|
Blackjack Tips The Rules of Blackjack Each player and the dealer are initially dealt 2 cards. Each player's hand is played against the dealer's hand only. If you obtain a hand value closer to 21 (without going over) than the dealer does, you win your hand. The most powerful hand possible is a hand value of 21 in your first two cards. This hand contains an ace and a ten valued card and is known as a "blackjack". When you receive a blackjack, the dealer will pay you three chips for every two that you have bet unless the dealer also has a blackjack. When both you and the dealer have blackjacks your bet is simply retained by you. You, as a player, determine when to "hit" (take another card) and when to "stand" (stop taking cards). The dealer has fixed rules governing his play. He must hit until he has seventeen or more. Each player that obtains a hand value less than or equal to 21 and greater than the dealer's hand value wins an amount equal to his wager. Conversely, when the dealer gets a hand value less than or equal to 21 and greater than a player's hand value, that player loses his bet. If both a player and the dealer end up with the same hand value, it is know as a "push". A push bet is neither won nor lost. If you go over 21, you "bust" and lose your bet. Even if the dealer's hand is also a bust, you still lose your bet because the dealer always plays out his hand last. Card Values The cards two through ten have a numerical value equal to the number printed on the card. All face cards (Jack, Queen and King), as well as Tens have a value of ten. Aces may be counted as either eleven or one. Card suits have no value. For example, a hand consisting of a ten of hearts and a queen of hearts is equal to a hand consisting of a ten of diamonds and a king of spades. Both of these hands are also equal to a hand containing two fives and a ten, regardless of suit. Soft and Hard Hands When you have an ace in your hand that counts as eleven (ex: you have Ace-Six for a total of 17), you have what is know as a "soft hand". Think of the ace in your hand as flexible or "soft" because the hand value can always be reduced (ex: Ace-Six can also be counted as 7). If you hold no aces or have an ace in your hand that counts as one (ex: Ace-Six-Seven for a total of 14), you have a "hard hand". Bets and the Deal At the onset of each hand, each player places his bet. All players and the dealer are then each dealt two cards. The dealer always deals his own cards face down. After the dealer has dealt everyone two cards, he will turn his first card face up for all to see. The dealer's other card (his face down card) is often referred to as his "hole card". The most common decision you will have to make is whether to "hit" (take another card) or to "stand" (do not take another card). If the first two cards dealt to you are cards of equal value, you may "split" the pair combination. If you split, another bet, equal to your initial bet, is placed alongside your initial bet. When you split you effectively play two individual hands. The right most hand is played out first, followed by play on the hand on your left. If aces are split, you are only allowed one hit for each ace. Any ace drawn to a split ten is not a blackjack. However, the dealer will need a blackjack to beat any hand of 21. You may "double down" on a hand which consists of two cards. As the name of this move implies, you double your original wager. When you double down, you are dealt only one additional card to your hand. When the dealer has an ace showing you have an "insurance" option. By taking the insurance wager you are betting that the dealer has a blackjack. The insurance bet costs one-half your original wager, and the payoff, should the dealer indeed have a blackjack is two to one. |