Rules

Blackjack casino games are the simplest table card games available in gambling industry. Unlike other table card games such as poker, blackjack rules are fairly simple and remain constant on most of its variations. For instance, the dealer stands at 17 while both player and dealer bust if they go over 21. In contrast, while playing online poker games a player must adapt to the current tactics used by available players.

Basic Rules

In any blackjack variation, Kings, Queens and Jacks have a value of 10 while any other card has a value equal to its face value. Aces may count as 1 or 11 depending on your preference. All winning hands are paid at even money.

If a player gets a Blackjack, he/she gets paid one and a half times the original wager. For you to get a blackjack, your first two cards must total to 21. If both the dealer and player get a Blackjack, no one losses or wins…it’s a tie. If a player gets two cards which are not a Blackjack, he/she may opt to hit (draw more cards) or stand (take no more cards).

Once cards have been dealt, the dealer has to expose his/her hole card (down card). Here, the dealer may hit or stand depending on the house rules. However, if the dealer exceeds 21, it’s a bust and all players in the game win. You will lose if your card count is not as closer to 21 as the dealer’s. Otherwise, you win.

The main objective of the player is to get a hand value better than the dealer’s but not over 21. Always pay close attention to dealer’s up card before standing or hitting.

Equipment

Generally, blackjack games come with a standard deck of 52 cards with the Jokers excluded. Most casinos use more than one deck so as to speed up the game and to prevent players from counting cards.

The shoe can contain 2 to 8 decks and reshuffling frequency will vary from casino to casino. Betting limits will always be posted at the blackjack table. Unlike casino games such as slots where you need coins, playing blackjack requires you to have chips. Each chip has its own value:

• White chips – $1
• Red chips – $5
• Green chips- $25
• Black chips – $100

Betting and Winning

As a player, you will be offered a circle in which you will be placing your bets. Of course, there is a maximum and minimum bet for each table. Usually, the maximum bet is 10-20 times the minimum bet. You must decide your bet size before the game starts. Any hand will result in the following:

• Win – You win an even bet on any other win. If you bet $5, you win $5 from the dealer.
• Lose – Your bet goes to the dealer.
• Push – It’s a tie or a draw. Neither the player nor the dealer wins/loses.
• Blackjack (natural) – You win one and half times your original bet. If you bet $20, you win an extra $30 from the dealer.

The Deal and Blackjack

As the game starts, both the player and dealer receive two cards. Your cards will be dealt face up while dealer had one face up and one face down. The best possible hand is a Blackjack which is made up of an Ace and any 10-point card. If the dealer had a Blackjack, all players lose.

Player’s Turn

Once the cards are deal, the game goes clockwise starting from dealer’s left hand side. Each player takes action – stands or hits. The first player must decide whether or not to take advantage of the side rules. Side rules can only be used once. Here are some options that players can use while playing blackjack:

Splitting Pairs

This is where a player separates two cards of equal value into two different hands. Players are allowed to re-split their cards up to 3 times. In addition, you can hit as many cards as you want on each of these hands with only one exception – if you split a pair of Aces, you will only be allowed to hit once. Any 21 from split Aces is not considered a Blackjack and pays even money.

Insurance

This is suitable if the dealer’s up card is an Ace. Here, you have the option of making an insurance wager. This implies that you can wager only up to 50% of your original bet that dealer’s down card is a 10. If the dealer has a blackjack, you will be paid 2:1 on your insurance wager. However, if the down card has another value, you lose your insurance wager.

Doubling Down

This is where players can increase their wager by Doubling Down. If you take this option, you will only receive an additional card. Players can double on split cards or any two cards.