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Blackjack 101: How to Play Blackjack |
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Lesson 1: The Basics
Lesson 2: Betting on the Right Blackjack Table
Lesson 3: Playing the Game |
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Lesson 3: Playing the Game |
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The most common actions in blackjack are the "hit" and the "stand." When you decide to add another card to your hand you are hitting. When you decide you don't need any more cards you are standing. In the face up blackjack game you indicate a hit by tapping your fingers on the table behind your cards. To indicate a stand you should wave you hand horizontally over your cards palm down. Many dealers will allow you to say hit or stand but they prefer the hand motions to avoid confusion and for the benefit of the many many security cameras that like to watch what everyone is doing. If you bust the dealer will collect your bet and remove your cards. In the face down game you'll be holding your two dealt cards in one hand. To request another card lightly scrape your cards towards yourself on the table felt. Your additional cards will be dealt face up on the felt in front of you but do not pick them up. If you have the misfortune to go over 21 then toss your two cards onto the table face up. To stand simply slide the corner of your two cards face down under your bet. Do not touch your bet during any of these actions. The dealer and casino do not appreciate you touching your bet. This may all sound a bit confusing at first but sit down with a few other players and you'll pick it up quickly. |
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"Doubling down" can be a very profitable player option. A double down is performed when you believe you can beat the dealer's hand by adding one single card to your hand. For example: if you are dealt a 5 and a 6 and the dealer is showing an up card of 5 then you may want to double down. Why? There are more 10s in than any other card in blackjack. The odds are that you will be dealt a 10 giving you a total of 21. The dealer will have a very hard time beating a 21 with a 5 showing. When you double down you must double your bet for the hand. If you originally bet $10 you must add another $10 to this in order to double down. You may only double down with a two-card hand; you cannot hit and then decide to double down. To double down in a facedown-game, toss your two cards face-up onto the table in front of your bet. In either style of game you should place your additional bet to the side of your original bet, not on top of it. The dealer will then deal you one additional card. In a facedown game the dealer will most likely tuck it under your bet facedown, to be revealed later. Players are allowed to double down for any amount up to the original bet amount, so you could double down "for less" if you wanted; however, if the correct play is to double down, you should always double for the full amount. |
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If you are initially dealt two cards of the same value you have the option of "splitting" your hand. The process of splitting means you split your hand into two separate hands. For example, you are dealt two eights which has a total value of sixteen. Sixteen has the distinction of being the worst possible player hand in blackjack. This is because if you choose to stand on sixteen you will only win if the dealer goes over 21 and if you choose to hit you have the greatest chance of busting by drawing another card. By splitting the eights into two hands you have a chance of improving a bad situation. If you are playing a facedown game of blackjack, toss the cards face-up in front of your bet, in the same manner as the double down. When splitting you place a matching bet beside your original bet. Unlike the double down, you must bet the same amount on a split bet. The dealer will then separate your two cards and treat them as individual hands. The dealer will deal a second card to your first hand after which you continue play on that hand as normal. You may choose to hit, stand, double or even split again just as you would if you had not split. When play ends on the first hand, the dealer will then deal your second card to the second card from your split. Play then continues as normal on this hand. Some casinos restrict resplitting but most will allow you to split at least three times. You are allowed to split any cards that have a value of ten; you could split a Jack and a King. However, it is very rarely a good idea to split Tens. With two Tens you have a total of twenty, which is a very good hand and usually a winner. Many dealers will even encourage you not to split Tens if you attempt to. Remember, even though he's there to take your money away, the dealer is still your friend. |
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One more note on splitting concerns splitting Aces. Splitting Aces is a very strong player move. Because of this the casino restricts you to only drawing one additional card on each Ace. Drawing a ten-valued card on an Ace split is not considered a blackjack. Some casinos will not allow you to resplit Aces. Even considering these restrictions it is still in your best interest to split a pair of Aces. |
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The last basic concept in blackjack is called "insurance." Insurance is not a widely understood part of blackjack; which is okay because it's usually a poor bet. If a dealer has an Ace up card, he will offer insurance to the players. An insurance bet can be made by betting up to half your original bet amount, usually half your bet. The dealer then checks to see if he has a ten-valued card, which would result in a dealer blackjack. If he has a blackjack and you have made an insurance bet your insurance bet will be paid 2:1. So, if you originally bet $10 and make an insurance bet of $5, you lose your original $10 and also are paid $10 (2:1) on your $5 insurance bet. You will break even. If the dealer does not have a ten-value card then you lose your insurance bet and continue play as normal. The odds are usually against placing an insurance bet. The one possible exception is when you have a blackjack. In this case the dealer will usually offer you "even money" instead of insurance. This is just a simplification of the insurance bet process. Basically, "even money" means the dealer pays you even money for your blackjack regardless of his down card. Remember, normally a blackjack pays 3:2 odds instead of even, 2:1, odds. If you do not take insurance on your blackjack and the dealer also has a blackjack then the hand will be a push and you will not win or lose your money. The odds are still against the insurance bet even if you do have a blackjack. However, some players prefer to take their "even money" win to avoid the chance of a push. |
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So that's blackjack in a nutshell. The best way to truly understand the game is to get out there and play it. Find yourself a friendly table and ask other players or the dealer for guidance if you're not sure what do to. Have fun and good luck to you! |
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Return to Blackjack Courses |
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Previous >> Lesson 2: Betting on the Right Blackjack Table |
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