How to play blackjack

There are loads of rules to learn. But for now, here’s your basic guide of how to play blackjack:

• Your goal in blackjack is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21.

• You’ll receive 2 cards at the beginning of each round, and you’ll add up the values of these cards.

• Cards 2-10 have face value; King, Queen, Jack are worth 10; and Aces are either a 1 or an 11 — it’s up to you to decide.

• The dealer also draws two cards. The aim of the game is to beat his hand (have a higher hand) without going over 21.

• If you would like the dealer to deal you another card, you tell him “hit”

• If you do not want to be dealt another card, you “stand”

• “Busting” is when the sum of your hand is over 21.

• The winner of the round is whoever has the highest hand without going bust

Variations of traditional blackjack rules:

Many casinos play by the traditional 21 rules that were once popular. This is considered one of the more “liberal” blackjack games.

Don’t expect casinos the Vegas Strip to offer these rules any longer, however, unless you’re playing at high-limit tables. These games are more common online and at small casinos that focus on locals. Yet, the game has many other versions with their own subtle rules changes.

Blackjack Splitting Rules:

If the dealer deals you two cards with the same blackjack card value, the rules of blackjack say you may “split” them into two separate hands by placing another bet equal to your initial wager. For example, virtually all players of 21 will split a pair of Aces by placing an additional bet to create two potentially winning hands. After receiving two more cards, the player determines whether to hit or stand with each of the two hands he or she now has.

Sometimes, after splitting the cards on an initial deal, some casinos will allow a “re-split” if the player winds up with another hand with two cards of the same numerical or face value. Depending on the cards dealt, splitting your cards can double your chances of hitting a blackjack.

Splitting cards can also at least double your potential winnings from the same initial hand dealt. Highly skilled players will assess their card values versus the card showing in the dealer’s hand to determine when splitting cards is the wise play. Most will not split a pair of cards worth 20 points, for example, while all will split a pair of Aces.

Insurance amount:

Insurance essentially is a bet on whether or not the dealer has 21 right off of the deal, and requires players to lay half their initial wagers. If the dealer has 21, the house will pay the insurance bets at 2:1. That payoff will wipe out the loss from the initial wager.

If the dealer does have 21, the player will lose the initial bet but will receive a 1:1 payout on their insurance amount, and so they will receive that same amount back. If both have 21, most blackjack rules say that is a push.

Some casino 21 rules, though, give ties to the dealer when it comes to a blackjack. In most cases, though, a push results in the player getting back his or her wager. It’s as if the hand never happened. If the dealer does not have blackjack, anyone who bought insurance will lose that amount, regardless of how the rest of the hand plays out.

Basic Rules:

When you play the house, you play against the casino, which is represented by the dealer. The dealer deals one card face up to each player, from left to right, with the last card going to the house’s hand, which is face down. The dealer will then deal one card facing up to each player and then the house.

After the initial deal, the blackjack rules indicate that the dealer will ask each player, in succession, if he/she needs one or more cards. As the player, you can ask for one or more cards(called a “hit”)until you either go over 21 (“bust”), or you think you have the best possible hand.

Once you have all the cards you need, you “stay” or “stand”; meaning you signal to the dealer that you don’t want any more cards. Each subsequent player then decides whether to hit or stand.

After all the players have completed their hands or gone bust, the dealer reveals his or her down card. Depending on the cards in the dealer’s hand, the blackjack rules at the table will dictate whether the dealer will hit or stand.

Once the dealer’s final hand is established, all players who did not go bust compare their scores to the dealer’s hand. Those who beat the dealer win, while the rest lose—unless they tied, which is called a “push.”

A push is considered “no action,” and refunds the player’s bet. Some casinos, though, might declare a push to be either a loss or a win for the player. The casino’s 21 rules should say exactly how they handle such ties with players.

Values:

You need to know the card values to know how to play 21. Cards 2-10 are worth the value of the number on the face of the card. Numbered cards are worth the corresponding number indicated on the card. Face cards (those with pictures on them) are worth 10, except for the Ace, which is worth 1 or 11. A picture combined with an Ace is Blackjack (a value of 21).

Rules:

Under normal circumstances, the house has a very thin advantage. With the right blackjack strategy and bonuses in place, that advantage flips to the player’s side. You don’t even need to count cards to make this work–. Find the right table, get the right offers in place.

The proven formula of blackjack basics is simple: practice and repetition. All card counting systems and blackjack strategy charts in the world can’t help you when you run out of time. And advanced card counting strategies rely on a running count, so if you lose count, you’ll have to wait until all the decks in the shoe have been dealt.

Payouts:

While playing blackjack, as soon as a player is dealt a winning hand, the house pays out immediately. The only time the player will not receive an immediate payout on a blackjack 21 hand is when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, or any card worth 10 points.

The reason for this is that if the dealer also holds a blackjack hand, then the round is considered to be a draw or a “push.”

In the case of a push, the player gets his or her bet back, and the game is declared “no action.” Some casinos, though, will boost their advantage by giving the house an automatic win whenever it has a blackjack 21 score, even if the player does, too.

These games are the most unfavorable to the player and should be avoided. That makes it very important to ensure you know the house blackjack rules before you begin gambling.