Rules Casino Blackjack

Casino rules blackjack
  1. Blackjack is a casino game with the most favorable odds and lowest house edge. It is also the most popular table game. A typical house edge in a blackjack game is around 1% more or less, with some variations going little over one percent and some going as low as 0.4% edge edge.
  2. Blackjack is a hugely popular game and therefore has spawned countless variations and special rules sometimes exclusive to just a single casino. Below is a guide to the most common rules found in most online casinos.

Blackjack is a casino game with the most favorable odds and lowest house edge. It is also the most popular table game. A typical house edge in a blackjack game is around 1% more or less, with some variations going little over one percent and some going as low as 0.4% edge edge. This is if you play in a disciplined manner and sticking to the basics. On the other hand, if you learn some more advanced strategy, you will be able to eliminate that house edge and make some nice cash. It’s as easy as that.

Today, Blackjack is the one card game that can be found in every American gambling casino. As a popular home game, it is played with slightly different rules. In the casino version, the house is the dealer (a 'permanent bank'). In casino play, the dealer remains standing, and the players are seated. Rules Blackjack is played with one or more standard 52-card decks, with each denomination assigned a point value. The cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value. Kings, queens, and jacks are each worth 10, and aces may be used as either 1 or 11. Above, the basic rules of blackjack are described. In addition, numerous side rules allow for more intricate betting strategies. These side rules can only be used immediately after the deal, before you take any more cards. You cannot, for example, take a third card and then decide to double down.

It’s amazing that there are players that are apparently too lazy to spend a minute or two and go the extra mile to learn a proper blackjack strategy, one that can bring them steady profit on the long run. It’s like throwing money away, when you can do the opposite.

In blackjack the rules are very easy to follow. There are a couple of logical options that you can take advantage of in order to beat the dealer’s hand, and you can read about them further in this article. We are certain that you will have no problems in learning this fast-paced and exciting casino game.

Blackjack Rules

Below are the basic rules that you will need to know if you want to properly learn how to play blackjack. They are used across different blackjack variations as the basis, with some minor altered features that make the variation unique in itself.

  • Blackjack games are usually played with multiple decks up to 8, although there are single deck blackjack variations. All use 52 card decks.
  • To win you need to have a higher ranking hand than the dealer as closest to 21 without exceeding 21. If the dealer busts, all remaining players at the table win.
  • At most blackjack variations the dealer hits on soft 17s.
  • The standard payout for hitting a blackjack is 3 to 2.
  • Cards are valued according to their face values. King, Queen and Jack and Ten are valued ten.
  • Aces are valued either 1 or 11, whatever benefits the player presently.
  • Winning hands are paid 1 to 1 (wager $5, win $5).
  • Splitting is allowed only with up to 3 hands.
  • If you or the dealer goes over 21 it’s a bust.
  • The suits of the cards have no meaning in blackjack, only their values.
  • If you and the dealer both have a two card blackjack, it’s a tie.
  • If you have a two card natural blackjack, while the dealer has a blackjack with more than 2 cards, you win with a 3 to 2 payoff.

The Basics of Blackjack

Rules Casino Blackjack

Objective of the Game

All blackjack variations have the same objective, to beat the dealer’s hand either by hitting a blackjack or having a better hand. You have to draw cards until you can safely decide that you are as close as you can get to 21. You cannot go over 21 or you will lose.

If there are other players at the table like in playing at live online casinos, you don’t have to compete against them. Your only opponent is the dealer, and the dealer plays against all players at the same time. The great thing with the different variations is that they include an additional twist to the game regarding the blackjack or some other added feature.

Card Values

All cards in blackjack are valued according to their face value. So, cards from 2 to 9 are valued accordingly, while 10s, Jacks, Queens and Kings are valued 10. Aces have two values, 1 or 11, and you can use whichever you like according to your hand.

Blackjack

When to Split

When you have two identical cards, for example, two 8s, you can choose to split them into two separate hands that will be counted as additional wagers. This is useful with identical cards that make a risky hand like with the 8s (8 + 8 = 16, a difficult and unfavorable hand).

When to Stand

So, let’s say you’ve been dealt your hand, and the cards dealt are 10 and 2, which makes a total value of 12. This is a risky hand, but you will need to take an additional card in order to get closer to 21. If your third card is anything below 9, including 9, the obvious choice would be to stand and not request a fourth card.

Surrender

Surrender is an option found in Blackjack Surrender and is given to you if the dealer has been dealt an Ace. The Ace would be the face up card. In a situation like this you can surrender half of your bet and lose without risking the entire bet by going against the dealer with the risk of him having a blackjack.

Double Down

Also, you can double down your bet by pressing the ‘double’ button. This option is used when you want another card at the risk of doubling your bet with the hope that you will have a strong hand with the additional card.

Blackjack Variations

Online casinos offer various blackjack variations to choose from, and sometimes you come to the point when you are hesitant about which game is best for you. These blackjack games are all unique variations designed by big software providers like Playtech, known for its Blackjack Surrender, Blackjack Switch, Progressive Blackjack etc., Microgaming, Betsoft, Rival, RTG and other. All of them have their own variations.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter what blackjack variation you find since all of them are exciting. The most important thing is for the game to have low house edge and for you to find the appropriate strategy for that variation.

