Blackjack Rules

To win at Blackjack you must possess a hand that totals closer to 21 (but not going over 21) than the dealer makes.  At all times remember that you are playing against the dealer, you simply must beat him or her, you are not attempting to get as near to 21 as you can.  When you hold a set of cards close to 21 that they believe the dealer can’t better then do not acquire any further cards stay with what you possess.

The cards two to nine have the worth displayed on the playing card.  The playing cards ten, Jack, Queen and King all have a value of 10.  The Ace is a distinctive playing card (and thought to be the most valuable playing card in the deck) because a participant is able to  assign a value of either 1 or 11 to it.  The name Blackjack is given to a two playing card set of cards (an Ace and a different card whose worth is ten) that add up to 21, it is an guaranteed winning hand.

To try and eradicate cheating, casinos don’t let Blackjack players to handle the playing cards; also to make card counting greater difficult they employ several sets of cards at once.  At the beginning of the game the dealer deals everybody at the table (plus her/himself) a single playing card placed face up.  Next the dealer gives another playing card to everybody playing, the players cards are dealt face up but the dealers second card is dealt face down.

It is imperative that players keep in mind that Blackjack is not a group contest.  Even though there will be other participants at the table along with you these players aren’t competing with you.  Each player playing Blackjack will be playing by him/herself against the dealer; their performance has no impact in deciding the outcome of your game.

Players always go before the dealer; they have two options, they can obtain another card or not (stand). A player who takes another card and the resulting total is greater than 21 will have busted and the dealer wins by default.  When all the participants have played the dealer plays her/his hand.  Dealer play is made in accordance with a set of rules (posted for every player to see).  Typically the rules dictate that a dealer is required to take another playing card if his/her cards total 16 or less but stands on hand totals of 17 or more.

Once the dealer has played he/she pays off hands better than hers/his, collects from any participant with a hand inferior to his/hers and neither pays out nor collects (pushes) a tie hand.

All of the wagering is completed previous to the playing cards being dealt.  Winning hands get even money.  A player making a Blackjack will receive $3 for each $2 wagered (3 to 2).

Game Options

Splitting Pairs – When your initial pair of cards are of identical value you have the option to split them.  After splitting both of the two playing cards is played separately. When splitting Aces the casino as a rule only lets a player to take one more playing card for each Ace, and if the card has a value of 10 it is counted as 21 (not a Blackjack) this set of cards would lose if the dealer makes a Blackjack.

Doubling Down – In the event that a player thinks he/she will be able to better the dealers hand with the addition of a single card (and only one more playing card) they are permitted to double their wager prior to getting this last card.

Insurance – If the dealers face up card is an Ace, participants possess the option of making a side insurance bet.  The insurance wager is that the face down card has a worth of ten.  When the face down card has a worth of ten (the dealer is holding a Blackjack) the side bet pays 2 to 1.  The players original wager is still in effect and the player will lose this bet unless they can make a Blackjack to tie the dealer.

Surrender – Some casinos give participants a surrender choice.  After looking at their initial two cards and deciding that they will be incapable of bettering the dealer’s hand they can inform the dealer that he or she is surrendering.  After announcing surrender the participants turn is over and the participant loses half of their bet.