Online Blackjack Guide: Strategy and Casino Ranking

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3) What are the rules in blackjack? The object of Blackjack is for the total of your cards to be closer to 21 than the dealer’s cards, without exceeding 21. In Blackjack, aces count as either 1 or 11, face cards as 10, and number cards as their face value. If you receive an ace and a ten-value card as your first two cards, you have Blackjack and win 150% of your original bet (if you bet $10, you get $25 back). If the total value of your cards is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, you win 100% of your original bet (if you bet $10, you get $20 back). If the total of your cards is more than 21, you “bust” and lose your bet. If you and the dealer have the same card total (17 and up) neither of you win and your bet is returned to you in a “push”. Blackjack is an ace with either a ten, jack, queen, or king on the first 2 cards. An ace with a face card after a split will only count as 21, not blackjack. Since an ace can count as a 1 or 11, any hand where the ace is acting as an 11 is a "soft" hand. Ex: ace plus 5 is soft 16. If you hit the soft 16 and get a 10, you now have a "hard" 16.

Player Options: These rules vary from casino to casino. It's how the casinos change the odds.

Split:

If your first two cards have the same point value, you may split them into two separate hands by placing a second bet equal to the original bet. You then proceed to draw cards. You may draw as many cards as you like on each split hand. Some casinos let you resplit a split hand, some don't. Also, many casino's will only give you one card after splitting aces. If you receive an ace and a ten-value card in a split hand, it is counted as 21 and not Blackjack.

Double:

After you are dealt two cards, and think that another card will allow you to beat the dealer’s hand, you can increase your bet by an amount up to your original bet or “double” your bet. Your wager is doubled, and you are allowed to receive one more card. Some casinos will allow you to double after a split, and some casinos will limit the point totals for doubling only on hard 9,10, and 11's.

Insurance:

Insurance is a suckers bet and we NEVER recommend it under any circumstances. We'll tell you how it works, but don't recommend it. Insurance allows you to try and protect yourself when you think that the dealer may have Blackjack. When buying insurance, you place half of your initial bet by pressing the Insurance button. If the dealer does have Blackjack, you are paid 2 to 1 on your insurance bet. If the dealer doesn’t have Blackjack, you lose your insurance bet.

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