The basics
The object of the blackjack game is to accumulate cards with
point totals 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 preferable. Other cards are represented by their number.
If player and the House tie, it is a push and no one wins. Ace and
10 (Blackjack) on the first two cards dealt is an automatic player
win at 1.5 to 1, unless the house ties. A player may stand at any
time.
Playing blackjack
To win you need to beat the dealer without busting. You bust when
your cards total to more than 21 and you lose automatically. The winner
is whoever has closest to a total of 21. You reach 21 by adding up
the values of the cards.
The blackjack table seats about 6 players. Either six or eight decks
of cards are used and are shuffled together by the dealer and placed
in a card dispensing box called 'Shoe'.
Before receiving any cards players must place a wager. Then the players
are dealt two cards face up. The dealer gets one face up, one face
down. Each player in turn either stays or takes more cards to try
and get closer to 21 without busting. Players who do not bust wait
for the dealer's turn. When all the players are done, the dealer turns
up the down card. By rule, on counts of 17 or higher the dealer must
stay; on counts of 16 or lower the dealer must draw.
If you make a total of 21 with the first two cards (a 10 or a face
and an Ace), you win automatically. This is called 'Blackjack'. If
you have Blackjack, you will win one and one-half times your bet unless
the dealer also has Blackjack, in which case it is a Push or a Tie
(or a Stand-off) and you get your bet back.
The remaining players with a higher count than the dealer win an amount
equal to their bet. Players with a lower count than the dealer lose
their bet. If the dealer busts, all the remaining players win. There
are other betting options namely Insurance, Surrender, Double Down,
Even Money and Split.
· Insurance:
side bet up to half the initial bet against the dealer having a natural
21 - allowed only when the dealer's showing card is an Ace. If the
dealer has a 10 face down and makes a blackjack, insurance pays at
2-1 odds, but loses if the dealer does not.
· Surrender: giving
up your hand and lose only half the bet.
· Early Surrender:
surrender allowed before the dealer checks for blackjack.
· Late Surrender: the
dealer first checks to see if he has blackjack. If he does, surrender
is not permitted.
· Double Down: double
your initial bet following the initial two-card deal, but you can
hit one card only. A good bet if the player is in a strong situation.
· Even Money: cashing
in your bet immediately at a 1:1 payout ratio when you are dealt a
natural blackjack and the dealer's showing card is an Ace.
· Split Hand: split
the initial two-card hand into two and play them separately - allowed
only when the two first cards are of equal value. Use each card as
the start to a separate hand and place a second bet equal to the first.
· Hard Hand: A hand
without an Ace, or with an Ace valued at 1 is said to be Hard in that
it can only be given one value, unlike a Soft Hand. (You can value
an Ace 1 or 11 to suit you).
· Soft Hand: A hand
that contains an Ace counted as 11 is called a Soft Hand.
House
advantage (approximate, may vary with different rules)
Without basic strategy 7% average.
With basic strategy 0.5% or less.
Card counting can reverse the advantage up to 1% to the player.
Some blackjack variations
Using different number of decks: all other conditions being the same,
as a general rule the fewer the decks, the better for the player.
Allowing the dealer to hit a soft 17: a disadvantage to the player.
It gives the dealer a chance to improve.
Allowing a double down after splitting pairs: can be advantageous
to the player if used wisely.
Allowing re-splitting of Aces: a clear advantage to the player.
No dealer hole card: common on cruise ships, this variation is a disadvantage
to the player. The dealer does not deal himself a second card until
the players have played and they can lose the doubles and splits.
Las Vegas and Atlantic City variants
Las Vegas blackjack:
Las Vegas games are played with two decks and the House must hit on
hands less than soft 17 (17 involving an Ace) and must stand on hands
of 17 or greater.
Atlantic City blackjack:
Atlantic City games are played with four decks and the House must
hit on 16 and stand all 17's.
