One of the easiest and most popular table games to understand!
For beginner blackjack players there are "shoe" games. These tables offer the begginer blackjack player the oppurtunity to ask the dealer questions as they play the game. So if you aren't sure of all the rules, the dealer is able to assist you with your blackjack inquiries and decisions. The table uses anywhere from 6-8 decks, and all of the player's cards are dealt face-up. The disadvantage of playing at the "shoe" table is that the house advantage is increased at these tables due to the fact that there are more decks in play.
Once you have decided which Blackjack table you want to play at, the next thing you will need to do is purchase your chips. (When you are playing online, you may have to do this first.) The recommended buy in for blackjack is usually anywhere from 10 to 20 times your normal bet. For example if you like to bet $2.50, you will want to make a buy in of $25- $50.
One of the advantages of blackjack is that you are only playing against the dealer. It does not matter to you what the players beside you have. The dealer's play is strictly laid out for them. The most common one is "Dealer stands on all 17s": where the blackjack dealer will have to 'hit' till they are at atleast 17, and they will have to 'stand' at 17. For this reason it does not really matter if your fellow players or the dealer see your cards.
In blackjack, the cards from 2-9 are counted as their face value. An Ace may be either 1 or 11. The 10, Jack, Queen, and King are all counted as 10. With the cards you are dealt you are going to want to get a value as close to or equal to 21 as you can get. There is no limit to the amount of cards you are dealt so long as you don't go over 21. A Blackjack, is where you get a value of 21 with your first 2 cards dealt (an ace and a 10 value card). A Blackjack beats a 21 value hand (where to make a value of 21 there are more than 2 cards in the hand).
At the start of every hand, you will be required to place your bet before the cards are dealt. The dealer will deal 2 cards to every player at the table and for himself the second card will be dealt face up.
When used properly Surrender can be a good way to save some of your money at the table. Surrender is where the player,(when dealt a really bad hand and their chances of winning are low,) may 'surrender' their cards before they go any further with their cards. (The player can't choose to 'hit' or 'stand' and then 'surrender'). When a player surrenders their cards, they will only lose half of their bet. Early Surrender is usually never offered. In 'Early Surrender' the players may surrender their cards before the dealer checks for blackjack. This obviously wouldn't be financially wise of the casinos to offer. The second variety of Surrender is 'Late Surrender'. In 'Late Surrender' they players may surrender their cards after the dealer checks for blackjack (a player will not be allowed to surrender if the dealer did have a blackjack).
After the cards are dealt, each player will be given the option to 'hit' or 'stand'. When a player has a low value hand they will usually choose to 'hit' (draw another card from the deck to their hand). Or if the player thinks that their chances of winning with what they were dealt are greater than if they were to hit, they can choose to 'stand'.
Doubling Down is another option that players have in Blackjack. Doubling down is available to players right after their 2 cards are dealt and before they go any further. (Players can't chose to hit and then double down). Doubling Down is beneficial for players when they have two cards and have a good chance of winning if they draw one more card. When doubling down the player may increase their bet up to twice their original bet, and they will only be dealt ONE more card. It is important to remember that when you are doubling down you are giving up something, so if doubling down is the right choice you should do so to maximize your total earnings by doubling your original bet.
Yet Another option to Blackjack is Splitting. When you are dealt a pair of cards (for example two 8s) you have the choice of splitting your cards. This will create 2 hands for you, to do this you will have to place another bet equal to your original bet on the table. You will play one hand till completion and then move on to the second hand. In some casinos you may also have to option to double down after a split, or even re-splitting your cards (usually up to three times to make 4 hands).
Insurance is offered when the dealer's up card is an ace. When you choose to go with the insurance you will place another bet on the table that is equal to one half of your original bet. The insurance will pay 2:1 on your second bet if the dealer does in fact have a blackjack. Then the game will continue to play out your original bet, and unless you were also dealt a blackjack you will lose your original bet. If the game played out this way you would just break even, (the reason why it is called insurance!) If the dealer did not have blackjack, you will lose your second bet and move on to play out your original bet.
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