Blackjack Basics: How to play, rules, & tips
Today Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games played. Played on a half circular table with 5-7 betting squares to place your bets. The game uses the normal 52 card deck but, the house usually plays with 4-6 decks placed in a “shoe” for the purposes of dealing the cards. In modern Blackjack the four suits, diamond, spade, hearts, and clubs have no significance. In the past larger payouts were given for the attainment of a “blackjack” card and an ace, which is where the name for Blackjack has derived, however, this is no longer the case.
Card Values
The numbered cards 2-10 are scored according to their face value. The face cards, for example, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are all valued at 10, and aces can be worth 1 or 11 depending on how the game unfolds.
Starting the game
After a player places their initial bet in the square(s), each player is dealt 2 cards face up. In the United States the dealer is dealt 2 cards but 1 is placed face down. In Great Britain only one card is dealt to the dealer face up.
Game Objective
The objective is to gain a higher score than the dealer without going over 21 (called going “bust”). Therefore, at this point in the game the player will be asked if they want another card. A request for a card by the player is done with a scratching motion, and a refusal of any more cards is done by a waving motion. The player can request as many cards as they wish to improve their score unless your score exceeds 21, whereby, the player automatically loses and the player’s cards are then cleared. If the player exceeds 21 they will still lose even if the dealer exceeds 21. A tie (called a push) occurs when both the dealer and the player have the same score. Blackjack, any card with the denomination of 10 accompanied by an ace is superior to any hand and beats a 3 card score of 21.
Once the player believes that they have enough points to beat the eventual outcome of the dealer’s score they will stand, accepting no more hits (cards) from the dealer.
Once all the players have sequentially been dealt their cards the dealer will then deal his own cards. With a score of 16 or less the dealer is obligated to take a card. At 17 the dealer must stand. If the dealer exceeds 21 he has lost and all remaining players in the game are paid out their winnings. If the dealer does not go bust and obtains a score of 17 or higher a comparison is done to the players still in the game and the dealer or players with the higher score wins.
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