Number cards: The number is the value of the card. Face cards: The value of face cards is 10. Ace: Either 1 or 11. It is counted as 11 (. . . generally) unless it would put you over 21, in which case it counts as 1. Therefore, an ace and a ten card are 21 in two cards, which is Blackjack/Natural. A hand containing an ace is called “soft” hand.
Hit: Get another card. You are able to hit until you go over 21. Stand: Keep your current cards and do nothing. You do not receive more cards. There are also a few extra possibilities you can use for certain hands: Taking insurance: This is only available when the dealer is showing an ace. You place a new bet that will then pay at 2-1 if the dealer does indeed have a blackjack. You lose your other bet (which would pay 1-1) but win the insurance, resulting in breaking even. [4] X Research source Double Down: You double your bet, and get only one more card. This is generally only used when your initial two cards equal 8-11 or soft 12 to soft 19. [5] X Research source Split: Make two hands from one hand, if both cards are the same value. Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are usually counted as 10 each. If both of your hands win, you get double the amount of money. If only one wins, you break even. If both hands lose, you lose double the money. Split the hands by separating the cards and placing a duplicate bet. [6] X Research source Surrender: In many casinos, you can (before playing and after determining if the dealer has a blackjack) choose to give up half of your bet without playing. [7] X Research source Surrender is only desirable when the dealer is showing a 9-A, and the player has a 5-7 or 12-16. When the dealer has an ace, he or she automatically checks to see if a blackjack is had. Early surrender is when you opt out of half your bet before the dealer checks for a blackjack on their behalf. [8] X Research source
The dealer will go around the players until each one decides to stand. they then play their own hand, which determines the outcome of the game. Obviously, each hand is different. Generally, players using copy the dealer hit on 16 or less. This is a bad strategy. The never bust strategy is a little better, but it is still a bad strategy. [1] X Research source The casino’s greatest advantage (the “house edge”) is that the player has to act first. If a player “busts” (goes over 21), the casino immediately takes the player’s money. If the casino then “busts” on the same hand, the player still loses. The dealer is the last one to play the hand.
Casinos have varying rules on insurance, splitting, and doubling down when it comes to how and when you can do it. Your dealer will surely let you know it if comes to this. For example, some casinos won’t let you split a third Ace; for surrendering, some abide by early or late surrender only. [1] X Research source
When making an insurance bet,[10] X Research source you are betting that the dealer’s hole card is a 10, Jack, Queen or King. There are 13 potential ranks of cards in the deck. You have less than a 1 and 3 chance of it paying. The best time to make an insurance bet is when the count is (whatever you found it to be. ) If the dealer turns out to have a blackjack, you will have a “push” (tie) with the dealer; your insurance bet will pay 2-1 which pays better than the original bet of 3-2! When doubling down, you only get one card. [11] X Research source You may not like the hand you end up with. In fact, that is what the casino is counting on! Never double down if the dealer is an ace or a face card (unless you have 11). Splitting can turn an excellent hand into a terrible one, and vice versa. [12] X Research source Here are some rules of thumb: Never split 5’s – your total is 10; you are likely to end strong. Always split 8’s and Aces. Splitting 8’s will change probable losers to probable winners. Splitting Aces is advantageous, but understand this: You are only allowed to split Aces once (sometimes), and you can only take one card for each new hand (sometimes. ) Some casinos did this because splitting Aces, without any restriction, is a great advantage. Once you have “surrendered” your hand, the dealer’s actions are unimportant (to you). If the dealer’s hand goes sour, you have already given up.
Casinos have caught onto this however, and most now use multiple decks in the shoe or cut the deck or both. With six decks in play and more cards taken out, it’s not likely with low penetration to track the number of good cards in the deck. Because of this, card counting will not be outlined here. Refer to wikiHow’s card counting page if you’re interested in the details.
If you’re a newbie to the blackjack game, you may want to avoid the seat on the far left of the table (third base. ) Since this is the spot that comes right before the dealer, you’re likely to get a lot of heat if you’re the reason the dealer turns up a 5, or any good card for themselves, though you may be congratulated if you make the dealer bust. Though obviously not logical, no one said humans, and gamblers especially, ever were. [1] X Research source
For hitting, either tap the table with a finger or two or scrape the table with the edge of your cards. For standing, place your chips on top of your cards, face down or wave your hand palm down horizontally over your cards. For splitting, add another bet and point 2 fingers. For doubling down, add another bet to your betting box and point 1 finger. [1] X Research source
You should take into account both your cards and their cards. If you have sixteen and the dealer is showing a six, stand. They have to take a card unless the have an A. But if you have sixteen and the dealer is showing a 7. . . well, that decision is up to you. If you’re alone at a table or with a friendly group, people and/or the dealer will probably be happy to give you advice if you ask.
A good rule of thumb is to up your bet in increments. If you win two $5 bets and then lose a $10 bet, you’re still even! When your winning streak stops, resume your initial minimum bet until the table goes hot again.
