Blackjack Rules

When playing Blackjack the object of the game is to make a hand total closer to 21 (but not exceeding 21) than the dealer can make.  Keep in mind; players just need to get a better hand than the dealer, don’t attempt to get as close to 21 as possible.  As soon as you possess cards that that adds up close to 21 and you believe that the dealer can’t make a better set of cards then don’t take any more playing cards, stay with what you possess.

Playing cards from 2 to 9 have the value displayed on the card.  The playing cards 10, Jack, Queen and King are assigned a value of ten.  An Ace is the most advantageous playing card and can have a value of either 1 or 11 depending on what the participant decides.  Blackjack is made when a player holds two playing cards adding up to 21 (an Ace and another playing card worth ten) and is an automatic winning set of cards.

Casinos in an attempt to prevent cheating don’t permit the participants to touch the playing cards; further to prevent card counting they use many decks of playing cards.  At the beginning of the game the dealer deals everyone playing (including him/herself) one playing card placed face up.  After that the dealer deals another card to everyone at the table, the participants cards are placed face up but the dealers other card is dealt face down.

Keep in mind that Blackjack isn’t a group game.  While the table will have a number of participants at it the players aren’t playing against each other.  Every participant is playing by her/himself against the dealer; the failure or success on their part has no impact on your game.

All of the participants play prior to the dealer taking his/her turn; a participant has two choices possible, the player may stand or obtain another playing card.  A player who takes one more playing card and has a total that exceeds 21 busts (and automatically loses) and the dealer wins by default.  As soon as all of the participants have had their turn it is time for the dealer to play.  Dealers make every decision concerning their play by using a set of rules (these rules are posted for all to check out).  The standard for dealer play is for them to take one more playing card if their hand total is less than 16, and to stand if their hand totals 17 or greater.

With the dealer finished playing he/she pays off on set of cards that are superior to theirs, collects the wagers from any participant with an inferior hand than hers/his and pushes (neither collects or pays off) any participant with a tying set of cards.

All of the wagering is completed previous to the playing cards being dealt.  Winning hands receive even currency.  A player making a Blackjack gets $3 for every $2 bet (3 to 2).

Playing Options

Splitting Pairs – When the initial pair of cards obtained are of the same value the player holding them has the option of splitting the cards.  The player now has a pair of hands to play individually rather than one hand.  With split Aces the casino usually allows a participant a single additional card to couple with each Ace; in the event that the other playing card has a worth of ten he/she is credited with cards of value 21 (rather than a Blackjack) in the case where the dealer gets a Blackjack the dealers hand will be the winning hand.

Doubling Down – In the event that a player thinks she/he will be able to beat the dealers set of cards with only a single card (and only a single playing card) they are permitted to double their bet prior to receiving this last card.

Insurance – The insurance wager is a side wager placed if an Ace is showing as the dealers face up card.  Players may bet that the dealers face down card has a worth of 10.  If the card is indeed a 10 the dealer will have a Blackjack and the insurance bet will pay 2 to 1.  The participants original wager is still in effect and the participant will lose unless they are lucky enough to tie by getting a Blackjack.

Surrender – A few venues have the surrender choice.  If after looking at the first two cards dealt the participant thinks that she/he cannot beat the dealer set of cards the player can verbally tell the dealer they surrender.  After saying surrender the participants turn is over and the participant loses half of their bet.