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" or tie, and neither win. Ace and 10 (Blackjack)
on the first two cards dealt is an automatic win for the player at odds of
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 are 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 your cards.
The blackjack
table seats about 6 players. Either six or eight decks of cards are used
and are shuffled together by the dealer, although today most Casinos have
a little machine that does it, and placed in a card dispensing box called
a '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 "sticks" 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
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.
