Blackjack is a game that is very familiar to almost everyone. It is the game where players try to make a hand with a score as close to 21 as possible without going over. Players will win if their hand has a higher value that the dealer’s hand and doesn’t go over 21, which would be a bust. If a player busts, they automatically lose, and if the dealer busts, everyone who did not bust will win.
Card Values
In blackjack, twos through tens are worth the value of the card, face cards are worth 10, and aces can be worth either 1 or 11. The player gets to choose whether an ace is worth 1 or 11, except when having the ace as an 11 would force the value of the hand over 21. Also, the suits of the cards do not matter at all in blackjack.
Basic Blackjack Hand
- Each player places a bet
- Two cards are dealt face up to each player, and two cards are dealt to the dealer, with one card face up and one card face down.
- Each player chooses whether or not to receive more cards, and they can draw more cards until they choose to stop or they bust. Each player must wait to draw until the player before them has completed their hand
- The dealer draws cards to complete his hand.
- Players with better hands than the dealer win. If a player ties with the dealer it is a push and the player takes back their bet.
The Dealer’s Options
In blackjack, the dealer has no options. The dealer must follow the casino’s rules for playing the hands. Most of the time the dealer will keep going until they have a score of 17 or better, although some casinos will allow a dealer to continue if they have a soft 17, which is a 17 where there is an ace that acts as an 11.
Blackjack
The main goal of the game is to get a blackjack, which is the most powerful hand in the game. A blackjack is a hand that makes a 21 with the original two cards. This requires an ace and a card that has a value of 10. Blackjacks payout 3:2, so if a player bet $10, they will win $15. The only hand that blackjack does not beat is a dealer’s blackjack, in which case the hand is a push.
Hitting
When a player receives another card, this is known as hitting or a hit. To show that they want to hit, a player will tap the table with a finger. If the player does not bust, they can choose if they want to hit again.
Standing
When a player chooses to stay with the cards they have, this is known as standing. A player shows that they want to stand by waving their hand over the table in a horizontal motion. This shows that the player has completed their hand and is waiting for the other players to finish.
Surrender
A player can surrender their hand and take back half of their bet. Surrendering must be the first action made after receiving the original two cards of the hand. It is wise not to surrender very often, as almost any hand has a chance. Only surrender if your hand is completely horrible.
Doubling Down
Doubling down is a great way to make more money. Doubling down must be done immediately after receiving the original two cards, so it is like surrendering in this aspect. When doubling down, the player must make an additional bet which is equal or less than the original bet. It is best, though, to double down for a full bet, and never double down for less. Once a player has doubled down they will receive one more card face down, and their hand is complete at this point. Once the dealer completes their hand the additional card is revealed. If the player wins, they will win an amount equal to both of the bets that they made.
Splitting
When a player has a pair as their original cards, they have the option to split. A player can place a second bet equal to the first bet and the pair will be split into two separate hands. The dealer then places a second card onto the first hand, and the player can play it like a normal hand, able to double down, hit, or even split again if it turns out to be another pair. Once the player completes the first hand, a second card is dealt to the second hand, and the player finished that hand. Splitting is very useful when the player has a pair which forms a bad hand, such as a pair of 8s.
Insurance
When the dealer has an ace as the up card, insurance will be offered to the players. Players accept insurance by making a bet half the size of their original bet. This bet pays out even money if the dealer has a blackjack. Insurance is usually a very bad move. If the dealer has a blackjack, the player will break even, but if the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, the player will have to win their hand to overcome the loss of the insurance bet. Card counters are the only people who will have a reason to take insurance.
Even Money
Even money is like insurance, but it is offered when the dealer has an ace up and the player has a blackjack. If the player makes the even money bet, they are guaranteed to win at 2:1, but if they didn’t accept the bet and the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack, they would’ve won at 3:2. Since the player has a blackjack, they would be guaranteed at least a push without taking the even money bet. There really is no point in ever accepting even money, as in the long run you will make more risking to get the 3:2 than by taking it safe and guaranteeing a 2:1 Payout. Again, only card counters should even consider making the even money bet, however casinos do not like card counters for some reason.
Check the Rules
It is vital that you check the blackjack rules before playing in a casino. Blackjack rules change from casino to casino, and there are a lot of strange rules out there. Check the rules to make sure that you aren’t blindsided by a rule that you never knew existed.
Ready to Play Blackjack?
Every online casino offers blackjack. To find out what online casino is best for you, check out our online casino reviews section. You can play blackjack for free, and if you are supremely confident, you can play blackjack for real money. I do recommend these online casinos as they are my favorites to play at:
