How to Play Blackjack

Winning at Blackjack calls for a player to make a hand that totals nearer to 21 (but not exceeding 21) than the dealer will be able to make.  It is essential to remember this; you simply need to beat the dealers hand, don’t try to get as near to 21 as you can.  Whenever you possess a high-quality set of cards and you have a good chance that the dealer can’t beat it, stop; do not continue to acquire cards and chance busting (going over 21).

Playing cards showing two to nine have the worth that is shown on the card.  The playing cards displaying 10, Jack, Queen and King are assigned a value of ten.  An Ace is the most advantageous card and can have a worth of either one or eleven based on what the participant decides.  A Blackjack is whenever a player has two playing cards totaling 21 (an Ace and one more playing card of worth ten) and is a sure win for the person in possession of it.

Casinos in an effort to hinder cheating don’t permit the players to touch the playing cards; further to suppress card counting the casinos employ multiple sets of playing cards.  The game starts with the dealer giving a lone playing card, face up, to all of the players at the table (including the dealer).  Next the dealer deals another card to everyone playing, the players cards are dealt face up however the dealers second card is placed face down.

It is important that players remember that Blackjack isn’t a group game.  Although there will be other participants at the table along with you these players are not playing with you.  Everyone competing is playing alone competing with the dealer; any play by an individual player against the dealer has no effect on your game.

Each participant in turn plays before the dealer plays their hand; participants must decide if they want one more playing card or not.  A participant who takes one more playing card and has a total that is greater than 21 busts (and automatically loses) with the dealer winning by default.  When all of the participants have played it is time for the dealer to play.  A dealer plays in accordance to a set of rules which are typically posted for all to see.  In general the dealer has to take one more card if their card total is less than 17 and stand if their hand total is 17 or more.

With the dealer finished playing she/he pays out on hands that are better than theirs, collects the wagers from any participant with a worse hand than hers/his and pushes (neither collects or pays off) any player with a tying hand.

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

Playing Options:
Splitting Pairs – If a players initial two cards obtained are of the same value the participant holding the cards has the option of splitting them.  The player now has a pair of hands to play individually instead of one set of cards.  Following split Aces the casino as a rule allows a participant a single additional playing card to couple with each Ace; in the event that the other playing card has a value of ten he/she is credited with a pair worth 21 (rather than a Blackjack) in the case where the dealer gets a Blackjack the dealers set of cards would be the winning set of cards.

Doubling Down – If you feel that your hand will be better than the dealers after drawing one (and only one) more card you can double your bet ahead of receiving this last card.

Insurance – The insurance bet is a side bet placed when an Ace is showing as the dealers face up playing card.  The insurance wager is that the face down dealer’s playing card has the worth of 10.  When the face down playing card has a value of ten then together with the known Ace the dealer will make a Blackjack and the insurance bet will pay 2 to 1.  All of the original bets are still in play and all the participants will lose unless they are lucky enough to tie the dealer by receiving a Blackjack themselves.

Surrender – Some venues have the surrender choice.  If after looking at the first two playing cards dealt the player believes that she/he can’t better the dealer hand the player can verbally tell the dealer they surrender.  With the declaration of the surrender the participants turn is finished and they surrender half of their wager.