits to avoid it from getting in the way of your daily life.
Next, you should stick to the 1% to 3% betting rule we mentioned earlier. This minimizes the risk of losing your entire bankroll on a bad streak. This also ensures that you get a longer playtime to recover from losses. Always avoid emotional betting, as it can prolong your losing streak.
Set win and loss limits to avoid getting carried away with a winning streak or a losing one. This will help you to keep gambling sustainable in the long run. You should also adjust your bets dynamically when playing. Increase your bets slightly when on a winning streak, and do the opposite if you are on a losing streak. This will allow you to capitalize on winning streaks and limit losses.
Where to play blackjack in Nigeria?
Nigerian players have a wide range of online blackjack options, even though the land-based options are limited. Every online casino in Nigeria offers classic and live blackjack games on their sites. Let’s have a look at some of the options below.
Online blackjack casinos
- Betsson – Betsson Nigeria offers 142 live blackjack tables with multiple variants, including ONE blackjack, Eclipse blackjack, Sports All Bets blackjack, and Infinite Fun Fun 21 blackjack.
- Betway – Betway features 78 live blackjack games. Top picks are Quantum blackjack Plus, Infinite blackjack, Power blackjack, and Vinnie Jones blackjack.
- Stake – although there are only 7 live blackjack tables available, the lobby offers good titles. We recommend Stake Exclusive Live blackjack by Pragmatic Play and Lightning blackjack Live by Evolution.
Local blackjack casinos
- The Federal Palace Hotel and Casino – it is situated at 6 – 8 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos 101241, Lagos, Nigeria. The venue offers multiple Blackjack tables operating from 7 PM to 3 AM.
- The Transcorp Hilton Casino – this one is located at 1 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, Abuja Capital Territory 900001, Nigeria. It has 9 Blackjack and Roulette tables operating from 9 PM to 3 AM.
- Jacaranda Casinos – this brand has three establishments in 23B2 Idejo Street, 30 Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, and 903 Tafawa Balewa Way. All of them offer Blackjack games from 8 PM to 4 AM.
