Blackjack Rules
A simple and popular card game, blackjack is also played online. The rules for the traditional as well as online version of the game are the same. The online version is usually played with eight decks, but it can also be played with a single deck of cards. Your main aim in blackjack is to get a card total as near as 21 as possible, without going over. You go 'bust' if the total goes beyond 21.
In blackjack, all the face cards, that is the King, Queen and Jack are valued at 10 points. Cards from 2 to 10 are counted at their face value. The Ace can have the value of either one or eleven, depending on the hand it will make. Here's an example to explain the basic concept of blackjack: You have a card total of 19 and the dealer's total is 17. Say, the next card you are dealt is 4 of hearts. In this case, you have gone bust while the dealer wins due to his total of 17. Another possible result could be a tie, where you and the dealer have the same scores. Here, you will be returned your original bet.
To begin the game, the players first have to place bets, known as the 'ante bet'. Placing of the ante bet signifies that you are ready to receive your cards. Cards are distributed by the dealer beginning with the player seated on his left and moves forward in the clockwise direction, till he reaches back to himself for the second round. The first card is dealt face up while the second card (known as the hole card) is dealt face down. You make your decision whether to continue the game or surrender at this stage since you can see the dealer's face up card. If the dealer happens to have a face card or an Ace, he may very possibly have a blackjack.
Another option at this stage is to take insurance for betting on the possibility of the dealer having a blackjack. If the dealer displays a blackjack, the bet is lost, but if there is a tie, you retain the bet although you don't get the winnings. Buying insurance if the dealer's card is an ace will allow for a 2: 1 payout in case the dealer displays a blackjack. However, if there is no blackjack, then you lose your bet. If another player also has a blackjack along with the dealer, even money will be paid. Once the additional bets are placed, the dealer will check for a blackjack. Payouts will be handed out if a blackjack is present, but if not, the game progresses as usual.
The play begins to the left side of the dealer once all the players have the cards in hand. The game continues till a blackjack is declared. In blackjack, the dealer must always stand when he has a total of 17 or more. The player with a total closest to 21 will be the winner if the dealer busts. Any player getting a higher total than the dealer also wins.
Let us take a look at some strategies you can adopt while playing blackjack. Understanding the strategies thoroughly will help you win your hand more often than not.
Stand: To stand is to stop taking additional cards. This can be explained better with an example. Let us suppose you have a Jack and a Queen. You point total is 20. You are poised very close to getting a blackjack, so it is vital that you stand in such a case. To signal your intention to the dealer, you can call out the word 'Stand' or wave your hand over your cards. You can also place the wager on your cards in the single deck game.
Hit: You can take additional cards in order to reach your total of 21. Hitting means taking more cards. For example, your initial 2-card total is 6. You can hit to take an additional card, say you get a 7, making the total 13. You can continue the process till you get close to 21. However, as you reach the goal, be cautious, especially if you approach 16 or 17. You may then want to stand.
Double Down: After checking the first two cards, the original bet is doubled. The player can get only one card after doubling down. So, to double down, he must be confident of getting a blackjack by taking a single card without busting.
Split: If your original hand contains two cards of the same value, it can be split into two different hands which can be played separately. In such a case, you can place an additional bet. The first hand can be played till you reach close to 21 or go bust. Then you begin playing the second hand in a similar fashion. When you split, you gain per hand and also reduce your risk of losing, provided you win at least once.
Surrender: Surrendering means giving up the hand and losing half the bet. This is usually the practice when the dealer's face up card is an Ace, where you choose to fold your hand. Early or late surrender is allowed depending on the casino's rules. At some casinos, late surrender may be permitted when the dealer does not have a blackjack. Some casinos permit you to fold your hand prior to the dealer checking the cards for a blackjack - an early surrender.
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