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Blackjack and online blackjack are without question the most
popular casino table game in the world. This easy to
learn but difficult to master game of fast action and
strategy has long been a pinnacle of casinos and with the
advent of online casino sites, blackjack has literally
exploded once again worldwide. In this section of our
website, you will learn about casino blackjack topics
such as blackjack games, blackjack strategy and betting tips
designed to boost your wins.
How To Play Blackjack
Learning how to play blackjack is actually quite
easy and we are going to look at the game step by step to
give you a comprehensive overview of how it works and how
you should play.
The object of blackjack is to get as close to 21 as
possible without going over and accumulating a higher hand
total than the dealer, which will win you the round.
Blackjack is played between you (the player) and a dealer
that sits across the table from you. Other players are
allowed to play in the same game, but you are always playing
against the dealer (also known as the house). When a
game starts, players will place their bets in a small box on
the table (their betting box) and once all wagers are placed
the dealer will begin giving out cards to the players until
everyone has two cards sitting in front of their position.
The dealer will give each player at the table two cards
face up and will deal him or herself two cards with one card
showing to the table and the other card dealt face down and
protected from the players. The exposed card that the
dealer has up for players to see is known as the "up card"
and is very important for making decisions during game play
to optimize strategy.
Now that all the cards have been dealt, it's time for the
players to take action and decide what they want to do with
their hands. Remember, the object of blackjack is to
get a higher total hand than the dealer that is as close to
21 as possible without going over (known as busting).
Note on Blackjacks:
If you are dealt a total of 21 right away, you will
have what is known as blackjack and will instantly win (if
the dealer doesn't have blackjack as well - called a
"push"). Getting blackjack entitles you to receive a
payout of 3-2 on your original bet, so a $100 bet would be
paid $150.
If the dealer gets blackjack right away, players will
loose all bets unless they push or take even money, which is
when you request an even payout for your blackjack before
the dealer checks for 21 with an ace as the up card.
Every time the dealer has ace showing as their up card,
players with blackjack will be offered even money payout
before he checks his hidden card to see if he has blackjack.
Players with normal hands can opt for insurance where they
need to put an additional 1/2 of their bet, which would be
returned should the dealer have blackjack. If you buy
insurance and the dealer doesn't have blackjack, normal play
resumes but you will lose the insurance bet made on your
hand. Insurance is not usually recommended during
play.
Assuming that you and the dealer don't have blackjack,
players can now can make one of the following decisions with
their hands which they must announce to the dealer during
game play:
Hit - This indicates that you would like to add
another card to your hand, meaning that you are not happy
with your total (9 for example) and can only improve by
making the decision to add another card (since you can't
bust or go over 21). When you ask the dealer to hit,
they will simply deal another card from the shoe (where the
cards are dealt from) & add it to your hand.
Stand - A player calls for a stand when they do
not want to receive anymore cards from the dealer, for
example say you hit a 10 and got 20, you would now stand and
play would move on.
Double - In most blackjack games, a player can
double any two cards (although some say only 9,10 and 11 are
eligible). Doubling your hand means that you will
place an additional bet equal or less than your original
wager and for this you will only be given one more card and
must stand no matter what card comes. The reason that
doubling is effective is say you example you have a hand
that has a good chance of improving, 11 for example and the
dealer's up card is a 6, which has a high likelihood of
busting. In this position, most players would opt to
double their original wager with the hopes that they beat or
bust the dealer and win twice their original bet.
Split - A player has the option to split his or
her cards when the two cards dealt to them are the same, for
example 10,10. In this situation, a player can split
their hand into two hands by putting another bet equal to
their original bet beside the betting box. The dealer
will then split the hands and the player will be given one
new card for each hand and may continue to play them
normally. Players are allowed to double after
splitting should they choose to do so. The idea behind
splitting is the same as doubling, to maximize payouts
against a weak dealer hand.
Surrender - In some blackjack variations, the
house offers the player's the option to surrender their hand
for which they will receive 1/2 of their bet back without
having to play the hand. The reason player's do this
is if they think they have a high likelihood of losing the
hand, for example if the dealer's up card was a king and you
possessed a total of 16, you may surrender.
Blackjack Games
One of the great things about blackjack is the large
variation of blackjack games that are out there for
players to choose from. Each game offers slightly
varied rules and payouts and can add additional
entertainment and in some cases an advantage to blackjack
players depending on the type. Some of the popular
blackjack games included in our games section include
Spanish 21, Blackjack Switch, Pontoon, Triple 7's, Double
Exposure Blackjack, High Streak, Single Deck Blackjack,
Progressive Blackjack, Chinese Blackjack and Elimination
Blackjack.
Popular Blackjack Terms
Below is a list of common and popular blackjack
terminology that you are likely to hear at the blackjack
tables when playing at a live casino, where players tend to
get pretty vocal.
Action - When a player calls out for either a
blackjack or a double or split hand.
Anchor - The person who is sitting in the last
betting position at the table, known as spot 6.
Bankroll - Your total amount of money at the
table, or gambling money in general.
Basic Strategy - The simplest method to improve
your odds of winning against the dealer.
Burn Card - 2 discarded cards taken from the deck
by the dealer after shuffling is complete.
Bust - When either the player of blackjack dealer
exceeds 21 with their hand total.
Card Counting - A method of tracking the cards
using memory and a points scoring system.
Cut - Players cut the deck after the dealer has
shuffled using a cut card before game resumes.
Cut Card - A plastic card used by the player to
cut the deck once shuffled by the dealer.
Even Money - Even payment on player blackjack if
the player thinks the dealer has blackjack.
Hole Card - The unexposed card in the dealer's
hand which is not visible to players.
Natural - A blackjack where the player is dealt an
ace and a face card, making a 21 total.
Push - When the dealer and player have the same
card total, also known as a tie.
Shoe - This is where all the cards are dealt from
and can be a plastic box or electronic machine.
Shuffle - Before the start of a shoe, the dealer
shuffles all the cards and mixes them.
Up Card - The dealer's card which can be seen and
is exposed to the players at the table.
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner - Glamorized by the
Hollywood movie "21", this saying was coined by a Las Vegas
blackjack dealer who used it to describe when a player got
blackjack. |
