Blackjack Rules In Blackjack, everyone plays against the dealer (the house). Your goal is to draw cards with a value as close to 21 as possible without going over. A hand that goes over 21 is a bust or break . The players at a blackjack table do not play against each other, they play against the dealer. Each player only has to beat the dealer's hand to Win. You do this in one of two ways: 1 Have a card total value greater than that of the dealer and not "bust". 2 Win "by default” if the dealer "busts. When you approach a casino blackjack table, look for the minimum and maximum bet placard. The minimum bet is printed on a sign on the Blackjack table and varies from casino to casino and from table to table. For example Minimum $5, Maximum $500. Blackjack Table Layout Find an appropriate bet-limit table and find an available seat you like. Sit down and wait for the current hand to be finished. Before the next hand starts, place your cash on the table in front of you (NOT in the "betting circle” or "betting square", where you place your bets) – and say: "Change, please.” The dealer will understand this to mean you want to join the game. The dealer will then take your cash, count it, spread it on the table so that the Pit Boss can see it, announce the amount, and then convert the amount of the cash into an equivalent amount of playing chips, in various denominations. Place a bet with the chips in the designated area. The dealer then begins the game. Depending on how many people are playing, the dealer will deal each player two cards (face up). The dealer is also dealt two cards, one face up, and one face down. (The dealers faced down card is referred to as the "hole card.") Once the cards are dealt to all the players, the dealer then looks to the first player on his or her left and moves in a circle for each player to make a decision regarding their hand. When you receive your first two cards, you may either "Stand", "Hit”, "Double” or "Split”. When you "Stand" it means you feel you are close enough to 21 and no longer wish any additional cards. On the other hand you may wish to receive another card or "Hit". See the detailed explainations of all the options below. Once all the players have completed their hands, it's now the dealers turn to play his or her hand. The dealer starts with the reveal of the "Hole Card" (the dealers faced down card) and acts on the hand according to the rules of the game. If these two cards add up to 16 or less, the dealer must "Hit" until reaching 17 or more. If the two cards add up to 17 to 21, the dealer must "Stand". Just like the players, the dealer will bust if he/she exceeds 21. Beware: Some Blackjack tables are designated as "must hit soft 17". At such a blackjack table, the dealer must draw on all soft 17 hands until he or she obtains a point total of a hard 17 or higher. All blackjack tables will clearly state the soft 17 rule. At the conclusion of each round of play, the dealer will collect all losing wagers and pay off all winning wagers. All winning wagers are paid 1 to 1 with the exception of Blackjack which is paid at 3 to 2 or 6 to 5. The payoff odds for a blackjack will be clearly printed on each table game layout. Example it might say "Blackjack pays 3:2." Blackjack Terms: "Change please" - This is a way of asking the dealer to convert your cash into playing chips. "Stand” - (take no more cards) "Hit” - (draw additional cards) Hand Signals – Nonverbal communication between the player and the dealer to indicate "hit” or "stand.” Blackjack Card Values Numbered Cards Cards numbered 2 - 10 are worth their face value. Blackjack Card Values Face Cards Face Cards (Kings, Queens & Jacks) are worth 10 points each. Aces The Ace is worth either 1 or 11 (whichever is more beneficial for your hand) The odds of getting a card with a value of 10 is higher than any other card in Blackjack Blackjack Rules In Blackjack, the hand with the highest total wins as long as it doesn't exceed 21. A hand with a value over 21 is called a "Bust” or "Break" and it is an automatic loser. Queens, Kings, Jacks and 10s count as 10. An Ace's value is 11 unless this would cause the player to bust, in which case it is worth 1. All other cards are played at their face value. A hand in which an Ace's value is counted as 11 is called a Soft hand, because it cannot be busted if the player draws another card. When an ace is counted as one point, this is called a Hard hand. Common Blackjack Mistakes to Avoid If the table is designated a must-hit-soft-17 Blackjack game, the dealer must draw on all soft 17 hands until he or she obtains a point total of a hard 17 or higher. The best possible hand in Blackjack is a combination of an Ace with a 10-card or a face card. This