Quick Tips
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insurance is not recommended
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only increase your bets when you are winning
Blackjack Dictionary
blackjack
- the first two cards being dealt to a player are a ten value card
and an ace
bust
- when the dealer or player draws cards to a total of more than 21
face card
- King, Queen and Jack
hard hand
- a hand that does not have an ace or a hand that cannot use the ace
as eleven
hit or draw
- to draw additional cards
hole card
- the face down card dealt to the dealer
insurance
- side wager for up to half of the original wager when the dealer is
showing an ace
natural
- a ten value card and an ace
push
- when the dealer and player have identical card values. No winner
or loser.
press
- to increase the amount being wagered after a win usually by the
original amount
soft hand
- a hand that can use the ace as one or eleven
split
- to make two hands from a pair
stand
- to not draw any more cards
stiff hand
- a hand between twelve through sixteen
surrender
- an option where the player may give up half of their wager
Blackjack History
Blackjack first originated in France as vingt un or 21 in the
1700's. The reason it is called blackjack was if a player was dealt
an Ace of Spades and a Jack of Spades, they were rewarded with extra
money. Blackjack was first played in the United States in the early
1900's in Indiana. Because blackjack was new and not too popular,
the gambling parlors offered to pay 3 to 2 for a count of 21 in the
first two cards. In a modern deck of 52 cards, those cards with a
value of 10 (10, Jack, Queen and King) represent 30.8% of a deck.
Blackjack Rules
In Blackjack, the objective is to try to beat the dealer by getting
closer to 21. If the total value of your hand is closer to 21 than
the dealer’s hand, you win an equal amount to what you have bet. If
you have a blackjack hand, you win 3:2 times your bet (example - a
$5 bet will win $7.50), as long as the dealer does not also have
blackjack. Aces have a value of either 1 or 11, face cards
as 10 and the cards that are left are valued as their face numbers.
Because you can play an Ace either way, a hand with an ace is called
a soft hand.
If the total of your hand is over 21, you'll bust and lose your
bet. If you have the same card total as the dealer, from 17 and up,
you get your bet back in a push as neither have won. Blackjack
beats a count of 21.
The dealer must draw cards until they have at least 17 and must
stand at 17 or higher.
Hit
If you are not pleased with the total of your first two cards, you
can draw additional card(s) until you stand or bust. Some casinos
refer to hitting as draw.
Stand
If you are pleased with your first two cards, you would then stand
and not draw anymore cards.
Double Down
Your bet is doubled and you draw only one more card. If you have
been dealt two cards and think that a third card may give you a
chance to beat the dealer’s hand, you can double down.
Split
If your first two cards are of the same value, you can split them
into two separate hands by placing a second bet of equal value and
drawing cards as usual. Note that at many online casinos, if you
split two aces, you get only one additional card for each hand.
When you split two aces and one of your hands totals 21, this is
not blackjack, it's 21. Note that at some online casinos, you
cannot split a split hand.
Insurance
Insurance is not recommended
and is considered a separate game/bet of its own. When you think
that the dealer has blackjack, it gives you a chance to guard your
bet. If the dealer’s first card is an ace and if you think that the
dealer’s hole card is of value 10, you can buy insurance against
dealer blackjack. The insurance bet would be at the price of half
your original bet. If the dealer has blackjack, the insurance pays
2:1, matching the amount of your original bet. If you have
purchased insurance and the dealer doesn't have blackjack, you'll
lose your insurance bet. If you and the dealer both have blackjack,
the game ends in a push.
Surrender
Surrender is not offered at very many online casinos. When
surrender is available, if you are not pleased with the cards you
were dealt, you may give them up and lose half of your bet.
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