Rules On How To Play Blackjack

Black Jack was originated in France and is one the most popular casino games in the world. The main objective is to get as close to 21 without going over while still beating the dealer's hand. This is done by counting up the value of the cards in your hand.

Blackjack can be played with either one standard 52 playing card deck OR you can add as many more complete decks of cards as you want. In a casino, generally you'll find the cards (sometimes up to 10 decks of cards) placed in a "shoe"... which is a fancy name for a card holder (and is generally used to prevent cheating).

All cards numbered 2 through 10 are at face value. All face cards are valued at 10 while an ace is valued at either 1 or 11 at the player's discretion. Hands containing an ace valued at 11 are considered to be "soft" hands (i.e. A, 6 is a soft 17), while hands containing an ace valued at 1 are considered "hard" hands (i.e. A, 6, Q is a hard 17). A Black Jack hand is an ace and card valued at 10 (10, J, Q, K). A two-card Black Jack always beats three or more cards, which equal 21.

Before receiving any cards the player must place a wager. Once the wager is made the player is dealt 2 cards face up. The dealer is also dealt two cards, one face up and the other face down. The dealer's "hole" card remains face down until the players have completed their hands. At this point the dealer turns over his hole card. If his hand totals a hard 17 through 21 he must stand. If his hand is 16 or under, the dealer must continue to take cards until either his hand is over 16 or "bust" (which means over 21). The dealer must hit on a soft 16.

The player has many different betting and playing options...

BLACK JACK PLAYER TERMS

Hit:
This deals the player another card. If your 2 cards were to equal 10 you have nothing to lose by
requesting another card since your total could not exceed 21.

Stand:
This means that the player is satisfied with his hand and does not want to risk another card.

Double Down:
A player, after being dealt his first two cards, is always given the option to double the initial wager. Once you have chosen to do this, click the "DOUBLE" button and you will be dealt a third card and no more. Your hand will only consist of 3 cards.

Splitting:
If you are dealt two cards with identical value you can then split them (i.e. 8,8 or 10,Q). You would now be playing 2 separate hands, each starting with one of the two split cards. You will now be dealt a second card to one of the hands. After this hand is played out, the second hand will be dealt a second card and continued until that hand is played out. All regular rules apply to each hand with the ability to double down. You may only split your hand once and a new wager equal to the initial wager will be placed for each split hand. A split hand Black Jack pays out at 1:1 rather the normal 3:2.

Insurance:
If the dealer's first card is an Ace, there is a possibility that he may have a Black Jack. The player can, if he believes the dealer's hidden card is a 10, insure himself against Black Jack. If you choose to insure yourself you have to pay an amount of half of your stake. If the dealer gets Black Jack, the insurance will pay 2:1 which corresponds to your original stake. If you have insured yourself and the dealer does not get Black Jack then you lose your insurance. Your ordinary stake is settled by whatever the dealer gets. Therefore, insurance is to be considered a game of its own within Black Jack, and it gives the player a chance to protect himself, when he thinks that the dealer will get Black Jack.

Payoffs:
Players win their wager if their total hand is higher than the dealer's without going over 21. If the player busts, then the dealer wins the hand before turning over a card. All hands that total less than the dealer's hand lose. Hands that are equal in value will be considered a tie, or a "push", and the player's original wager will leave the table. If the player gets a Black Jack the payout will be at 3:2 rather than 1:1.

Tips For Winning At Blackjack

Many books that teach Black Jack refer to a basic starting strategy. We include one such system here for your reference that recommends when to stop, draw, split and double down. There are many ways to play. Our advice to everyone playing Black Jack is to study the game, develop your own strategies, play well and consequently become a winner. The following are our suggestions, and we are sure "experts" will argue about any one of them... or all of them... but let's keep in mind they are just suggested strategies.

If you use these strategies gambling and win we DO NOT expect you to send us a check...so, likewise, if you use these strategies and lose, don't whine about it. Gambling is risky, do it at your own risk... we just thought you might like to know how winners often play the odds at black jack.

WHEN TO HIT/STAND
(Casino's Vary On When A Player Can Hit/Stand)
Hit until you get 12 - If dealer's face up card is showing a 4,5,6
Hit until you get 13 - If dealer's face up card is showing a 2 or 3
Hit until you get 17 - If dealer's face up card is showing a 7,8,9,10,Ace

WHEN TO DOUBLE DOWN
(Casino's Vary On When A Player Can Double Down)
Double down when your cards total 8 - If dealer's face up card is showing a 5 or 6
Double down when your cards total 9 - If dealer's face up card is showing a 2,3,4,5,6
Double down when your cards total 10 - If dealer's face up card is showing a 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Double down when your cards total 11 - Always Double on an Ace and a 2, Ace and 3 Ace and 4 and Ace and 5 - If dealers's face up card is showing 4,5,6
Double down when your cards are an Ace and an 6 - If dealer's face up card is showing a 2,3,4,5,6
Double down when your cards are an Ace and an 7 - If dealer's face up card is showing a 3,4,5,6
Double down when your cards are an Ace and an 8 - If dealer's face up card is showing a 6

WHEN TO SPLIT YOUR PAIRS
Split a pair of 2's - If dealer's face up card is showing a 2,3,4,5,6,7
Split a pair of 3's - If dealer's face up card is showing a 2,3,4,5,6
Take a hit on a pair of 4's - Do not split them
Double down on a pair of 5's - Do not split them
Split a pair of 6's - If dealer's face up card is showing a 2,3,4,5,6
Split a pair of 7's - If dealer's face up card is showing a 2,3,4,5,6,7
Split a pair of 9's - If dealer's face up card is showing a 2,3,4,5,6
Split a pair of 8's - If dealer's face up card is showing a 2,3,4,5,6
Always split a pair of Aces

YOU HAVE AN ACE AND A 7
Double - If dealer's face up card is showing a 3,4,5 or 6
Stand - If dealer's face up card is showing a 2,7,8
Hit - If dealer's face up card is showing a Ace, Jack, King, Queen,10 or 9

YOU HAVE AN ACE AND AN 8 OR ACE AND A 9
If you can't double down, then always stand.

For more detailed strategies on winning at black jack, visit: How To Win At BlackJack... a professional gamblers advice on winning at blackjack.

Where To Play and/or Download Blackjack For Free

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Good luck to you and have fun playing Blackjack!