Hitting the town with your friends can be fun, but it’s not the only option at your disposal when you want to socialise. Inviting your nearest and dearest over to your home for an enjoyable night indoors can also be on the cards.
The classic “at home with friends” activity is a dinner party, but you’re not bound to the kitchen. If you have a hosting space — or if you’ve invested in a games room — then you can also consider hosting your very own evening of blackjack. The simplicity of the game makes it the ideal option since you can brief your friends on the rules in a matter of minutes. Let’s run through a step-by-step process that’ll have you well on your way towards hosting a great evening.
Create a Guestlist
Step one: putting together a guest list! The number of guests you can invite will largely be determined by the size of your hosting space, though keeping in mind gameplay is also recommended. It’s best not to have more than seven people playing blackjack at a single time. Equally, inviting only two or three people isn’t much of a party. Aim to invite around 14 people; it’s unlikely that anyone will want to play every game of blackjack, so having more people will ensure the games can continue even when a guest wants to sit out a few rounds.
Invest in the Essentials
Blackjack has been around since the 1700s, and that’s partly to do with how easy it is to play. You really don’t need much to have an evening of blackjack fun. Still, you’ll need at least a few things.
The first — and most obvious — is a deck of cards. Try to pick up a quality deck (as opposed to the old deck you have lying around the house) to elevate the playing experience. You’ll also need a table and enough chairs for your players. A smooth tablecloth will help you to set the scene.
You’ll need a croupier (the fancy word for dealer), which we’ll assume will be you.
Look Up the Rules — And Practice Online
A player can pick up the basics of blackjack in a few minutes. But also, they can just learn by playing online — if you don’t have a firm grasp on the game during the first round, you’ll have it by the twentieth.
The dealer, however, won’t have the luxury of just feeling their way towards the rules of the game. They’ll need to know them before the first hand is dealt. Everyone knows the basics of the game, but not everyone knows about blackjack insurance or what to do if a player wants to split their cards. Happily, these rules are as easy to grasp as the other games’ rules, but it’ll be best if the dealer, whoever it may be, reads up about them online before the evening gets underway to ensure smooth gameplay.
And talking of online: digital casinos can be an effective way for people planning to attend a blackjack evening to get their skills up to speed. By playing online before the planned evening, attendees can ensure they’re not just aware of how the game functions, but that they’re feeling confident by the time the in-person event rolls around.
Set the Scene
You can play blackjack casually around a dining table, but if you’re inviting people around for an evening of good old games, then it’s recommended to step things up a little by really setting the scene. If possible, try to go for a “stylish casino” aesthetic. That means relatively low lighting, light jazz in the background, and a clean, clear space. You can also ask your guests to dress up as if they were going for a night out on the town. If you have a tuxedo, then your role as the dealer will provide the perfect opportunity to get it out of the wardrobe.
Set Up a Non-Game Space
Your guests will like playing blackjack, but they probably won’t want to play every round. We all need a break from time to time! Look at setting up an equally enjoyable non-gaming space where your guests can relax, chat, and eat snacks when they’re not doing battle at the blackjack table. Giving your guests a space to take a breather is a surefire way to ensure the blackjack fun goes on all night long.