Blackjack Guide

Play begins when you place your bets (after selecting your chip size) at the table.  There are rules in place designed to steer you towards a better understanding of the game and ultimately to enhance your enjoyment of classic Blackjack. The dealer shuffles the cards after every hand and deals 2 cards face up to each player at the table. Only one of the dealer’s cards is visible,the other is face down.

What Are the Rules of Blackjack?

Basic table rules such as Blackjack etiquette apply to all land-based casinos. Unless otherwise indicated, players are not to touch the cards with their hands. Players go head-to-head against the dealer in pursuit of the highest value hand. Once cards have been dealt – from left to right – the Blackjack dealer will receive the final card. After the deal, the action will rotate from one player to the next. When it is your turn to act, you have several options available. You can hit or stand. Once everyone has had a chance to act, the dealer will reveal his/her hand.

• • The dealer is bound by rules as well. He or she may have to draw until 16 and be required to stand on all 17s. If the player’s hand and the dealer’s hand are equal in value, a push ensues. At this point, players will simply be refunded their bet.

• • If at any time you or the dealer exceeds 21, it’s game over. The strongest hand always scores in Blackjack.

• • Blackjack tables have set limits. There is a minimum bet and a maximum bet per game. Whether you’re a casual player, or a high roller, it’s important to pick a Blackjack table that caters to your bankroll requirements.

Your decision to hit or stand is an important one in Blackjack. Remember any hand total of 11 could theoretically be a maximum of 21 if you draw a face card, or 10. As you get closer to 21, the likelihood of drawing a high-value card depends on how many of those cards remain in the deck.

Blackjack games also allow players to spit the cards. When you split a pair, you are effectively playing two hands. Sometimes you can re-split cards, others not. Many players choose not to split a pair that is worth 20, but all of them will split a pair of Aces since there is always a possibility of hitting Blackjack. When you double down, you will double your bet and take one final card. Blackjack games are also associated with many optional bets known as side bets. These bets may not always be available, and they vary from one table to the next.

Blackjack card values are easy to understand. The only card that causes a little confusion is the Ace since it can assume a value of 1 or 11. Cards 2 – 10 sport their nominal value (face value), while Jack, Queen, and King have a 10-value. The game is typically played with between 1 and 8 decks. These contain 52 cards per deck. A soft hand includes an Ace counted as 11, while a hard hand has an Ace counted as 1. A soft hand gets its name because the Ace can be 1 or 11, and a hard hand indicates that the Ace value is limited to just 1.

Each of the players upcards must be visible to all other players at the table and the dealer. If an Ace is showing, the dealer must ask players if they wish to take insurance. Play starts with the player to the left of the dealer and continues around the table. Players have the option to hit, stand, double, split, or simply surrender their hands. Once all players have acted, the dealer will reveal the cards. If the dealer loses, the players will be paid out and the cards will be shuffled for a new game of Blackjack!

• Play responsible