Black Jack Tutorial
Blackjack, or 21, is a card game played in casinos and on the Internet. In casinos, it is played at crescent shaped tables that seat up to six players and a dealer. Opening bets for blackjack range from $1 to $5,000. The object of the game is to beat the dealer's hand without going over 21. Blackjack rules are simple, while strategy is important and easy to build upon.
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Instructions
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Each player will have his own circle. Read the various tables to find the minimum bet and table rules.
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Choose a table; pick a dealer enjoying himself. Sit down.
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Buy chips from the dealer. Watch the dealer place chips in front of you, count them with your eyes as he counts (you are not allowed to touch the chips until he has placed them on the table for you).
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Place a wager; move the chips you are betting to the circle in front of you. Wait as the dealer deals two cards face up to each player and one card face down and one card face up to himself.
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Look at your cards; compare to the dealer's showing card, think about what his hidden card could be. Count face cards (jacks, queens and kings) as 10 points; number cards as their number value; and aces as either 1 or 11, whichever works best with your hand. Wait for your turn and tap your finger on table if you want to hit (take another card) or place your hand, palm down, over your cards without touching them to stand (stop receiving cards).
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Split cards if you were dealt two identical cards and would like to turn them into two hands (you can only do this with two identical cards). Place an extra wager to let the dealer know you want to split, the dealer will deal one card to complete each of the two hands. Play both hands just as you play a single hand, one at a time.
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Beat the dealer and win if you get natural blackjack (an ace and a 10 or face card on the first two dealt cards), if the dealer busts (gets more than 21) or if your cards total more points than the dealer's cards, without going over 21. Lose if you bust (go over 21) or if both you and the dealer bust (this is considered the house advantage); Lose if the dealer gets 21 or if the the dealer's cards total more points than yours, without going over 21. Tie (or push) if you and the dealer both get blackjack. You are playing against the dealer only and no one else at the table.
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Win one and a half times your bet if you get natural blackjack. Win your original bet back in the case of a push. Win one times your bet in every other case.
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Double down only if you like to take a chance. Because you can only take one more card and you are doubling your wager, there is a higher possibility of losing those extra chips. Double your original bet to double down. Wait for the dealer to give you one more card and then stand (stop).
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Tips & Warnings
You can practice playing blackjack on the Internet or by playing with other people and a deck of cards.
Before actually playing, watch the game at the table you are interested in. Watching the game will familiarize you with game play, the dealer's rules and hand signals.
Splitting cards and doubling down is not required or always wise, choose carefully.
A hard hand is one in which an ace is counted as a 1; A soft hand is one in which an ace is counted as an 11.
If the dealer's showing card is an ace, she will offer insurance. If you accept insurance and the dealer has a natural blackjack, you win. According to Michael Bluejay's Vegasclick.com: "How to Play Blackjack," you should never accept insurance.
Make a plan and stick to it, a lot of money can be lost if you are not careful when betting. Never bet more than you can afford.
Gambling can become addicting.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Blackjack image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com blackjack 1 image by dbvirago from Fotolia.com