is an automatic 21, when counting the Ace as an 11, and is called, "Blackjack", or a Natural. It cannot be beaten, unless the dealer has the same, which would be a Push, a tie. In a push, the player receives the bet back. Blackjack Terms: "Bust” or "Break” - (a hand thgoes over 21) "Push” - tie with the dealer (Nobody wins and nobody loses) Blackjack Playing Options In the game of Blackjack, the player has many options to choose from. To increase your chances of winning, or winning a bigger payout, it's important to understand the various player options. Remember you as a player have all the options and the house has none. Stand When you Stand in Blackjack, your intention is to "stay" with the original two cards you have been dealt, and don’t need another card for the current hand in progress. To Stand or Not to Stand In Blackjack there are only 2 good reasons to stand on your hand. 1 When you believe that your total will beat the dealer's total. 2 When you believe that the dealer will bust. Always remember that a dealer must hit on 16 and stand on 17 or more. Learn Blackjack Basic Strategy to understand scenarios when you need to Stand on a (Soft Hand and Hard Hand) Stand in Blackjack Blackjack hand gestures: "STAND" - To indicate this, you simply extend your palm over the cards, and slightly wave your hand from side-to-side. This indicates to the dealer that you are satisfied with the cards you already have, and do not wish to do anything else. The dealer will then move on to the next player, in turn. Please Note: Once you've made the decision to "Stand", you CANNOT go back and change your mind, after the dealer has already moved on. Hit "Hit" is your intention is to "draw more cards". You "Hit" when you feel your hand is not close enough to 21 and you need to draw additional cards. Hit Me! Hit when the dealer shows a 10 - If the dealer shows a 10 and your total is 16, you have to Hit. (Always assume the dealers face down is a 10) Hit on a Soft 17 - A lot of players make this mistake because the general rule is to Stand on Hard 17. However on a Soft 17 (Ace and a 6 card), the Ace makes all the difference. Don't get carried away with Hitting. See Blackjack Basic Strategy for tips on when to Hit and when to Stand. Hit in Blackjack Blackjack hand gestures: "HIT" - If you’re holding your cards, simply scrape your cards on the table gently to ask for another card. If your cards are face-up, you can either touch your finger on the table or use your hand to wave towards yourself. This indicates to the dealer that you want another card, and he or she will then deal you one card from the shoe, face up, and place it next to your original two cards. You now have to make a decision, on whether to "Stand" or "Hit again". Beware: If the additional card(s) causes your total to exceed 21, you bust and are out of the game. Double-Down After receiving your first two cards, or on the first two cards of any split pair, you may "double down" if you have two cards whose total value can be much improved by just one good hit (usually cards whose initial combined value is either "10” or "11”). When should you Double Down (Hard Hand) Double down when you have a hand of 11 and the dealer shows anything from 2-10 Double down when you have a hand of 10 and the dealer shows anything from 2-9 Double down when you have a hand of 9 and the dealer shows anything less than 7 See Blackjack Basic Strategy for Double Down scenarios for a (Soft Hand) Blackjack hand gestures: "DOUBLE DOWN" - The way to signal that you want to "double down" is to place the extra chips next to your initial bet or simply say to the dealer: "Double-Down, please". When you say this, the dealer will then ask you to place an additional wager, equivalent to the amount of your original bet next to that original bet, and then deal you one additional card. Splitting Pairs If your first two cards are of equal value, you have the option of "splitting" them into two separate hands. For example, two Aces – you can "split" them into two separate hands, and play them both for the round. To Split or Not to Split Don't Split two 10's - Two 10's is a very good hand. Remember your aim in Blackjack is to get as close to 21 as possible. Never Split two 4's - The reason is simple, if you play the 4's as one hand, it's highly unlikely that you will Bust. The highest you can get is an Ace, giving you a pretty decent hand of 19. Never Split two 5's - A hand with a pair of 5's gives the value of 10. This is a good hand to get you in the high value range of 18-21 with a Hit. Always Split two Aces - If you don’t split your aces, one is given a value of one and the other a value of 11. Playing 2 Aces as one hand starts you off with a value of 12, with