BlackJack Rules and Blackjack payouts
Blackjack is often considered one of the world’s most popular casino table games.
Object of the Game
The object of the game is to achieve a higher card count than the dealer without exceeding 21.
How to Play
This version of Blackjack uses eight decks of cards. The deck is shuffled after each hand. The Bets. Select an initial bet amount and click Deal to begin the game. There is a minimum bet of $5 and a maximum bet of $100. The Cards. Aces may be considered 1 or 11. Face cards have a value of 10 and all other cards are counted as their face value. The Deal. A card is dealt face up to the player followed by one to the dealer. A second card is then dealt face up to the player, and a second card face down to the dealer. At this point, the player may choose to stand or draw one or more cards to improve their hand total. The dealer takes additional cards only after the player has completed his or her hand(s), following specific rules (see Dealer Strategy below). The player’s hand is completed when the player:
Draws Blackjack (a natural 21 consisting of an Ace and a 10 or face card)
Chooses to stand
Busts (the hand count exceeds 21).
The winner is determined by which hand’s total is closest to 21. A Blackjack beats all other hands totaling 21 (this applies to the dealer as well). If both the dealer and the player draw a Blackjack, it is a considered a push (tie) and neither hand wins nor loses.
Players Options
The player is initially dealt two cards. After these cards are dealt, the player has the option of making the following additional wagers: Splitting Pairs. This option is available to the player when the two original cards are of the same value (6’s, 8’s, etc). The player splits the cards into two hands and plays each hand individually. Additional pairs can not be split again. A pair of Aces may be split but each Ace receives only one additional card. Except when splitting Aces, the player has the option to double down (see below) after splitting. In all cases, the player must wager an additional amount equal to the original bet when splitting. Double Down. If the first two cards do not total 21, the player has the option to double down. Should the player feel that he or she can win with only one additional card, the player may double the original bet and receive one more card. The player may also double down after splitting a pair unless the pair consists of Aces. In this case the player is only entitled to receive one card after splitting. Insurance. If the dealer’s first visible card is an Ace, the player has the option of buying insurance. Insurance is a wager equal to one-half the player’s original bet which pays two to one if the dealer draws a Blackjack. If the dealer does not draw Blackjack, the player loses his or her insurance.
Dealer Strategy
The dealer must:
Be hit on a count of 16 or less
Stand on Soft 17
Stand on a Hard 17 or more
Soft Hand: A hand where an Ace may be counted as either 1 or 11 without the total exceeding 21. Hard Hand: A hand with no Aces or one where the Ace must count as one so as to not exceed 21.
Blackjack Payoffs
A Blackjack pays 3:2 as long as the dealer does not draw a Blackjack as well. A Blackjack also beats any three-or-more-card 21. A two-card 21 is not considered a Blackjack for split hands.
All other winning bets are paid even money (1:1).
If the dealer draws a Blackjack, the player only loses his or her original bet when the player has doubled down or split.
When both the dealer and player’s hand totals are equal, it is called a standoff or push; neither wins nor loses.
If the player’s hand total exceeds 21, he or she busts and loses his or her bet.
Blackjack Rules
Blackjack has a basic set of blackjack game rules that all players must follow. There are also specific rules that the dealer must follow. Before playing blackjack in a brick and mortar casino, you should learn and master the rules of blackjack. Understanding and mastering the rules of blackjack will help you be more comfortable during your first brick and mortar casino blackjack experience and will allow the game to flow much quicker.
Object of Blackjack
The object of blackjack is to achieve a total greater than the dealer, without going over 21. If there are other players at the table, you are still trying to beat the dealer (the casino) only.
Restrictions on the Dealer
While all players generally have the option to play their hand as they want, there are certain restrictions put on the dealer. He or she has a forced set of rules that must followed every single hand. There can be slight variations on these rules from casino to casino, so make sure you ask the dealer when you sit down at a blackjack table. However, generally most of the blackjack rules are the same.
If the dealer is showing a total of 16 or less, he must take additional cards until achieving a hand from 17-21 or busting. In contrast, if the dealer is showing a total of 17 or higher, he is usually required to stand and not take any additional cards.
It is extremely important to find out what the dealer rules are in the casino you are playing. This will help you better understand what the dealer is doing during the game to avoid confusion. It will also help you slightly change your strategy to better match the specific blackjack game that you are playing in.
The 5 Worst Rules of Blackjack
There are a handful of blackjack games around the country that have added new blackjack rules which are designed to hurt the player more than the traditional blackjack rules and give the casino a larger advantage. If you ever notice a game that has any of the rules listed below, it is advised to stay away from that particular table and find a blackjack game elsewhere.
