Playing blackjack
The object of the blackjack game is to accumulate cards with point totals to 21 or at least 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 worth its hands. Other cards are represented by their numbers.
Play begins when you place a bet by stacking a chip or chips in the betting square, circle or casino logo on the table directly in front of you. After all bets have been placed, the dealer gives each player two cards. Player cards are usually dealt face up.
The dealer cards are dealt face up (the up card) and the other face down (the hole card). If the dealer has a ten or an ace as the up card it is possible he has a blackjack, in which case all player hands will lose except those with another natural 21, or blackjack.
In some countries, the dealer will check for blackjack immediately, if one is possible, and will collect all losing bets immediately if he does have a blackjack.
Public tables usually house either four to eight decks of cards for per cycle and are shuffled together by the dealer and placed in a card dispensing box called 'Shoe'. Sometimes the shuffle are done by machines, or sometimes are both by dealer and machine.
Once the cards have been dealt, players decide in turn how to play out their hands.
After all players have finished, the dealer plays according to the house rules:
- The dealer must draw more cards to any total of 16 or less,
- Must stand on any total of 17 or more. In some casinos, the dealer will also draw to "soft" 17 -- a 17 including an ace or aces that could also be counted as a 7.
INSURANCE
In the event the dealer has an ace as the first up card he will allow the players to insure their hands against a blackjack.
This is similar to taking any insurance policy in which you are betting that a bad event will occur. The insurance bet in blackjack pays 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack.
If the dealer has an ace showing and a player has a blackjack, the dealer may ask "even money". This is because if the player has a blackjack, the net result of both the blackjack and the insurance bet will be an even money win regardless of whether the dealer has a blackjack. After all players have had a chance to accept or decline insurance the dealer will check the hole card.
Hit:
If you hit, you take another card or cards in hopes of getting closer to 21. If the player's total exceeds 21 after hitting, the player is said to "bust" and loses the bet.
If the player wishes to take another card he may continue to do so until he either stands or busts. To signify you wish to hit, tap the table with your finger.
NOTE:Verbal calls to hit are not accepted -- signals are used for the benefit of the security cameras above the table, so a taped record is on hand to counter potential disputes.
Stand:
If you stand, you elect to draw no more cards in hopes that the current total will beat the dealer.
To signify you wish to stand, wave your hand as if to wave the dealer away. In a single deck game, tuck your cards face down under your bet.
Double down:
You may choose to double down your original bet and receive only one more card regardless of its result. Which means if the player feels he needs one and only one more card then he may double his bet and be dealt one more card, good or bad.
- Some casinos restrict doubling down to hands in which your first two cards total 10 or 11. Others allow you to double on any two cards.
- Double down by taking chips equal to the amount of your original bet and placing them next to your bet. In a facedown game, at this point you also need to turn your original two cards faceup.
Split:
If the player's first two cards are of equal point value he may split them into two hands. In this event each card is the first card of a new hand. The player must also make another wager, of equal value to the first wager, for the second hand.
Example:-
If you are dealt two 7s, you may slide a second bet equal to the first to your betting box. The dealer will separate the 7s, then put a second card on the first 7. You play that hand out in normal fashion until you either stand or bust; then the dealer puts a second card on the second 7, and you play that hand to your desire.
Surrender:
Finally, some places offer the player the option to surrender on the first two cards. If the player does not like his hands he may forfeit half the bet as well as his cards. If the dealer has a ten or ace showing, then the probability to opt for surrender is usually what the normal amateur gamblers will give in to.
NOTES:
- After all players are dealt their hands, from the dealer's left to right, the dealer will play his hand.
- The dealer must always play by certain house rules.
- Usually the rule is that the dealer must hit until he reaches a score of 17 or more. Some casinos stipulate that if the dealer has a soft 17, an ace and any number of cards totaling 6, he must also hit.
- If the dealer busts, all players that did not bust automatically win.