the only option of being dealt a 9 to make 21. Now, if you split the Aces you will have 4 ways to get a 21 in either hand (by being dealt a 10, Jack, Queen or King) Always Split two 8's - Statistically the worst hand in Blackjack is a value of 16 because anything above a five will bust you. Splitting two 8's gives you a much better chance of winning with at least one hand rather than standing with a 16 or risking a Bust by taking another Hit. There is more to "SPLIT PAIRS". Check out the Blackjack Basic Strategy for Splitting Pairs for other PAIRS scenarios Blackjack hand gestures: "SPLIT PAIRS" - If you would like to split two same-value cards, all you have to do is place another bet with the same value, but put your chips down in an area away from the original betting box and hold up your index and middle finger. Alternatively you can simply say to the dealer: "Split, please". The dealer will then separate the two original cards, place them side-by-side, and then ask you to make a second wager on the second hand. The wager on the second hand must equal the original wager. Once you make that wager, you are now playing two hands. Note: Pairs may be split three times for a total of four hands, except for Aces that may only be split once. Blackjack Outcomes Bust You "Bust" in Blackjack when you draw more cards to your hand (by asking to "hit”) and the combined total value exceeds "21”. When you "Bust", you lose your wager and that round is over for you. Push A "push" happens when both you and the dealer have the SAME total value of all cards. For example, if your total is, say, 18, and the dealer has the same total of 18, then neither you nor the dealer win or lose. It’s a "push”, a sort of "stand-off” where you don’t lose, and don’t win, and neither does the dealer. If you "push” ANY hand, you can either leave the same wager for the next hand, or change the amount of that wager for the next hand, or remove all your wagers altogether, and even leave the game. Insurance Insurance is a side bet protecting you against the possibility that the dealer has a blackjack. If the dealer's "up card" is an Ace, you may make an additional wager known as Insurance. You can bet only half your original bet. If the dealer does have a Blackjack, your original bet loses and the insurance is paid 2 to 1. If the dealer doesn't have a Blackjack, he takes the insurance bet and the game continues as normal. Surrender In Blackjack, players have the option of surrendering one half of their original wager after receiving their first two cards. If you surrender your cards, the dealer will take half of your wager. (Note: the Surrender option is not available on the Double Deck game.) Test your knowledge of Blackjack What does the term "Blackjack" mean? A) Any combination of cards equaling 21. B) Ace + 10-value card. C) Beating the dealer with fewer cards than him. D) Beating the dealer with exactly two cards. If the dealer shows an Ace, should you make an Insurance bet? Yes No If you are dealt 16 and the dealer is showing a face card, what should you do? Stand Hit After the first split, an Ace and a Ten value card will be counted as 21, not blackjack. True False Blackjack House Edge Blackjack is a game with strategic decisions and if you’re willing to put in a little work (learning the game). Blackjack offers one of the best table game odds. Blackjack has a house edge that varies from 0.5% to 1.5%, using typical house rules. Meaning, for every dollar you gamble, you'll lose only half a penny on average. Blackjack House Advantage and Expected Loss House Advantage For Every $100 bet, the player can expect to lose Natural pays 3 to 2 0.5%-1.5% 50c - $1.50 Natural pays 6 to 5 2.0%-3.0% 2.00 - $3.00 House Advantage Explained Dealers play according to house rules for their table. Be aware that blackjack odds may vary from table to table. Feel free to ask the dealer for clarification. Winning and Losing in Blackjack If you are closer to 21 than the dealer, you win and are paid an amount equal to your original wager. If your hand is less than the dealer's, you lose. If the player busts he loses, even if the dealer also busts If the dealer's hand "busts” or "breaks”, you win. Ties are a stand-off or "push” and your bet remains on the table. If your initial two cards total 21, (this will happen if you are dealt an Ace with a 10, Jack, Queen or King), you have a blackjack or a natural. Blackjacks are paid 3 to 2 or up to 50% more than any other hand. A hand totally 21 points, but having more than two cards, loses to a two-card backjack/natural hand. Each player has an independent game with the dealer, so it is possible for the dealer to lose to one player but still beat the other players in the same round.