Blackjack rules vary from casino to casino, but the most common gameplay used is the Hit or Stand gameplay based on the rules used in Las Vegas casinos. The fact that there isn’t a set rulebook for blackjack makes learning strategies that much harder. There is hope; however, as there are many rules that are basic enough that they remain the same. It is a good idea to research a particular casino’s rules based on its location if you are looking for more focused strategies. If you’re done reading the details below, come, visit and play some at Slots Baby.
Basic Blackjack Rules
The goal blackjack is to try to beat the dealer and his hand of cards by getting 21 or as close to it as possible without going over or “bust”. The cards each have different numeric values, the numbered cards are the value of their number, for instance, a four of spades is a four. Royal cards or face cards (jack, queen, and king) are worth ten. Aces are duplicitous and can either have the value of one or 11, which makes it the card to hope for.
The dealer first hands out two cards, one of the dealer’s cards remain upside down until you are ready to “stand”, in other words, you are happy with your hand. At the end of the round, the dealer’s other card is revealed to see who was closer to 21. The dealer adds to his hand until he has a total of 17 or higher. The terms commonly used are “hit” and “stand”, to ask for a hit is to ask for another card and stand is when you are happy with your deck. If your cards are over 21, the dealer wins no matter what their cards are.
The best result is to be dealt an ace and 10 at the beginning as this is an instant win. If you get a blackjack (21), it typically means that you win 1.5 times your bet amount. This can vary depending on the casino.
Double or Split
“Doubling” and “splitting” are two basic strategies that can be used to get closer to your goal. Doubling is similar to asking for a hit (more cards), however, your bet is doubled, and you only get one extra card. A split is something that can be done if you get two of the same card. The pair of cards can be divided (split) into two separate hands. When you opt for a split, your bet is also doubled. This is because each new hand has the same value as the original stake.
Players can only choose to split or double on the first move or on the first move of the new hand created as a result of a split. The rule when it comes to splitting is that you can’t play on two aces once they have been split. You can still double on a hand that is a result of a split, this then triples or quadruples your stake.
As mentioned before, these are the fundamentals of blackjack. The more intricate gameplay has rules that vary depending on your location. These basic rules are unchanging and are a good start to understanding the game.
Also published on Medium.
