The basics
The object of the blackjack game is to accumulate
cards with point totals as close to 21 without going over 21.
Face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) are
worth 10 points. Aces are worth 1 or 11, whichever is
preferable. Other cards are represented by their number.
If player and the House tie, it is a push and no one wins.
Ace and 10 (Blackjack) on the first two cards dealt
is an automatic player win at 1.5 to 1, unless the house ties. A
player may stand at any time.
Playing blackjack
To win you need to beat the dealer without busting. You bust
when your cards total to more than 21 and you lose
automatically. The winner is whoever has closest to a total of
21. You reach 21 by adding up the values of the cards.
The blackjack table seats about 6 players. Either six
or eight decks of cards are used and are shuffled
together by the dealer and placed in a card dispensing box
called 'Shoe'.
Before receiving any cards players must place a wager. Then
the players are dealt two cards face up. The dealer gets one
face up, one face down. Each player in turn either stays or
takes more cards to try and get closer to 21 without busting.
Players who do not bust wait for the dealer's turn. When all the
players are done, the dealer turns up the down card. By rule, on
counts of 17 or higher the dealer must stay; on counts of 16 or
lower the dealer must draw.
If you make a total of 21 with the first two cards (a 10 or a
face and an Ace), you win automatically. This is called
'Blackjack'. If you have Blackjack, you will win one and
one-half times your bet unless the dealer also has Blackjack, in
which case it is a Push or a Tie (or a Stand-off) and you get
your bet back.
The remaining players with a higher count than the dealer win
an amount equal to their bet. Players with a lower count than
the dealer lose their bet. If the dealer busts, all the
remaining players win. There are other betting options namely
Insurance, Surrender, Double Down, Even Money and Split.
- Insurance: side bet up to half the initial bet
against the dealer having a natural 21 - allowed only when the
dealer's showing card is an Ace. If the dealer has a 10 face
down and makes a blackjack, insurance pays at 2-1 odds, but
loses if the dealer does not.
- Surrender: giving up your hand and lose only half
the bet.
- Early Surrender: surrender allowed before the
dealer checks for blackjack.
- Late Surrender: the dealer first checks to see if
he has blackjack. If he does, surrender is not permitted.
- Double Down: double your initial bet following the
initial two-card deal, but you can hit one card only. A good
bet if the player is in a strong situation.
- Even Money: cashing in your bet immediately at a
1:1 payout ratio when you are dealt a natural blackjack and
the dealer's showing card is an Ace.
- Split Hand: split the initial two-card hand into
two and play them separately - allowed only when the two first
cards are of equal value. Use each card as the start to a
separate hand and place a second bet equal to the first.
- Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace, or with an Ace
valued at 1 is said to be Hard in that it can only be given
one value, unlike a Soft Hand. (You can value an Ace 1 or 11
to suit you).
- Soft Hand: A hand that contains an Ace counted as
11 is called a Soft Hand.
House advantage (approximate, may vary with different
rules)
Without basic strategy 7% average.
With basic strategy 0.5% or less.
Card counting can reverse the advantage up to 1% to the player.
Some blackjack variations
Using different number of decks: all other conditions being
the same, as a general rule the fewer the decks, the better for
the player.
Allowing the dealer to hit a soft 17: a disadvantage to the
player. It gives the dealer a chance to improve.
Allowing a double down after splitting pairs:
can be advantageous to the player if used wisely.
Allowing re-splitting of Aces: a clear advantage to the
player.
No dealer hole card: common on cruise ships, this
variation is a disadvantage to the player. The dealer does not
deal himself a second card until the players have played and
they can lose the doubles and splits.
Las Vegas and Atlantic City variants
Las Vegas blackjack:
Las Vegas games are played with two decks and the House
must hit on hands less than soft 17 (17 involving an Ace)
and must stand on hands of 17 or greater.
Atlantic City blackjack:
Atlantic City games are played with four decks and the
House must hit on 16 and stand all 17's.
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