Blackjack rules
Blackjack is a very simple game, however before playing in an online or land based casino you need to master the rules. Here they are:
The basic principle
In black jack a player competes against the dealer and should not be concerned by the other opponent’s cards. Each card has a value. Ace is either 1 or 11 points depending on the player, face cards: jack, queen, king count as 10 and the others their nominal value. To win, you need to have a higher hand than the bank but without exceeding 21 otherwise you lose.
Material of the game
Black jack is played around a table generally with 7 seated players. It has 7 pockets for each 3 players to bet but only the seated player makes the decisions. The shoe actually contains 1 to 8 decks of 52 cards depending on the casino. In France, the average is 6. Before starting a game session, the dealer burns the first 5 cards from the shoe. A leaflet, outlining the authorized wagering limits, is present on every black jack table.
The procedure of the game
The first thing to do is bet. Place your chips on the circle in front of you. Then the dealer deals the cards. Each player receives two cards face up and the dealer receives one face up and one face down. The player on the far left of the dealer is the first to speak he like the other players has several options at his disposal.
Draw a card
It is possible to draw or “hit” a card distributed by the dealer. You can do this as many times as you want. Simply indicate with your hand or say “card”. However, if your hand exceeds 21, the dealer collects your cards and you lose your bet.
Stand
When you are satisfied with your hand, you may stand. You will not receive an additional card. To indicate to the dealer, make a horizontal gesture with your hand or say “stand”.
Double down
You can decide to double your bet. In this case, you’ll receive only one additional card usually it is possible to do this only when your hand is 9, 10 or 11 points. However since March 2007, some casinos accept the doubling regardless of the value of your hand. To indicate to the dealer, you want to double and receive a card simply place a second bet next to the first.
Split your pair
When your two cards are a pair, you can separate the pair into two separate hands and play them separately. To do this bet the same amount as your original bet on each. If you have a pair of aces and you decide o separate it, you can receive only one additional card not ace no black jack is considered after a split. The pay out is limited to 2 to 1.
Insurance
If the dealer’s up card is an ace, you can apply for insurance. It allows you to insure against a possible blackjack from him. To do this, place an additional bet which should not exceed half the amount of your original bet. If the dealer has a 10 or a symbol you win your insurance bet, paid 2 to 1 but you lose your initial bet. If the dealer has another card, you lose your insurance bet and the round ends normally.
Surrender
If you believe you are not going to win, you can surrender. In this case, you retrieve half your initial bet, this option is interesting to the player however it is not always available in the casinos.
Obtaining a blackjack
The best possible hand is a blackjack it is a two card total of 21, an ace and a ten-value card. On average it pays 3 to 2 however not all casinos respect this payment. So check before you start playing on a table. If you get such a hand the dealer pays you immediately.
The dealer’s hand
The dealer plays last. He plays according to predetermined rules. Generally he must continue to draw cards until he does not have a hand greater than or equal to 17a value at which he stands. When the dealer has a set greater than 21 all players still in the game win or players with a higher hand beat him and those with lower hand lose. In the case of a tie, the player retains his bet but does not win additional chips once the bets are resolved, a new game can begin.