Blackjack Basics
For the blackjack newbie ... learn how to play one of the most popular table games in the casino.
Blackjack can be played with one to eight ordinary decks of cards. Cards ranked 2 through 10 are scored according to their face value. All face cards are 10 points. Aces can be worth either 1 or 11 points. The highest hand in blackjack is an ace and any 10-point card and is called a blackjack. A winning blackjack pays 3:2. If both player and dealer have a blackjack the bet is a push. Aside from a blackjack, all winning hands pay even money. The player wins if his hand has more points than the dealer, without going over 21. Thus, a 21-point hand is the highest and is why the game is sometimes referred to as 21. If either the player or dealer go over 21 it is called a break or bust and automatically loses. If both the player and dealer bust, the player loses. This is where the house has the major advantage. If the player and dealer tie the bet is a push, or a tie.
A round of blackjack begins with each player placing a bet in the circle or logo directly in front of him. Every player is playing against the dealer, or the house. The dealer then gives each player and himself two cards. Dealing and playing starts from the dealers left and continues to his right. Player cards are usually dealt face up. One dealer card is dealt face up (the up card) and the other face down (the hole card). If the dealer has a ten or an ace as the up card it is possible that he has a blackjack, in which case all player hands will lose unless they have a blackjack. In the U.S., the dealer will check for blackjack immediately and will collect all losing bets if he has blackjack.
If the dealer has an ace as the up card he will allow the players to insure their hands against a blackjack. This gives the player a chance to buy insurance in order to cover losses in the case of a losing hand. The insurance bet in blackjack pays 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack. If the dealer has an ace showing and a player has a blackjack the dealer may ask "even money?" This is because if the player has a blackjack the net result of both the blackjack and the insurance bet will be an even money win regardless of whether the dealer has a blackjack. After all players have had a chance to accept or decline insurance the dealer will check the hole card.
After it has been established that the dealer does not have a blackjack, the normal course of play ensues. The following choices are available to the players.
Stand: If the player is satisfied with his hand he may stand, which signifies that he does not want any more cards. The play then continues to the next player.
Hit: If the player wishes to take another card he may hit. He may continue to do so until he either stands or busts.
Double: The player has the option to take only one card and double his bet. Once the card is dealt, regardless of the card, the player must stand and the play continues to the next player. This option is only offered on the first two cards, and sometimes on the first two cards after splitting.
Split: If the player's first two cards are of equal point value he may split them into two hands. In this event each card is the first card of a new hand. The player must also make another wager of equal value to the new hand. The player may usually re-split up to 2 or 3 times if another splitting opportunity arises. Doubling after splitting is usually but not always allowed.
Surrender: Finally, some casinos offer the player the option to surrender on the first two cards. If the player does not like their prospects he may forfeit half his bet as well as his cards. This option is generally only offered after the dealer checks for blackjack, known as "late surrender."
After all players have played their hands the dealer will play his hand. The dealer has no free will and must always play by the house rules. The common house rule is that the dealer must hit until he reaches a score of 17 or more, then he must stand. Some casinos stipulate that if the dealer has a soft 17, an ace and any number of cards totaling 6, he must hit. If the dealer busts, all players that did not bust automatically win.
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