A Simple Strategy to Use

The basic goal is not to exceed 21 by busting, and to precisely weigh the dangers if you hit or stand. Therefore, if your first two cards form a value of between 12 and 16, then you have to be careful with hitting because these hands are most commonly a bust when third card is requested. These hands are called stiff. If the face up card in the dealer’s hand is between 2 and 6, then the dealer has a stiff hand too with the possibility for a bust.

If you have a hand of 17 or higher, than you should stand, because there is extremely little chance to hit 1, 2 or 3. This is called a pat hand. The dealers pat hand is consisted of Ace and a seven. So, the strategy is to stand if you and the dealer have stiff hands, and to hit if you have a stiff hand and the dealer has a pat.

This one is only to get you started. There are many other strategies that you will need to use if you would like to advance in your blackjack skills. Blackjack has the lowest house edge and it would be a shame not to try and bust it with strategic playing. There are strategies intended for single deck blackjack games and games with more decks, but mostly for variations played with 4 to 8 decks.

Summary

Blackjack is a game that has remained unchanged for 4 centuries since it was invented in France and Spain. The reason behind this longevity of blackjack is precisely the format of the game. It can be learned in just five minutes but it can be enjoyed for a lifetime.

You can browse through the different online casinos here and check out their available blackjack games. Find if some variation suits you best, maybe Playtech’s Blackjack Switch where you can play with two hands at one time and switch the top facing cards between them in order to get a better hand. Or try Microgaming’s Gold blackjack series variations with high payouts. There are both single and multi-hand games.

Also, we would like to give you a quick tip that you should always first read about the particular blackjack game that you want to play, and that is done by reading reviews or players’ opinions. Then learn its rules and apply some strategy by practicing it in free play mode. This will be valuable for your rate of success, because practice makes it perfect.

Useful Blackjack Glossary

– Hard hand: This a hand that contains an Ace, but the Ace is not counter as 11 in the hand.

– Insurance: Insurance is a wager placed when the dealer is dealt his hand, one card is showing and the other is upside down. If the showing card is an Ace, the player is presented with the opportunity to put insurance wager that will help him profit if the dealer has a two card blackjack. In such case the insurance wager pays 2 to 1 and the wager amount is half of the original bet. If the player has a blackjack too, the bet is pushed.

– Rebet: The ‘rebet’ button is used when you want to repeat the same wager without having to go through the same procedure of choosing a chip and placing the bet.

– Surrender: This an option available in Blackjack Surrender, and some other variants, and is used if the player thinks he doesn’t stand a chance of winning the round by surrendering half of the wager in order to receive the other half back.

Visit our Blackjack Glossary page for more more terms and phrases here.

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Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games. It is played around the globe in live casinos, as well as online. If you are interested in getting in to blackjack put don’t know the rules you will find that it’s easy to learn how to play blackjack. Following are the basic rules of this popular card game.

Blackjack is played one-on-one against the dealer. Although there may be several players sitting at one table, each player is only in competition with the dealer. The objective of the game is to acquire a hand of cards that is worth a higher value than that of the dealer, without breaking a total of 21. Breaking 21 is known as “busting” and results in an immediate loss.

The value of a hand in blackjack is determined by adding together the values of the cards in the hand. Numbered cards are worth their face value (i.e. the 4 of Spades is worth 4 points); Aces are worth either 1 or 11 depending on the other cards in the hand; and 10s, Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 10 points. A Jack (or other 10-valued card) and an Ace are worth a total of 21 together and this hand is known as “blackjack”, which is where the game gets its name.

Before a game of blackjack begins, players must place bets. If you are playing a free game of blackjack online then you can play with fun money. In a live casino or real money game of blackjack online you will bet real money. Always choose a table with limits that meet your bankroll and never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Once bets are placed the dealer gives each player two cards, face up on the table. The dealer takes two cards as well, but one is placed face down. Based on a player’s hand and the dealer’s face up card, the player has several options. The player may:

  • “Stand” with his initial 2-card hand
  • “Hit”, asking the dealer for more cards to increase the value of his hand
  • “Double Down”, doubling his bet and taking only one more card
  • “Split” his hand into two separate hands, provided his initial hand was a pair

It is important to note that rules regarding doubling down and splitting vary from casino to casino, so it’s important to double-check the rules before you begin playing.

Casino blackjack rules and tips

Casino Rules Blackjack

Once the players are satisfied with their hands the dealer reveals his face down card. If his hand is worth 16 or less he must hit. Also, some casino blackjack rules require the dealer to hit on “soft 17” as well, which is a card made up of a 6 and an Ace valued at 11 points. Once the dealer has hit, if necessary, hands are compared and winners are determined.

Casino Rules For Blackjack Dealers Rules

Again, it is important to note that more specific blackjack rules vary from casino to casino and blackjack variation to variation. Familiarize yourself with the particular rules of a specific game before you begin to play for real money.