Blackjack Rules

The rules of blackjack may and in many cases do vary from one casino to the next, however the basic premise of the game remain intact. These rules are actually quite easy to understand for most individuals and take little effort to remember after one has played a few hands.

Playing the Game:

When you initially arrive at the blackjack table, you will need to select an available seat, if any are present (the game is very popular in most casinos.) It should be noted that the seat you select will have no advantage or disadvantage over any other. This is an often argued point as some tend to believe that the last chair has an advantage as they can see what has been played before its their turn.

Prior to joining the game you will need to obtain playing chips. This can be accomplished by calling "change" to the dealer who will exchange your tender for an assortment of playing chips in various wagering amounts. With chips in hand you are now ready to begin wagering. You will do this by placing a chip or chips in the corresponding location to where you are sitting.

Each player will be dealt two (2) cards face up and the dealer will be dealt one face up and one face down. Each player will need to assess their hand and make a decision based on the up card of the dealer as to whether they need to stay (accept no more cards) or hit receive another card. This is where a basic understanding of strategy will pay off e.g. its important to know when to do either (stay of hit.)

Once all the players have made their wagers, selected to stay or accepted their final hits, busted are sitting happy, the dealer will typically take hits until his/her hand reaches 17 or higher, or until they busts. If you hand is higher than the dealers you are a winner, if however your hand is lower you lose. If the hand ends in a tie no one wins and no one loses.

Learning how to play the game is very easy and doesn't take a lot of time. All you need to remember are some basic rules, but if your serious about wining you will eventually need to have a further understanding of when to hit and when not to.

Blackjack Objective:

To obtain a hand as close to 21 as possible without going over, which is higher than the dealers hand.

Card Value:

Each card in the deck is assigned a value, number cards 2-9 are face value, face cards (jacks, queens, and kings) are worth 10 points, aces are worth either a 1 or an 11. If you choose to use the ace as an 11, the hand is considered soft, its considered hard if you choose to use it as a 1.

Blackjack:

If you are dealt a combination that totals 21 in your first two (2) cards its considered a blackjack and in most cases will pay 3 to 2 unless it's a tie.

Betting:

Wagers are placed prior to the deal and once placed on the table can not be removed. All bets will depend upon table limits both minimum and maximum.

Doubling Your Bet:

As described above once you place a bet you can not remove it. However there are a few opportunities for you to change your bet once it has been placed.

Doubling Down - You can double your table bet and choose to take a hit at any time. However when you do so you will only receive one (1) more card.

Splitting - You may split your hand into two (2) separate hands and consequently double your bet as you'd be wagering on 2 hands instead of one. You may split when ever you are dealt two identical valued cards.

Hits:

Hitting is when you choose to receive another card in you quest to get 21. There are no limit to the number of hits you can accept. However if at any time you exceed the total of 21 you have bust and consequently lose. When you obtain a value you are happy with you must stand and let the dealer know your position. Then all that's left is to see what the dealers cards say.