Rules for Playing Blackjack

The game of blackjack begins with two cards being dealt to the player and two to the dealer. One of the cards dealt to the dealer is exposed face up so that the player can see its value. This is called the dealer’s upcard. The second of the dealer’s cards cannot be seen. It is face down and isclld the hole or down card. Both of the player’s cards are dealt face up on the table. The set of cards dealt to the player are referred to as his/her hand.

It is the player’s objective to either
1) Come up with a hand greater than that of the dealers’ but not exceeding 21.
2) To come up with a hand not exceeding a total of 21 when that of the dealers’ does exceed a total of 21.
When you exceed a total of 21 you are said to go bust.

In the game of blackjack cards receive their face value. Jacks, Queens and Kings count as 10. Aces may count as either 11 or 1. In the case that a hand holding an ace (valued at 11) exceeds 21, the ace is automatically counted as 1.

When a hand holds an ace that is being counted as 11, it is termed a soft hand.

A hand not containing an ace or in the case where the ace is being counted as 1, is called a hard hand. Hard hand is any hand that either does not contain an ace or it does contain an Ace in such a case the Ace counts as 1.

Examples:
A hand with an Ace and a 7 would be a soft hand
A hand with a 4, an Ace and a 2 is also a soft hand
A hand containing a 6, a 2 and a 5 would be a hard hand
Likewise a hand with a 7, an 8, and an ace would be a hard hand

To determine the value of any hand, total the value of its cards. For example:
A hand with a 4, a 5 and an 8 would total 17.
A hand with a queen and a 7 totals 17.
A hand with an Ace and an 8 totals 19.
A hand with an Ace, a 5 and a 9 totals 15

The standard winning hand pays out at 1 to 1.
if you receive an Ace and a card with the value of ten, you have blackjack. This pays out at the rate of 1.5 to 1.
When the player and dealer tie having the same total in card value, it is called ‘push’ and the player’s bet is returned to him/her..

The advantage to the casino in blackjack is derived by the fact that the player draws cards first and if your hand exceeds 21 you automatically lose. Once the player has gone bust, the dealer does not have to play his/her cards (or the computer in online gambling).

Having received his/her two cards and being able to view the dealer’s face up card, the player must now make his/her move. Here are your choices:

Hit – the player can request an additional card from the dealer.

Stand – the player may choose to stay with what he/she has and not request additional cards.

Split –if the value of the two first cards the player receives are identical, the option is available to split these two cards (say a pair of 8’s) and play each one separately. Splitting the cards also means that you are doubling your bet. now each card is played as a separate hand and as many cards may be drawn as are necessary for each hand. An example might be when a pair of 7’s are dealt and the player splits them. He/she now holds two separate hands with each containing a 7. Oftentimes when the player receives cards where each has a value of ten, he is allowed to split them and play each one separately.(Such as for example, a jack and a queen, both with a value of ten). These may be split into two separate hands as well.

Double down – by making a decision to draw only one more card the player may choose to double down. (Double his/her bet). If the player chooses to not use this option, after a third card is thrown (in addition to the first two) it is no longer available to him/her.

Surrender – when the player surrenders he/she chooses to quit playing that particular round or hand and to give up half of the value of the bet placed. This is occasionally offered as an option in casinos. Surrender of the initial two cards dealt only is allowed but only after the dealer is allowed to check his hand for a blackjack. If the dealer is holding blackjack, surrender is not allowed as an option. After the player draws his/her third card in addition to those dealt, the surrender option is no longer available.

Insurance – if the dealer has dealt himself an Ace face card, then the player is allowed to make another side bet that the dealer’s face down card is of the value of ten. This insurance bet then pays off if in fact the dealer’s hole card is a ten-value card. The insurance bet can be equal to one half the initial bet that was made on that hand.

Even Money – if the player has received a blackjack hand and the dealer has an ace showing as the upcard, he/she can offer you ‘even money’. This means that the dealer will autmtcly pay you at a rate of 1 to 1 on your bet prior to he/she checking the down card to see if it is of ten value and therefore also a blackjack (in which case the dealer would win if this is so assuming the even money offer is not taken).

In the game of blackjack the dealer is bound by certain procedural rules. He/she is required to draw when the hand is below 17 and to stand at 17 to 21.

When you play at different gambling sites there may be a different set of rules in force that can affect the chances of winning.

Here are rules of blackjack that can affect the player’s chances of winning:
• When the player is given the options of doubling after any first two cards are dealt, or even after opting to split pairs, or even after 3 or more cards have been dealt, and there are no other limitations, then his/her chances of winning are increased. However, if there are limitations placed on doubling down, chances of winning are decreased.

• If the player is given the opportunity to surrender not just after receiving the first two cards, but also before (after dealing the first card or what is termed as early surrender) – as well as after additional cards have been dealt, (late surrender) then her/his chances of winning are increased.

• When winning at a blackjack hand pays better than 1 to 1 the player’s chances of winning are increased.

• When the number of decks of cards used to play are increased, chances of winning are decreased.

• When the dealer is required to take a hit on a soft 17 this decreases the chances of winning.

• When there is any limitation placed on the splitting of pairs, the chances of winning decrease.

• When the player does not receive back his/her full bet when there is a tie ww the dealer, the chances of winning are decreased.