How Do You Play Irish Blackjack?

If you’re a fan of blackjack and want to try something new, you may want to give Irish Blackjack a try. This card game is gaining popularity in casinos around the world and has some unique twists on the traditional game. In this tutorial, we’ll explain how to play Irish Blackjack and give you some tips on how to win.

To start with, let’s go through the basic rules of the game. Irish Blackjack is played with a standard deck of 52 cards.

The objective is to beat the dealer by having a hand that is closer to 21 without going over. The dealer will deal two cards face down to each player and two cards face up for themselves.

The twist in Irish Blackjack is that before any player can make their move, the dealer will peek at their hole card (the face-down card). If it’s an Ace or a 10-value card, the dealer will switch it out for another card from the deck. This means that players have less chance of being dealt a natural blackjack (an Ace and a 10-value card) but also means that they have less chance of busting if they hit.

Once the dealer has peeked at their hole card, players can then make their moves. They can choose to hit (take another card), stand (keep their current hand), double down (double their bet and take one more card), or split (split their hand into two separate hands if they have a pair).

Players can continue hitting until they either decide to stand or until they go over 21, which results in an automatic loss. If players get closer than the dealer to 21 without going over, they win even money on their bet. If players get blackjack (an Ace and a 10-value card) they win 3:2 on their bet.

Now that you understand how Irish Blackjack works let’s go through some tips on how to improve your chances of winning:

1. Pay attention to the dealer’s up card: The dealer’s up card can give you some insight into what their hole card may be.

If they have a low-value card (2-6), they may be more likely to bust and you can play more conservatively. If they have a high-value card (7-Ace), they may have a stronger hand and you may need to take more risks.

2. Be strategic with splitting: Splitting pairs is a great way to improve your chances of winning but it’s important to do it strategically. Always split Aces and 8s but avoid splitting 10-value cards or face cards as these are strong hands that can win on their own.

3. Don’t be afraid to double down: Doubling down allows you to double your bet and take one more card which can be very profitable if done at the right time. Always double down on 11, unless the dealer has an Ace, and double down on 10 unless the dealer has a 10-value card or an Ace.

4. Stick to basic strategy: Basic strategy is a set of rules that tells you when to hit, stand, double down or split based on your hand and the dealer’s up card. By following basic strategy, you can reduce the house edge and improve your chances of winning.

In conclusion, Irish Blackjack is an exciting twist on the traditional game and is well worth trying out if you’re a fan of blackjack. By understanding the basic rules of the game and following some simple tips, you can improve your chances of winning big at the tables!