Game Introduction
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games worldwide. If played
properly it can have a very low house advantage. With the addition
of card counting or a good memory the game can be beaten in the long
run. As card counting is frowned upon in land-based casinos and online
casinos it can get you banned if you are caught. Online counting is
not possible as the cards are re-shuffled after every game.
Card Values And Rankings
Blackjack is played with from between one and eight decks of cards.
All numbered cards retain their face value, Kings, Queens and Jacks
have a value of ten and the all important Ace can be either one or
eleven. Suits do not matter unless specified, commonly in progressive
versions of the classic game.
Blackjack Rules
There are countless variations of blackjack. All have slightly
different rules so in this section we will cover the basic rules that
apply to all versions. Every casino will be happy to give you their
specific rules on request.
The game of blackjack is initiated by placing a bet in the betting
area on the table. You are then dealt two cars face up and the dealer
is dealt two cards, one face up and one face down. You then have the
option to hit or stand or in some cases double or spit. Hitting means
you are dealt another card. Standing means you stay with your cards,
doubling means you get one more card and double your bet. If you are
dealt two cards of the same value you can spilt. This means you form
two different hands with your original cards and have to put your
original bet on each.
After you have finished making your decision relating to your cards
the dealer will flip over his face down card to reveal his hand. At
this time the dealer may be dealt additional cards depending on the
table rule. The most common is that the dealer will stand on all totals
of 17 or above and hit anything else.
The aim of the game is to get as close to the value of 21 without
going over. You can do this in two ways. Firstly by getting a hand
of an ace and a ten or a face card, this is known as a "Blackjack".
The other way is to hit until you have the highest hand you can make.
Blackjack is the best hand and pays off at a higher rate.
There are five possible outcomes to a blackjack hand. These are blackjack,
win, lose, bust and push. A push occurs when your hand ties with the
dealers. A win occurs when your hand is higher than the dealers, a
loss when your hand is lower and a bust when you go over the total
of 21. The best of all is the Blackjack hand (A-10).
Pay Offs and House Advantages
The house advantage on a blackjack game varies depending on the game
rules. In general it is usually less than 1% if played with proper
basic strategy. The payoffs are as follows; Blackjack pays 3 to 2,
A Win pays 1 to 1, A Push returns your original bet. Depending on
the game variation pay outs may differ.
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