Blackjack is an easy game to learn how to play. We'll
assume you've never played before and go over the basics.
Before you sit down at a play blackjack table, glance at the
sign that sits on the table because it will tell you the
minimum amount you must bet per hand. If you are a $5 per
hand player than you want to locate a table that allows $5
minimum bets per hand.
When you take a seat at a blackjack table, you need to
convert your cash into casino chips. Just wait until the
dealer completes the hand in progress and place your cash
on the table in front of you preferably outside of the
betting box (otherwise the cash could be mistaken for a
bet on the next hand). The dealer will exchange your cash
for an equivalent amount of casino chips. Place the chips
in front of you. You are now ready to make your first bet
but first let's make sure you understand the playing
rules.
The objective of blackjack is to beat the dealer's hand by
either 1) having a total that exceeds the dealer's total
or 2) by not going over 21 when the dealer does. Exceeding
a total of 21 is known as 'busting". The casino's edge
comes from the fact that players must go first and when
they bust their hand they automatically lose even if the
dealer subsequently busts.
All cards count their face value in play blackjack . Picture
cards count as 10 and the ace can count as either a 1 or
11. Card suits have no meaning in blackjack. The total of
any hand is the sum of the card values in the hand. A hand
containing a 4, 5 and 8 totals 17. Another containing a
queen and 5 totals 15. It is always assumed that the ace
counts 11 unless your total exceeds 21 in which case the
ace reverts to a value of 1. For example, Ace, 5 is a 16.
If a player draws a 9 the total is now 15. Generally hands
which contain an ace that counts as 11 are known as soft
hands (i.e. ace, 7 is a soft 18 hand). A hard hand is any
hand that either does not contain an ace of if it does it
counts as 1 (i.e. 10, 8 and 5, ace, 10, 2 are hard 18
hands).
Prior to the deal of the cards, all players must make a
bet by placing chips in their respective betting boxes.
Every player and the dealer will receive two cards. One of
the dealer's card (known as the dealer's upcard or face
card) is dealt up so that players can see its value. The
other dealer's card (known as the dealer's downcard or
hole card) is unseen. The two player cards can be either
dealt face up, face down, or sometimes one up and one
down. In general, games that are dealt from dealing shoes
(normally containing 4, 6 or 8 decks of cards ) the
player's cards are dealt face up. In this case you should
not handle the cards. In games in which the dealer deals
from the hand by pitching the cards to the players (single
or double deck games) the player cards are usually dealt
both face down (or sometimes one up and one down). In
these games it is permissible for the player to handle the
cards (with one hand only and the cards must always be
above the table).
After the player looks at his initial two cards and sees
the value of one of the dealer's two cards, the player
must make a playing decision.
This includes the following:
Hit. This means you want the dealer to give you another
card to your hand. In shoe games, indicate to the dealer
that you want a hit by making a beckoning motion with your
finger or tapping the table behind your cards with your
finger. In hand held games, scratch the edges of the cards
in your hand lightly on the felt.
Standing. This means you are satisfied with the total of
the hand and want to stand with the cards you have. In
shoe games, indicate that you want to stand by waving your
hand over the cards. In hand held games, tuck your cards
under the chips that you have in the betting box.
Pair Splitting. If you have two like cards (e.g. a pair of
6's or aces), you could excersise the option to split.
When you split you must make another bet equal to your
original bet (just place your chip next to the original
chip bet on the hand). By pair splitting you play each
card as a separate hand and you can draw as many cards as
you like to each hand (except split aces-most casinos will
only allow one draw card to each ace). For example if you
were dealt a pair of 8's (16) and split, you would have
two separate hands containing an 8. You would be required
to play out one of the split hands first before the other.
In shoe games you indicate that you want to split by
placing another chip next to the original chip. For hand
held games toss your cards on the table and then make the
secondary wager. Most casinos will also allow players to
split all 10 value cards such as a jack and ten or queen
and king. Doubling down. This playing option allows you to double
your bet in return for receiving one and only one draw
card. In most casinos you can only double down after you
receive your first two cards and before drawing another
card. To signal the dealer that you want to double down
just place your chip next to the original chip bet on the
hand (shoe games) or toss your cards on the table face-up
in hand held games and then make the secondary bet.
Surrender. This playing option is sometimes permitted. It
allows a player to forfeit the hand with an automatic loss
of half the original bet. Player's can surrender their
initial two card hand only after the dealer has checked
his cards for a play blackjack . Once a player draws a card the
surrender option is no longer available. If the dealer has
a blackjack hand, then surrender is not available. When a
player surrenders (to do so tell the dealer "surrender")
the dealer will remove the player's card from the table
and place one half of the players bet in the chip rack.
The player is no longer involved in that round.
The above rule is known as late surrender. In some casinos
players can surrender before the dealer checks his cards
for a play blackjack . This form of surrender is much more
player favorable than late surrender but it is rarely
offered.
Insurance. When the dealer's upcard is an ace, the dealer
will ask players if they want to make the insurance wager.
