Learn Blackjack Rules
Blackjack is also known as twenty-one. The point of the game is to get your hand to equal 21 or closest to it without going over. Players must beat the dealer only and do not compete against fellow players. It is a great game that involves strategy and luck. It is also one of the only games in a casino that the Player can have an advantage even over the house. Of course the advantage only exists if the Player learns how to count cards.
Bet
The players place bets on the round before cards are dealt.
Dealer
The dealer then deals one card face up to each player. The dealer deals himself one card, face down. A second card is dealt to each player face up, including one to the dealer.
Now each player gets to decide to stand, hit, split, double or in some cases surrender. Following this the dealer then gets to complete his hand. The dealer must follow strict rules of play which determine the move required. Dealers must always hit if their hand value is 16 or less and must always stand when 17 or more.
Then the winner is determined at this point. The closest hand to 21 without going over 21 wins. Every player must only beat the dealer so more than one player may win in a round. If a player ties the dealer then it is called a push and no money is won or lost.
Card Values
Cards are worth their face value.
Face cards (Jack, Queen and King) each count as 10 points in Blackjack.
Aces can either be counted as 11 or 1.
Blackjack
The best hand is a Blackjack which is the first two cards dealt equal 21. This means that an Ace and any ten value card was dealt to a particular player. This usually has a special payout ratio which makes this hand even sweeter.
Doubling Down
Each player has the option of doubling down if the first two cards add up to a total value of 9 to 11. When doubling the bet one more card will be dealt.
Splitting
If a player is dealt a pair, the hand may be split up. A bet must be placed for each split. They form two separate hands at this point.
Insurance
Sometimes the dealer will deal himself an Ace. Following this each player has the opportunity to buy insurance against the dealer making a Blackjack. The dealer must offer insurance. But insurance of this type is not recommended because of the house edge being very high. The purpose of the insurance is in case the dealer should get 21, the insurance will pay 2:1. The cost of the insurance is half of your original bet. If the dealer does not get 21, you will lose the money it cost you for the insurance. The odds are in favor of the dealer. Never bet against yourself in the same hand. It would also be possible to lose both bets. If the dealer ends up with a total of 20 and your hand is 19 then you would have lost your original bet and the insurance. If your total ended up being 20 and the dealer ended up with a 19 then you will only win a little. Stay away from insurance.
Soft Totals
When a player has an Ace and a 5 the total is 16. When the Ace is used as an 11 to determine the value of a hand, it is called a soft total. It is possible to hit again with a soft hand without going over. If the player with a soft 16 hits again and receives a 6, the total would now be 12.
Bet
The players place bets on the round before cards are dealt.
Dealer
The dealer then deals one card face up to each player. The dealer deals himself one card, face down. A second card is dealt to each player face up, including one to the dealer.
Now each player gets to decide to stand, hit, split, double or in some cases surrender. Following this the dealer then gets to complete his hand. The dealer must follow strict rules of play which determine the move required. Dealers must always hit if their hand value is 16 or less and must always stand when 17 or more.
Then the winner is determined at this point. The closest hand to 21 without going over 21 wins. Every player must only beat the dealer so more than one player may win in a round. If a player ties the dealer then it is called a push and no money is won or lost.
Card Values
Cards are worth their face value.
Face cards (Jack, Queen and King) each count as 10 points in Blackjack.
Aces can either be counted as 11 or 1.
Blackjack
The best hand is a Blackjack which is the first two cards dealt equal 21. This means that an Ace and any ten value card was dealt to a particular player. This usually has a special payout ratio which makes this hand even sweeter.
Doubling Down
Each player has the option of doubling down if the first two cards add up to a total value of 9 to 11. When doubling the bet one more card will be dealt.
Splitting
If a player is dealt a pair, the hand may be split up. A bet must be placed for each split. They form two separate hands at this point.
Insurance
Sometimes the dealer will deal himself an Ace. Following this each player has the opportunity to buy insurance against the dealer making a Blackjack. The dealer must offer insurance. But insurance of this type is not recommended because of the house edge being very high. The purpose of the insurance is in case the dealer should get 21, the insurance will pay 2:1. The cost of the insurance is half of your original bet. If the dealer does not get 21, you will lose the money it cost you for the insurance. The odds are in favor of the dealer. Never bet against yourself in the same hand. It would also be possible to lose both bets. If the dealer ends up with a total of 20 and your hand is 19 then you would have lost your original bet and the insurance. If your total ended up being 20 and the dealer ended up with a 19 then you will only win a little. Stay away from insurance.
Soft Totals
When a player has an Ace and a 5 the total is 16. When the Ace is used as an 11 to determine the value of a hand, it is called a soft total. It is possible to hit again with a soft hand without going over. If the player with a soft 16 hits again and receives a 6, the total would now be 12.
