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Blackjack rules. Basic rules of blackjack game play.
Let's take a close look at the blackjack rules so you know exactly what to do in certain situations. Many casual players in the casino lose money at the blackjack table simply by not knowing the rules properly, and the casino laughs every time this happens as it increases their edge even further. To have the absolute best edge possible in blackjack, it starts with understanding the rules clearly.
The first thing you do is place your bet on the designated area on the table. You can bet between the minimum and maximum stakes at the table, which will vary depending on where you sat down. You can play up to as many hands as there are free seats at the table, however, one hand at a time is the norm.
You get dealt two cards faceup and you have to decide whether you hit (take another card) or stay (hold your cards and receive no more). Your goal is to get as close to you can as 21 without going over. If you go over then it's a bust and you lose the hand. THe dealer is also dealt two cards, one face up and one face down. That's in order to hurt your strategy further, though even with one card showing you can do many different strategies.
If your total number is closer to 21 then the dealers total number (dealer has to hit on 16 and stay on 17), then you win. If your number is lower, the dealer wins. If either one of you go over 21 it is a bust, and a tie happens when both you and the house have the same total number.
A blackjack split is when you decide to split your one hand into two. It's done commonly when you get two of the same card, like two 8's. On there own, 16 is very weak, but with two 8's you have a chance at getting 18 very easily on either of the hands. When you split your original hand up, you have to place another bet.
A double is when you see yourself in a favorable position after the first two cards are dealt, and want to double your bet thinking you will win. Keep in mind that once you do this, only one more card can be dealt to your hand. This move is done to either increase the gamble, when a player is sitting on 11 and any face card would make 21, or when the dealer shows early signs of having a bust hand. Doubling is an important strategy in blackjack as you have to take risks sometimes to raise you overall winnings.
You can also buy insurance if a dealer is showing an A. Insurance is when you bet on yourself to lose due to the dealer having blackjack. Remember that one of the dealer's cards is face down at the beginning, so you have no clue if you've already lost. It's a good way to hedge your bets if you have made a large one.
Getting 21 with your first two cards (done by getting an Ace and a face card), is called blackjack and you automatically win. It's not just 1x your money either, it's 1.5x your bet. It's one of the reasons people love blackjack so much, for that extra added edge they get when they hit 21 on the first two.
As you can see, the rules to blackjack can change depending on your locale, but in general this internationally recognized game has pretty standard rules. Blackjack is such a popular casino game because it does have some strategy to it, and most of all it's really fun to play.
Now you are a pro in knowing the proper rules of blackjack, and will be prepared should any situation arise. Good luck at the tables as you are now ready for real money play.
