How To Play Blackjack: Etiquette and Tips

If you are just beginning then make sure to read this article. I'll teach you the basics of the game so you won't look like a novice or make novice mistakes. It covers Blackjack etiquette and basic game-play tips. Playing online is always fun and maybe not a bad idea, but if you'd rather play online, then many of the things covered here will not apply to you.

First thing first. To play Blackjack just find yourself a casino, walk in and pick a table. When gambling in a casino you use cash money or chips to bet. If you didn't buy some chips from the cashier you can buy some from the dealer. Just wait until the current round is over, use just one hand to place your money on the table and ask to buy in. The dealer will then take your money and spread it on the table for the cameras to see. If you have a large bankroll he may even inform the pit boss. Then he will give you the chips, the same value as your cash money. Make sure not to place your cash in the betting area. This will be interpreted as a bet and you will be dealt cards. You'll then have to play one hand with your entire bankroll.

Remember that casinos do not know you are a beginner. They try to prevent cheating as much as possible, so they treat everybody as they were a slight of hand expert. That is why you are allowed to place only one hand at a time on the Blackjack table. Also, because the dealer can hear you but the cameras don't, they expect you to express your intentions with words as well as hand gestures. This means that every time you want to do something you have to say it out loud for the dealer to hear, and make the generally accepted hand gesture for the cameras. The spoken part is easy. If you want to hit, just say "Hit". If you want to stand, just say "Stand". Scratching the table with your fingers or cards means that you want to hit. Waving your hand on top of your cards means you want to stand.

Before the game begins the dealer will make sure that all players that want to play have placed their bets. All tables have a betting minimum, so you must place at least that much money in order to play. All bets are placed in the betting area, which is usually a circle or square on the table, right in front of you. Remember the one hand rule that casinos have. Place your bet with only one hand and touch your cards also with only one hand. If you are dealt your cards face up you are not allowed to touch them at all. Watch the other players at the table and how they play. A picture is worth a thousand words, and watching more experienced players gambling may prove to be a good way to learn.

After all bets have been placed the game begins. The dealer will start dealing cards clockwise, beginning from his left. The first person to be dealt a card is known as the "first baseman", and the player to be dealt last is known as the "third baseman". There can be up to 8 players at the table, but the last one is still called a "third baseman".

The dealer will give all the players at the table including himself one card at a time until all the players have two cards in front of them. This is when you have to make a decision. According to what card you have been dealt you can hit, stand, split or double down your hand.

The general belief is that the goal of the game is to get a card total as close as possible to 21 without going over. In fact, the true goal of the game is to beat the dealer. You will win with a lousy hand totaling 9 if the dealer busts, but you will lose with a great hand totaling 20 if the dealer has 21. This is the most important thing to remember when playing Blackjack.

If you have read and understood these simple facts then you are ready to move on to bigger things.