If the total value of your cards exceeds 21, you bust, which means you
lose. If your total is less than or equal to 21 and the dealer's total is over
21, then the dealer busts and you win. If neither your total or the dealer's
total exceeds 21, then the higher total wins. In the event of a tie (or push),
no one wins and no one loses. In fact, the true object is to beat the
dealer and players do that by getting a total value of their cards closer to 21 than the dealer, or by
having the dealer bust by drawing cards that total more than 21.
Game Start
You start the game by placing your bet. Next the dealer deals two cards to you
and one to himself. Usually these cards are dealt face-up. Then the dealer gives
himself a second card face-down. This is called the hole card. Now you have to
make a decision: do you take another card ("hit") or pass to the dealer ("stand"
or "stay"). If you hit, the dealer gives you another card and again asks if you
want to hit or stand. You keep hitting until you are satisfied with your total
or you bust. The dealer must keep taking cards until he has 17 or more.
Casinos deal blackjack from a single deck or from multiple decks. It's
traditional for the dealer to discard the top card after shuffling.
Blackjack Terms
If the first two cards dealt to you or the dealer are an Ace and a ten-count
card (10, Jack, Queen or King), that is "blackjack". If you have blackjack, you
win automatically, unless the dealer also has blackjack, in which case it is a
push (tie). Blackjack pays higher than an ordinary win, which pays even money.
Blackjack pays 3 to 2, meaning you win 3 dollars for every 2 you bet. Blackjack
is sometimes called "a natural".
Doubling Down
After you receive your first two cards, you may have the option to "double
down". This means you can double your original bet. Most casino only allow you
to double down when the value of the first 2 cards is 9, 10 or 11. If you double
down, the dealer will give you only one more card and then draw the cards needed
to complete his own hand.
Splitting Pairs
When your first two cards have the same value (for example, a pair of
sevens), you have the option to "split". To split, you have to place another bet
equal to your original bet. Then the two cards are split and you play them as
separate hands. Some casinos allow you to "resplit" if you get another
same-value card. Special rules apply when you choose to split Aces. When you split Aces, you
only receive one more card on each hand and if you get 21, it is not considered
blackjack.
Insurance
When the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, some casinos will ask if you want
"insurance". The cost of insurance is half your original bet. Your insurance bet
pays 2 to 1 if the dealer gets blackjack, which will equal the amount you lose
on the original bet. For example, say your original bet was $20. The dealer has
an Ace showing and you decide to place an insurance bet for $10. If the dealer
gets blackjack, you lose your original $20 bet but win $20 on the insurance bet
so you are even. If the dealer does not have blackjack you lose your $10
insurance bet and play the hand by normal rules.
Rules Variations and Odds.
Blackjack rules may vary from casino to casino. Here are
some rules
variations you may encounter:
Dealer stands on soft 17.
Player may double down on split pairs.
Player may double down on any first two cards.
Player may double down on any number of cards.
Player may "surrender" his hand after the first two cards and lose half his
bet.
And here are how different rules variations influence the odds:
Rules in the favor of players:
Doubling down on split pairs +0.13%
"Surrender" option +0.06%
Double split on Aces +0.14%
Doubling down on any number of cards +0.20%
Rules in the favor of casinos:
Double decks (instead of one) - 0.35%
Four decks -0.48%
Five decks -0.54%
Six decks -0.58%
Dealer do NOT stands on soft 17 -0.20%
