The Game of Blackjack Explained
You start a blackjack game by placing a chip in the betting area on the table. You are then dealt two cards face up and the dealer is dealt two cards, one face up and one face down. You then have to decide on your next move.
The aim when playing blackjack is to accumulate cards totaling 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over 21. The dealer has the same aim, to win the hand you must be closer to 21 than the dealer.
All cards are worth their face value except Jacks, Queens and Kings which are worth 10 and the all important Ace which is worth either 11 or 1.
There are five possible outcomes in a hand of black jack. These are win, lose, bust, push and blackjack. If your cards are closer to 21 than the dealers you win the hand. If the dealers hand is closer you lose. If both your hands are equal you push. If you exceed 21 you bust and lose even if the dealer busts.
Then comes the best hand of all, blackjack. When you receive a 10 and an Ace you have hit blackjack. Blackjack usually pays 3 to 2 and is only countered by the dealer also having blackjack resulting in a push.
Standard Payouts For Blackjack Games
These are the standard payoffs for blackjack.
- A Win is paid 1 to 1
- Blackjack is paid 3 to 2
- Insurance is paid 2 to 1
Options After the Initial Deal
Hit (Take another card)
You can receive another card as many times as you like however if the card you are dealt pushes you over 21 you have a busted hand and have lost.
Stand (Stay with the original two cards)
If you select to stand you get no more cards and the dealers face down card is revealed. You then find out if your hand has won, lost or pushed.
Double Down (Double you bet and get one more card)
When you select to double down your initial bet is doubled and you receive one more card. You cannot double down more than once per hand
Split (Divide your hand into two different hands)
If you receive two cards of the same value you can elect to split the hand. Your initial bet is then placed on both hands and you can continue from there.
Insurance
If the dealers upcard is an ace you are offered the chance to bet on whether the face down card is a 10. This usually pays 2 to 1 and is normally only a bet that is half of your initial bet. |
