Blackjack - Rules of the Game

Blackjack is a fairly simple game to play. It is played with 1 to 8 decks of cards. Each deck used is an ordinary deck of 52 card in which the jokers are removed. There are 4 suits: spades, diamonds, clubs and hearts; and there are 13 cards in each suit. The suits have no intrinsic value. A King of Spades has the same value as a King of Diamonds. Face cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks) are worth 10. Other cards are worth their stated value, except for the Ace, which can be counted either as a 1 or an 11 at the players option.

Some games are hand-dealt but most are dealt from a box called a shoe.

Before the dealer starts dealing out the cards, you make a bet by placing your chips in a round circle on the table in front of your seat. Once you have made your bet, you cannot take it back off the table. You can bet any amount between the minimum and the maximum bets allowed.

First, you are dealt a card face up, then the Dealer deals himself a card face down (this is known as the dealer's hole card). Next you get another card face up, and the Dealer also gets another card, this time  it is turned face up (this is known as the dealer's up-card). So, you each have two cards, both of yours exposed for all to see, and the dealer with one exposed card and one card which is face down so you don't know what it is.

Next, you make a decision based upon your two cards and the Dealer's up-card as to what player option you want to make:

1. Hit - if you are not satisfied with your card total you can draw another card. You communicate your intention to draw a card to the dealer by either pointing to your cards or making a beckoning or light scratching motion with you fingers. You can draw as many additional cards as you wish as long as you total does not exceed 21. If your total exceeds 21, you automatically lose that hand, even if the dealer subsequently bust (or get a total over 21). You hit a hand in an attempt to improve the point total. 

2. Stand - if you are satisfied with your hand and do not wish to draw additional cards you signal the dealer by waving your hand in a left-right motion over your cards. You stand on a hand for either of two reasons: you already have a strong hand that drawing another card increases the likelihood of busting that hand or both you and the dealer have weak hands but knowing that if you draw and bust you automatically lose so you give the dealer the opportunity to bust instead)

3. Double-Down - if you believe that you will beat the dealer with just one more card you signal the dealer by placing more chips on the table equal to your original bet alongside you original wager. The dealer will then deal you one more card (and only one more card -- you can't ask for more cards). While most casinos will allow you to double-down on any initial 2 cards of a hand, some only allows you to do so on totals of 10 or 11.

4. Split - when the first 2 cards you receive are of equal value, you may chose to split them and play each as a separate hand, drawing until you are satisfied or bust. You indicate your choice by making an additional wager equal to the original bet but separate and away from it and saying "split" at the same time. You first play the card on your right then the card on you left. Most casinos with the exception of those in Atlantic City will allow you to re-split pairs. When the pair being split are aces, only one card is given for each ace.

5. Take Insurance - When the dealer shows an ace as his up-card, you will be asked if you want "insurance." This is a side bet that the dealer is holding a blackjack (i.e., his hole card is a 10 or a face card). You take insurance by sliding a bet equal to half of your original bet. Insurance is generally a lousy bet (a.k.a.  a "Sucker Bet") .

6. Surrender  - some casinos will allow you to "surrender" after both you and the dealer have been dealt two cards. This means that you do not wish to play the hand that you received. The dealer will take half of your original bet and return the other half to you. To take this option you simply say "surrender" to the dealer.

• Early Surrender - with this option the you are allowed to surrender half your bet and give up your cards before the dealer checks to see if he has a blackjack when he is holding an ace of an 10 as his up-card.

• Late Surrender - with this option you are only allowed to surrender after the dealer had verified that he is not holding a blackjack.

After you hand completed your play, then the Dealer flips over the face down card, exposing its value. If the total of the dealer's two cards does not reach 17, then the Dealer must take another card (and another and so forth) until the Dealer either reaches at least 17 or goes Bust by exceeding 21.

If you lose, the Dealer simply takes all the chips you have bet, and then you bet again and another hand is played. If you win, the Dealer returns to you your original bet plus an equal amount, i.e., if you bet $10 then you get $20 back, for a $10 profit to you.

Blackjack, 21 or Natural

If your first 2 cards are an ace and a face card or a ten (and thus equal 21), then you have what is called a "Blackjack" or a "Natural". If the Dealer doesn't also have a Blackjack, then the Dealer will return to you your original bet plus 1 and 1/2 times your original bet (a 3-to-2 pay out), i.e., if you bet $10 then you get $25 back, for a $15 profit.

If the dealer draws a Blackjack in two cards, then you automatically lose unless you too have a Blackjack (in which case you have a "Push", see below).

Push

If after the dealer had drawn (and not busted), and your card total equals that of the dealer's hand (for example, you both have 17), then the situation is known as a "Push" (essentially a tied or drawn game). In a Push, you simply get your original bet back, and neither you nor the dealer wins.

Variations in Rules

Every casino has slightly different Blackjack rules. Before you play Blackjack at any casino, you should first ask one of the Blackjack supervisors or pit bosses for the Blackjack rules (they are positively glad to provide these to gamblers as they help prevent later misunderstandings about the rules.

Note that the variations in the rules can substantially impact your long term gambling return. A casino which allows you to double down after splitting is giving you slightly better odds than a casino which doesn't -- and that "slightly better" can be very important over the long haul.

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