Basic Blackjack Rules

For card players, Blackjack is one of the most popular and exciting games at casinos. Indeed its beauty lies in its simplicity. Blackjack is all about reaching the target of 21 and of course to beat the dealer’s hand. This game certainly requires patience and understanding, but eventually it too can be mastered.

The rules are your tools

Blackjack players have learned that the rules of Blackjack provide many opportunities to win more regularly. Indeed to this end, the rules must not be seen as constraints, but rather as opportunities to beat the house and walk away with a nifty bankroll. Success begins with the learning process.

First up, players receive their chips at the buy-in. They place bets and the dealer hands out 2 cards to the player and 2 cards to him/herself. One of the dealer’s cards is face down however. Next up is decision-making time. The dealer’s face-up card is the only indication a player will have about what to do next (barring of course the player’s own cards).

Understanding the elements of the game

Blackjack consists of between one and eight decks of playing cards. Card values depend on whether they’re face cards or number cards. All numbered cards are worth their pre-stated value and the royals (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) each have a value of 10. Aces are able to assume a value of either 1 or 11 – this of course depends entirely on the player.

Players throw around a few words which have become the standard lingo in the game. They’re easy to remember and most of them are already well known:

Hit – requesting another card from the dealer

Hold – selecting specific cards that you wish to hold

Fold – throwing in your hand

Stand – Sticking with the hand you have

Split – With two cards of equal value, you can opt to play two separate hands simultaneously and the dealer will hand out two more cards to you

Double Down – This doubles your initial bet, plus you get one more card, after which you will stand

Insurance – these bets protect you when a dealer’s face-up card is an Ace

Many blackjack tables have a rule where the dealer will stand on 17, or alternatively a dealer will hit soft on 17. This simply states that the dealer will continue to draw cards until 17 is reached, or he/she goes bust. Blackjack has a 7% house advantage without basic strategy and a 0.5% house advantage with basic strategy.