- Blackjack pays even money
- Blackjack pays 6 to 5
- Doubling down only on 10 or 11
- Dealer hits on soft 17
- Using 8 decks of cards
If you find yourself in a game that uses any of the rules above, you should probably seek a new blackjack table elsewhere. Playing in games with these rules just continues to boost the casino edge and you have much better odds playing in a different casino.
Black Jack Rules
It’s very easy to learn blackjack. There is one basic educational skill needed within the blackjack rules - knowing how to add. And with that skill, you want to attain a hand scoring as close to 21 without going over, and being closer to 21 than the dealer. Going over 21 is known as a bust; that’s bad news for you, as your chips will begin to disappear quickly. One plus of this fast-paced card game is the fact that the player solely competes against the dealer. There is no strategy from the dealer, so a beginning blackjack player should never be embarrassed to seek out a kind, conversational dealer, who can basically offer a blackjack lesson and give some valuable blackjack tips. The same goes for other players at the table. (There is no blackjack rule stating that a player cannot reveal their cards, etc. This will be discussed later.)
Card Values within Blackjack Rules:
The ace is worth 11 or one, all face cards are worth ten. And all numeric cards are worth the number on the card. Forget the suits, as they hold no importance within the blackjack rules. A blackjack, or a “natural,” is equivalent to any card equaling ten, paired with an ace, to equal 21. In most casinos this often pays 3:2 - a $10 bet gathering a $15 victory prize, for example. Blackjack can only fall within the first two cards dealt. All other combinations are simply 21.
There are no official blackjack rules. Dependent on the casino, blackjack rules will vary. However, you will always be dealt two cards. You’ll want to make following plays based on what the dealer has showing. (One of the dealers cards will remain face down until all players have ended play) So, have your own magic number where you will hit (take cards) and stay. The dealer will always stay at 17 and above, and they will hit until they have reached 17. With this new knowledge, the best way to practice is to simply deal two hands; one for the player, and one for the dealer. Play against the dealer, and once you’ve decided to stay, flip the dealer’s hidden card. Remember that as the dealer, you’ll hit until you reach 17, and stay on anything 17 - 21.
Blackjack Rules
The objective of Black Jack is to obtain a hand of 21 or near, without exceeding this point (‘busting’). The ultimate aim which wins indisputably is a ‘Black Jack’ itself, i.e. a combination of two cards valued 21. To outplay the casino, the gambler should get a hand better than the dealer’s.
To start a game the player has to make the initial bet which is determined by the casino rules. After that the player gets two cards face up. The dealer receives two cards, as well, but one is face down and called the ‘hole’. Aces count 1 or 11 (as the player chooses), all face cards are 10, while the other cards are taken by their face value.
A Black Jack, or ‘natural 21’, wins immediately, and the winner receives their bet plus 150% of it as a winning bonus. In other cases, the player has to take strategic steps and proceed with:
* Hit: the player asks for another card in the attempt to score as near to 21 as possible. Bear in mind that the dealer is liable to hit when their hand is below 17. If the player’s hand appears to be closer to 21 than the dealer’s one, or the dealer busts, the bet is paid 1:1.
* Stand: the player refuses to take any more cards considering the hand favorable enough to secure the win.
* Double down: Only two cards dealt, the player asks for only one more card and doubling of your bet.
* Surrender: This option is not offered by some casinos, as it allows the gambler to give up their play right after the unfortunate hand is dealt and lose only half of the bet.
* Split: Another optional step which allows the player to split their hand in two if it consists of a pair. Upon splitting, the gambler has to produce one more bet equal to the initial one and play the two hands as usual.
* Insurance: This rarely chosen option provides the gambler with a chance to secure the bet by insuring it. The insurance bet amounts up to one half of the actual one and can be activated if the dealer’s face-up card is an ace. Thus, the player insures their bet against the dealer’s Black Jack. If the dealer scores a Black Jack, the insurance bet is paid 2:1, if not – the insurance is lost and the game continues as usual.
You win if…
* You’ve got a Black Jack.
* Your hand is valued closer to 21 than the dealer’s.
* Your hand doesn’t exceed 21, but the dealer busts.
You lose if…
* You bust
* The dealer’s hand is better
* You surrender (and lose 50% of your bet).
Your bet is safe if…
* You push, i.e. your hand equals the dealer’s one. However, your Black Jack wins.
* You had insured your bet against the dealer’s Black Jack before he/she scored it
Blackjack Rules
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.