Blackjack Rules that Help You To Place Your Bets

The goal of the game is to beat the dealer's hand without going over 21. You should always remember that each player only competes against the dealer.

The game progresses like this: all players must place their bets in the designated area so the cards can be dealt. After all bets are down the dealer will deal two cards for each player and two for him. In some casinos player's cards are dealt face up, in other face down. The dealer deals for him the cards one face up and one face down.

Value of the cards:

- Face cards (kings, queens and jacks) count as 10;

- Aces count as one or 11 (as the player chooses, whichever is more advantageous);

- All other cards are counted at their face value;


After all the players get their two cads they must make a playing decision. Depending on their cards and on the dealers face up card they may choose to hit, stand, double down, split or surrender.


Blackjack - The best winning hand and which is paid 3:2 for the player is a blackjack. A blackjack hand can be made only of the first two cards dealt and must contain a Ace and a 10 or a face card. If the dealer will have also a blackjack, the hand is declared a push or a tie, which means that nobody wins and the player will get his bet back.


Hit - This means you want the dealer to give you another card. In most games you'll play (shoe games) indicate to the dealer that you want a hit by making a beckoning motion with your finger or tapping the table behind your cards with your finger. In hand held games, scratch the edges of the cards in your hand lightly on the felt. If the player hits and busts (goes over 21), he immediately turns her cards over and her wager is lost.


Stand - This means you are satisfied with the total of the hand and don't want additional cards. In shoe games, indicate that you want to stand by waving your hand over the cards. In hand held games, tuck your cards under the chips that you have in the betting box.


Double Down - This playing option allows you to double your bet in return for receiving one and only one draw card. In most casinos you can only double down after you receive your first two cards and before drawing another card. To signal the dealer that you want to double down just place your chip next to the original chip bet on the hand and the dealer will give you a final card perpendicular to your other cards (shoe games) or toss your cards on the table face-up in hand held games and then make the secondary bet.The option of doubling usually is done if you are dealt an 11 or a 10, so your next card will most likely bring you to a 21 or 20. Always take into account the dealers up-card, if they are showing busting cards it is a good idea to double down even if your total is as little as 9.


Splitting Pairs - If the players first two cards are of equal point value he may split them and play each card as a separate hand. The player indicates that he wishes to split by placing another chip next to the original chip without touching the cards or the original bet. He must place for the second hand another bet equal to his original bet. Than the player will receive an additional card for each hand. First he will play the hand on his right, until he stands, busts or passes and after the one on his left. If the player has two Aces he may split them, but often he will receive only one more card for each hand, and if he will get a ten as the second card next to an ace, that hand wont be considered a Blackjack. These hands can beat a dealer hand if the point value total is 21, but lose if the dealer has a Blackjack and only pays even money if the player wins. Also ten value cards can be split, however the player should not split ten cards because the total value hand is 20 and he has good chances of winning.


Insurance - If the dealer's face up card is an Ace, than he will ask the players if they want to make the insurance wager. This is a side bet, meaning that the players bet that the dealer's hole card is a ten. The players can bet the equal value of their original bet and if they win the insurance bet pays off at 2 to 1. However, the players will need to beat the dealer's hand. Simple rule: never take insurance. It may be taken as a gesture of bad faith by the rest of the table, and statistically it is rarely an intelligent move.


Surrender - This playing option sometimes is permitted in casinos. After receiving his two cards, if the player does not like his prospects, feeling that he will not be able to beat the dealer, he may announce surrender. The dealer will remove his cards from the table and half of his bet. After that, the player will no longer be involved in that round. The player must announce his decision of surrendering before the dealer will deal the first hand and after he checks his cards for a Blackjack, known as 'late surrender'. Usually to choose surrender is a pretty silly move, and far from manly.