Blackjack - The Game
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The main objective is to obtain a
card total as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it, while still beating the dealers hand.
Our Blackjack game is dealt from 6 decks. All cards numbered 2-10 are counted at face value. The Jack,
Queen and King are valued at 10, an ace is worth 1 or 11, whichever favors your hand. The ace can
change value from 11 to 1, if necessary, to prevent exceeding a total of 21. A Blackjack hand consists
of an Ace and a card valued at 10 (10, J, Q, K).
A two-card Blackjack always beats three or more cards totaling 21.
Before receiving any cards, you must place a wager.
You are then dealt two cards face-up. The dealer
is also dealt two cards, one face-up the other face-down. The dealer's "hole" card remains face down
until your hand is completed. At this point, the dealer turns over the "hole" card.
If the totals 17-21 he
must stand.
If the hand is 16 or under, the dealer must continue to take cards until either the hand is
over 10 or "bust" (totaling over 21).
If the dealer's hand totals 16 including an Ace valued at one (a
"soft" hand) the dealer must take another card.
You have many different betting and playing options:
Hit:
You receive another card. For example, if your 2 cards equal 10 you have nothing to lose by
requesting another card, since your total could not exceed 21.
Stand:
This means that you are satisfied with the hand and do not want to be dealt another card.
Double Down:
After you have received your first two cards you have the option to double the initial
wager. Once you have chosen to do this, click the "Double" button and you will be dealt a third card
and no more. Your hand will only consist of 3 cards.
Splitting:
If you are dealt two cards of identical value you can then split them (i.e. 8,8 or 10,Q). You
would now be playing two separate hands of one card each. You will now be dealt a second card to
one of the hands.
After this hand is played out, the second hand will be dealt a second card and
continued until that hand is played out and a new wager equal to the initial wager will be placed for
each split hand.
When Aces are split, only one card will be dealt per Ace. A split hand resulting in
Blackjack pays out at a ration of 1-1 rather than the normal 3-2, and will lost to a dealer's Blackjack.
Insurance:
If the dealer's first card is an Ace, there is a possibility of a Blackjack. If you believe the
dealer has Blackjack you can buy insurance to protect yourself.
If you choose to insure yourself, you
have to pay an amount equal to half your wager. If the dealer gets Blackjack, the insurance will pay 2
to 1, which corresponds to your original stake. If you have insured yourself and the dealer does not
obtain Blackjack then you lose your insurance but retain your original wager.
Insurance is considered a game of its own within Blackjack, and gives you a chance to protect yourself
from the dealer's Blackjack.
Playoffs:
If your hand exceeds 21 or "busts", then the dealer wins the hand without turning over the
"hole" card. All hands that total less than the dealer's hand lose. hands that are equal in value are
considered a tie, or a "push", and your original wager is returned. If you obtain Blackjack the payout
will be a 3:2 ratio rather than 1:1.
Blackjack:
As with standard blackjack, the first thing to take into consideration when playing online
blackjack is: "How many decks of cards are being used?"
This number can vary from 1 to as many as
15, depending on the casino you are visiting. Single deck blackjack is hard to find, but it is the simplest
to keep track of. You simply chart the cards as you see them.
Since it is online blackjack, there is no dealer to watch you taking notes. With a visible chart of the
cards played, a betting strategy can easily be put into place.
The last couple of hands is where you need to be, so bet conservatively so as to keep yourself in the
game to the end of the deck.
By this time you should have a clear idea of how the cards will be dealt,
based on what is left unchecked on your chart. Bet big when you know you will win, and the minimum
if the house has it.
When dealing with multiple deck blackjack, you simply apply the strategy for single-deck, only to a
larger scale.
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