Blackjack Guide for Beginners: Rules
Blackjack originated in France where it was known as "vingt et un" or twenty-one. It has always been a favorite casino game worldwide. The game is a great choice for aspiring professional gamblers. Why? Because blackjack relies less on chance than do other games like roulette and craps. While the gambler has no control over things in the other games, in blackjack it is possible to develop a gaming strategy and enhance your chances of winning against the casino.
RULES
In blackjack, the objective is to get a hand total of 21 or as near as possible to 21. Court cards are valued at 10. Aces can be either 1 or 11 depending on the player's choice. All other cards bear their face value.
Play begins with two cards dealt each to the player and the dealer. Both of the player's cards are face up, while the dealer's second card is face down. After a player gets their first two cards, they will ask the dealer for one card after another (called a "hit") until the player is content with their hand. At this point, the player will "stand" with their hand.
The dealer will then take a card face up and keep on doing so for as long as their hand is 16 or less. Beyond that, the dealer must stand at 17 and higher, or go bust.
If the dealer gets a bust or a hand lower than the player's hand means a win for the player. But if the dealer gets a higher total score than the player's hand, the house wins. If it's a draw or "push," the player keeps their money.
OTHER BLACKJACK RULES
Double Down - To double down means to double your wager and get dealt one more card. Obviously, you do this only when you think you have a good hand.
Split - Splitting is possible when you get two cards of the same type; two 2's, two 3's, etc. You split the cards and are dealt a new card to pair off with each of them. But you also double your wager. With splitting, you're basically 2 players in 1. You can win or lose with both hands, or you can win with one and lose with the other.
Insurance - This means to take insurance if the dealer's facing card is an ace.
BLACKJACK
A blackjack is a hand with an Ace and a 10-valued card in it. If you beat the casino with a blackjack, you get paid 1 ½ times your stake.
EXAMPLE GAME
Say you're dealt a 4 and a 2. The dealer's up card is a Queen. If you do your math, you know you should hit because you can't go bust no matter what. The highest card you can possibly draw is an Ace, an 11.
You get a 9. That gives you a total of 15. The dealer has to have a hand of 12 at least, right? So you hit again and you get a 5. That's 20. You stand since the chances of you drawing an Ace are very low.
The dealer turns up their second card and reveals a 3. So they are holding 13. They draw a 6 for a total of 19. Since this is above 16, the dealer must stand. (No skill is involved with the dealer; their play is predetermined.)
Dealer: 19. Player: 20. You win!
It's that simple. We suggest you play with free blackjack software first before using casino software. Then read about blackjack playing and betting strategies. Good luck!
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