The objective
in blackjack is to have a hand which totals 21, or beats
the dealer's hand by coming as close to 21 as possible
without going over, or "busting." If your first
two cards are an ace and a ten, that's blackjack or "a
natural" 21! Blackjack always beats a hand that totals
21 by adding the values of more than the first two cards.
A picture card is counted as 10, a card from 2-10 is counted
at its face value, and an ace can be counted as either
1 or 11. A "hard hand" is a hand that does not
contain an ace or contains an ace that can only be counted
as 1 so as not to bust. A dealer's ace always counts as
11.
Note: The
suits of the cards do not have any meaning in the game.
Black Jack Terms Defined:
Hit: Give player another card
Stand: No more
cards
Double Down: Give player ONLY one more card, and
double player's bet
Split:
Make two hands out of player's pair of cards with the
same value. Player's initial wager will be placed on one
hand, and a second wager of equal value will be placed
on the second hand.
However, if you split two aces, you get only one additional
card for each hand. If you split two aces and one of your
hands totals 21, this is not considered blackjack, but
21. You cannot split a split hand.
Insurance:
If the dealer's up card is an ace, player will be given
the option of placing a side-bet, called insurance. When
the dealer shows an ace, he is considered to have a good
chance of having blackjack. If the dealer does have blackjack,
the insurance pays 2 to 1, corresponding to the amount
of your initial bet. If you have bought insurance, and
the dealer does not have blackjack, you lose your insurance.
Your initial bet is then settled by comparing your cards
with the dealer's. Should you and the dealer both have
blackjack, the game results in a push.
How The Cards are Dealt (General Information) Shoe Games
The players cards will be dealt face-up, and the players
are not allowed to touch the cards. Common at most Casino's
Hand-held Games
The player's cards are dealt face down, and the players
pick up the cards.
Rules to follow when playing this way:
You are only allowed to touch
the cards with one hand.
You must keep the cards over
the table.
Any cards that the dealer subsequently
deals to your hand must be left on the table, not
added to the cards in your hand.