It is a side bet in which players are betting that the
dealer's hole card will be a ten-value card. Players can
make an insurance bet equal to one half of the initial bet
made on the hand. To make the insurance bet you simply
place your chips on the insurance line, which is located
right above the player betting box. You win your insurance
bet if the dealer has a ten-value card in the hole. A
winning insurance bet pays off at 2 to 1 odds.
Even Money. When the player has a blackjack hand and the
dealer has an ace showing the dealer will ask the player
if he wants "even money". Even money means the dealer will
automatically give you a 1 to 1 (or even money) payoff on
your bet before he checks his downcard for a potential
blackjack. Taking even money yields the same result as
making an insurance bet on your blackjack hand.
Unlike players, the dealer in play blackjack has no playing
option. Casino rules specify that a dealer must draw when
the dealer's hand totals less than 17 and stand when the
total is 17 to 21. In some casinos, dealer's must stand on
soft 17 and in others they must hit (it's better for the
player if the rules specify the dealer must stand on soft
17).
If the player's hand exceeds a total of 21 the player
automatically losses. If the player's hand exceeds the
total of the dealer's hand, the player wins the hand and
is paid at 1 to 1 odds. If the player and dealer have the
same total, the hand is a tie or push and the player
retains his bet.
In most European casinos, the dealer will give himself
only one face card and wait until all the players play out
their hands before dealing his second card. This is widely
known as the European No-Hole card rule and it can change
a player's strategy slightly.
Always remember that when you play blackjack it's you
against the dealer. The two variables that determine how
you should play your hand are the dealer's upward and your
hand. With more experience, you'll also be able to use the
information of all the cards that you see on the table
(yours, the dealer and your fellow players) to make a more
informed decision on how much to bet and how to play the
hand (see Advanced Playing Strategies).
The object of the play blackjack game is to accumulate cards
with point totals as close to 21 without going over 21.
Face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) are worth 10 points.
Aces are worth 1 or 11, whichever is preferable. Other
cards are represented by their number.
If player and the House tie, it is a push and no one wins.
Ace and 10 (Blackjack) on the first two cards dealt is an
automatic player win at 1.5 to 1, unless the house ties. A
player may stand at any time.
To win you need to beat the dealer without busting. You
bust when your cards total to more than 21 and you lose
automatically. The winner is whoever has closest to a
total of 21. You reach 21 by adding up the values of the
cards.
The blackjack table seats about 6 players. Either six or
eight decks of cards are used and are shuffled together by
the dealer and placed in a card dispensing box called
'Shoe'.Before receiving any cards players must place a wager.
Then the players are dealt two cards face up. The dealer
gets one face up, one face down. Each player in turn
either stays or takes more cards to try and get closer to
21 without busting. Players who do not bust wait for the
dealer's turn. When all the players are done, the dealer
turns up the down card. By rule, on counts of 17 or higher
the dealer must stay; on counts of 16 or lower the dealer
must draw.
If you make a total of 21 with the first two cards (a 10
or a face and an Ace), you win automatically. This is
called 'play blackjack'. If you have 21, you will win
one and one-half times your bet unless the dealer also has
Blackjack, in which case it is a Push or a Tie (or a
Stand-off) and you get your bet back.
The remaining players with a higher count than the dealer
win an amount equal to their bet. Players with a lower
count than the dealer lose their bet. If the dealer busts,
all the remaining players win. There are other betting
options namely Insurance, Surrender, Double Down, Even
Money and Split.
Insurance: side bet up to half the initial bet against the
dealer having a natural 21 - allowed only when the
dealer's showing card is an Ace. If the dealer has a 10
face down and makes a insurance pays at 2-1
odds, but loses if the dealer does not.
Surrender: giving up your hand and lose only half the bet.
Early Surrender: surrender allowed before the dealer
checks for
Late Surrender: the dealer first checks to see if he has
blackjack. If he does, surrender is not permitted.
Double Down: double your initial bet following the initial
two-card deal, but you can hit one card only. A good bet
if the player is in a strong situation.
Even Money: cashing in your bet immediately at a 1:1
payout ratio when you are dealt a natural blackjack and
the dealer's showing card is an Ace.
Split Hand: split the initial two-card hand into two and
play them separately - allowed only when the two first
cards are of equal value. Use each card as the start to a
separate hand and place a second bet equal to the first.
Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace, or with an Ace valued at
1 is said to be Hard in that it can only be given one
value, unlike a Soft Hand. (You can value an Ace 1 or 11
to suit you).
Soft Hand: A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 is
called a Soft Hand.
House advantage (approximate, may vary with different
rules)
Without basic strategy 7% average.
With basic strategy 0.5% or less.
Card counting can reverse the advantage up to 1% to the
player.
Using different number of decks: all other conditions
being the same, as a general rule the fewer the decks, the
better for the player.
Allowing the dealer to hit a soft 17: a disadvantage to
the player. It gives the dealer a chance to improve.
Allowing a double down after splitting pairs: can be
advantageous to the player if used wisely.
Allowing re-splitting of Aces: a clear advantage to the
player.
No dealer hole card: common on cruise ships, this
variation is a disadvantage to the player. The dealer does
not deal himself a second card until the players have
played and they can lose the doubles and splits.
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