Unlocking the Secrets: Mastering Blackjack!

Our casino offers several card games. Blackjack is a major classic. It is undoubtedly one of the best loved and most exciting casino games in the world. For those who are not yet familiar with the game, let's briefly go over the basic rules.

Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, is a card game. The object is to beat the dealer by creating a card total as close to 21 as possible but not exceeding 21. You play the game with one or more standard decks of 52 cards. This means you can easily practise at home before you sit down at one of the magnificent VIAGE tables for the real thing.

The cards' values are simple.  Number cards count as their number and all face cards (king, queen, jack) count as 10. You can choose whether the ace counts as a 1 or an 11 depending on what suits you best. The cards' colour and suit don't matter in blackjack. Despite the name of the game, black jacks have no special significance.

How do you start?

In blackjack, there is always one person at the table who deals the cards: the dealer or bank. All the players at the blackjack table compete against the bank rather than each other. The players place their bets. At the casino you play for money, but at home you could easily play for something like buttons. The dealer then deals two cards to each player's position. These are face-up so everyone can see them. The bank also deals itself two cards, only one of which is face-up.

How do you play?

If your two cards are an ace and a 10 or face card, they make up 21 together. That's a 'natural' or 'blackjack' and an immediate win for you. If there is no immediate win, each player gets to play their turn, starting with the player to the dealer's left. The aim of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. You have several options to achieve this:

• You can 'stand': play your current hand without taking another card.
• You can 'hit': take another card to improve your hand. You can ask for a card as many times as you like, but if you go over 21, you lose.
• You can 'double down': Double your bet and take exactly one more card.
• You can 'split': If you have two cards of the same value, you can split them to create two separate hands. You can then play out each hand independently as if it were a separate bet.

Once all players have made their choice, the dealer plays their hand. The dealer always takes a card if their hand's total is less than 17 and has to stop when it is 17 or higher.

How do you win?

If a player's hand total is more than the dealer's without exceeding 21, they win. If a dealer's hand total is more than the player's without exceeding 21, the player loses. If both achieve a total of 21, this is called a push, and the player gets his bet back. That's it. Now that you know the basic rules of blackjack, you are ready to try your luck at one of Viage's tables.

What else?

If you don't feel ready just yet, no problem. There is so much more to discover at Belgium's largest casino and entertainment venue. Next weekend, for example, you can come and watch football at our iconic CINNA Bar with a cocktail or two. Afterwards, Jay Psar, a key figure on the Brussels art and night life scene, will have the bar bouncing with his exclusive Old School DJ set. This unique musical experience is bound to leave a lasting impression. And the next day, on Saturday 23 March, The Moodswings will be there to give you a swinging night. Between 10pm and 1am, you won't be able to stay in your seat, that much is certain.

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