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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 playrs 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.
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.
Splitting: Player may split when his first two cards are matched
(e.g. 6-6 3-3 etc.). Player put up another bet equal to his first
one, draws to the first hand, and plays it out. He the draws to the
second hand and plays that out.
When Aces are split, only one more card is received with each Ace.
This splitting variation occurs only with Aces.
Tens received wit hAces do not make a blackjack.
Pairs may be split up to 4 times.
Always split Aces and 8's, never split 5's or 10's
If a dealer has as Ace showing, Dealers says "Insurance Anyone"
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. |
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