Blackjack, also known as twenty-one is one of the simplest games in the world. The object of the game is a simple one, Beat the dealer.

Blackjack is played with one, two, four, six or eight decks of cards. In multi-deck games the cards are dealt out of a tray like box that is called a shoe. In the style of casino we’re going to talk about the cards are dealt face up to the player and you are not allowed to touch your cards.

Objective

As we said the objective of the game is to beat the dealer. If your cards total higher than the dealer’s cards without going over 21 you win. You are not trying to get close to 21. If your hand or the dealer’s hand goes over 21 you “Bust”. If you bust you automatically lose. If the dealer busts and you do not you win. The player must act first. If the player busts he loses regardless if the dealer busts or not.

Card Values

Card Suits have no affect on the Game. Cards 2 – 10 are counted at face value without regards to their suit. All face cards have a value of ten. An ace can count as either one or eleven. So a king and a seven would equal 17. An ace and a eight would total either 9 or 19.

Hard Hand – This is a hand that has no Ace, because it has only the one value.

Soft Hand – This is a hand that has an Ace in it, because the value can change.

If you have a Soft Hand and you draw a card that puts you over 21 then your hand becomes a Hard Hand.

E.g. You are dealt an ace and a four. You have 5 or 15. If you then draw a ten you now have a hard 15 because your ace becomes a 1. If you count the ace as 11 you would have 26, which would bust you.

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Blackjack Table

Blackjack is dealt on a table that is shaped as a semi-circle. There is a separate circle or square for each player. The player puts his bet in the betting circle if front of his space. Only chips put in the betting circle count as your bet. Never touch your bet once placed in the betting circle. After all bets are made the play begins.

Each player is dealt two cards face up. The dealer receives one card face up and one card face down known as the hole card. When your cards are dealt, the dealer will ask each player in turn to make their decision. The player to the left of the dealer is first to act. This position is known as first base. The position of the last person to act is called third base. You will make your decision about how to play your hand based on the dealer’s up card and the two cards that you were dealt.

A rule of thumb for the beginner is to assume the dealer has a ten in the hole. You use hand signal to make your decisions known. Tap the table for a card (Hit), or wave over the top careful not to touch (Stand). This is when playing in real life, online you will have buttons to press. Remember that in a game dealt from a shoe you are not allowed to touch the cards.

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