Blackjack is a card game played by one or more players against the dealer. The goal is to get a hand with a total value of 21 or close to it without going over. Aces count as either 1 or 11, and face cards as 10. The game is played on a semicircular table that can accommodate varying numbers of players (called “spots”) seated around it.
Before the game begins, each player must place a bet. The minimum and maximum bets are usually posted on the table. Once all bets are placed, the dealer will deal two cards to each player. The player can then choose to hit or stand depending on predetermined rules. If the player’s hand exceeds 21, they lose. If the dealer has a blackjack, all other players lose their bets, except for those who also have a blackjack.
If the dealer has an ace up, they will offer insurance to all players. This is a side bet that pays 2:1. The player must make this bet before the dealer checks their hole card for a blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack, they will immediately end the round and all other players will lose their bets, except for those with a blackjack.
The player can also split cards of the same rank if they wish. This is possible only when the cards have a value of the same number, such as two eights or two aces. However, splitting aces is not allowed in all variations of blackjack.
In addition to the basic strategy, some players will employ card counting techniques in an attempt to improve their chances of winning. This is done by tracking the concentration of high-value cards (such as aces and 10s) in the deck. This information is then used to increase or decrease the player’s bet amount. This method of playing blackjack requires skill and practice to master.
Recent studies suggest that confidence in blackjack knowledge correlates with several psychological and behavioral consequences, including outcome expectations, anxiety, and risk taking. This research stream demonstrates the need to consider these implications when designing educational interventions, such as those for radon or financial literacy. In the studies reported here, unjustified confidence was found to correlate with greater blackjack bets and reduced use of hints designed to improve play, both of which may reduce the effectiveness of these educational efforts. The raw data supporting these conclusions will be made available by the authors upon request. This study was reviewed and approved by Wake Forest Institutional Review Board for the protection of human participants. The authors would like to thank the participants in this study for their participation. Their written informed consent was provided prior to participation. This article was supported by the National Science Foundation, grant number 1004910. Wake Forest University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or sexual orientation.