How to Win at Blackjack
Blackjack is a card game in which the player aims to have a higher total than the dealer without exceeding 21. The cards are valued according to their number (2-10) and the face cards (Jack, Queen, King) count as 10. Aces can either be valued as 1 or 11 depending on the player’s choice.
Before the game begins players place a bet in the betting areas marked on the table. Each player then receives two cards whilst the dealer holds one card facing up. If the first two cards add up to 21 – an Ace and a card of 10 – it is called a blackjack or natural, and the player wins a payout of 3 to 2 on the original bet. Usually the suits of the cards are irrelevant, but some casinos have rules regarding splitting and splitting is not allowed at all.
Once all the players have played their hands the dealer will draw another card for his or her hand and compare it to the players’ hands. If the dealer has a higher hand than the player, they win and their original bet is paid out; if the dealer’s hand has a value closer to 21 than the player’s, it is a tie.
The players may also choose to take insurance, which is a side bet that pays 2-1 if the dealer has blackjack. This is a good option for players who believe they can beat the dealer’s hand, but do not want to risk their original bet.
After the players have acted, the dealer will take his or her turn; they must hit if their hand is 16 or lower and stand if it has a value of 17 or more. If the dealer busts, all players who didn’t bust will win their bet back and a matching amount from the dealers bank.
Some players will double down after receiving their initial two cards; this increases the size of the original bet by up to twice, though it is not always possible depending on the casino and the dealer’s up card. This is generally considered a weak play, as it is very likely that the dealer will bust and you will lose your original bet.
Other players will split if they receive two cards of the same rank; this is done by separating your pointer and middle fingers into a “V” shape, placing them on the table to indicate to the dealer that you are splitting. This is not guaranteed to work, however, and a player should never split a pair of aces unless the casino allows it. Usually, only two cards of the same rank can be split; for example, a King and a Jack. It is also important to note that splitting aces does not count as a blackjack in terms of payout; it will only push if the dealer has a blackjack. This is because it is not a single hand of 21, but two separate, independent hands.