#223 - How to Play Blackjack

How to Play Blackjack

The first thing you do after getting your chips is place a bet You do this by placing chips in front of you. Most casinos have a circle where you put your wager. After you place your bet the dealer gives you two cards and also deals him or herself two cards. The dealers cards are placed one face up and one face down. The combined information of your two cards and the dealers up card help you make the best decision on how to play your hand. You have the following choices on how to play your hand.
Stand - When you stand that means you don't take any more cards. When playing live blackjack you can say stand or stay or you can pass your hand over your cards palm down to signal that you stand.
Hit - When you hit the dealer gives you another card. In live play you can say hit or hit me or tap the table or scratch the table back towards yourself away from the dealer.
Split - When your first two cards are of the same value, for example a pair of eights or two ten value cards like a Jack and a King, you may split these into two separate hands. You do this by pushing a bet forward equal to your original bet and splitting your cards. The dealer then deals you a second card onto each hand.
Double Down - When you double down you double your original bet and receive only one more card and then must stand. Some casinos allow you to double down after splitting while others do not.
Surrender - (Not available at all casinos.) When you surrender, you forfeit your hand after seeing your first two cards and the dealers up card and you get back half your bet.
Insurance - When the dealers up card is an Ace, you have the option to place an insurance bet. If you place an insurance bet and the dealer has a natural blackjack, or 21, you win on your insurance bet.

Blackjack Dealer Rules

The dealer must follow a strict set of rules on the play of his or her hand. These rules are posted on the blackjack table. They will say something like "Dealer stands on all 17's" or "Dealer hits on soft 17's." The dealer must draw, or hit, until they either have 17 or higher or bust.

Simple How to Play Blackjack Rules

Blackjack is by far one of the most popular and exciting games at the casino. But if you do not know how to play you will learn soon enough that this game can be frustrating and annoying as well. Fortunately, learning to play blackjack is one of the easiest things you will ever do if you are willing to pick up on the basics and then advance your strategy as you continue to play. Once you learn how to correctly approach a game of blackjack you will put yourself in position to regularly win.
To start, you need to become familiar with the blackjack table. This is the table that you will be sitting at while playing, so you want to learn as much about it as you can. You will quickly realize that the shape of a blackjack is a half circle. You and any other players will be sitting on the “curved side” and the dealer will be directly across from you. The layout of the table is self-explanatory. There is a betting circle for each player at the table, as well as a listing of the house rules. It is important to read the rules before sitting down so you are aware of exactly what you are getting involved with. For instance, the rules may state the minimum bet as well as details on when the dealer draws and stands.
One of the most important aspects of blackjack is the betting limits. You will find tables with a minimum bet of $1 as well as some that require a bet of $100 or more. Believe it or not, there are also “high roller” blackjack tables with a minimum bet of $5k. If you are going to play at these tables you better know exactly what you are doing.
The act of playing a hand of blackjack is simple. You have one goal and one goal only: to beat the dealer. If you do this you are a winner for that particular hand. There are two ways to beat the dealer: get closer to 21 than him without busting or the dealer goes over 21 and you don’t. Either way, you are a winner.
Now that you know how to beat the dealer, the other important detail is based around the value of the cards. In blackjack, all numbered cards are worth their value. Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth 10, and you can use an Ace as either 1 or 11 depending on what will work best for your current hand.
With the basics in mind the last step in playing blackjack is going to the casino and finding a table that meets your needs. Remember to know the rules and table limits before sitting down. There is nothing more embarrassing than sitting down just to find that you do not have enough money to make a bet.
It is easy to learn how to play blackjack. The basics will get you started, and as you continue to play your strategy will grow.

excerpt from: howtoplayblackjack.org