How to Deal Blackjack
Blackjack is a classic gambling game and is also known as 21. The rules are simple enough, but you should understand the subtleties to play the game like a professional.
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Instructions
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1
Deal each player 2 cards face down for a "pitch" game; give yourself 1 card face-up and 1 card facedown. Players' cards are dealt face up in "shoe" games, and the players cannot touch their cards. Either way, you should have 1 card showing and 1 card facedown (known as the "hole" card).
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2
Check your card that's showing for an Ace, a 10 or a face card. If you have one of these, announce "Insurance." This allows players to place an extra wager, up to half of the original bet, that will pay out 2 to 1 in the event you get blackjack.
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3
Look at your hole card. If you have blackjack, announce it immediately. If the dealer hits blackjack, the house wins unless a player also gets a blackjack. In that case, the hand is a push.
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4
Finish each player's hand per their request, starting with the player on your left. If the player wants a hit, give her a card. Continue giving the player cards until she indicates that she wants to stay or until she exceeds 21 and loses (known as a "bust").
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Give a player 2 more cards - 1 for each new hand - if they want to split their hand. A player can only split when their first 2 cards are of the same value, and they must place another wager equal to the first.
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Hit a player with only 1 more card if they say they want to double down. Doubling down means that the player places an extra bet and receives only 1 card after that.
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7
Play out the rest of your hand after you have finished the other players' hands.
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8
Continue giving yourself cards until you have reached 17. Once the value of your cards totals at least 17, you must stop taking cards.
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9
Assess which players' hands, if any, beats yours. A player wins by being closer to 21 than you without going over. Pay out one to one on winning hands.
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Tips & Warnings
Pay out 3 to 2 on a player's winning blackjack.
Some casinos play with the rule that the dealer hits on soft 17. An example of a soft 17 would be Ace and 6 or Ace, 2 and 4. When this is the case, you would have to hit soft 18 or hard 17.
