Casino BlackJack – one of the most popular games which can be found at online or land based casinos. If you want to start playing this game, but unfamiliar with BlackJack standard rules, or you just want us to shed the light on some unclear aspects – just read this article carefully. After reading it many things will become much clearer, and you also be able improve your BlackJack skills. Just a quick note: all sums pointed in the United States Dollars.

BlackJack rules basics.

To win this in game, player has to get a hand with value which could be not more than “21”, but better than the dealer has. Of the hand goes over “21” – players loses. It’s simple: your hand against the dealer’s hand, and whose hand is better – those will win. Blackjack game rules are not the same for any casino, but there is the set of standard options, and both player and dealer must follow them.

Card Values.

1.Every card, from “2” to “9” is valued at its “face value”.

2.“Ten”, “Jack”, “Queen” and “King” have the value of “10”

3.An “Ace” has the value both of “1” or “11” depending on its “hard” or “soft” hand.

When it comes to suits of the cards to be dealt – just forget about it, because it doesn’t matter. According to BlackJack table rules, only cards value makes a deal. Maximum possible value (“21”) in specific hand could be achieved by several combinations, for example, with “6”, “7”or “8”, or with “8”, “9” and “4”.

The most valuable card in all BlackJacks rules is an “Ace”, and it could be counted as “1” or “11”. If you are playing BlackJack online – you don’t have to count its value because the “system” will do it for you. Just remember that an “Ace” will always have the value to make best possible hand. So if you were dealt an “Ace” and “7” – the best hand will be “18”. But if you decided to take another card, and it came as “3” – you will have “21”! If you were dealt “9” – you get “17”, because in this case the value of “Ace” will be “1”.

“Soft” hand. The hand can be named “soft” if it contains an “Ace” and its value could be “1” or “11” without exceeding “21”. Just to give you an example, let’s imagine that you were dealt an “Ace” and “6”. This hand is “soft 17”.

“Hard” hand. Just take another card to “soft 17” from the previous example. If you took any card with “10” value you will get “hard 17”.

Hand played by the dealer.

BlackJack standard rules for dealers are strictly-defined. Well, there are only not many blackjack table rules…

1.Dealer must stand on all 17s. It means that if dealer has “17” or greater – they can’t take more cards. In the other hand, dealer must take another card, if the total value is less than “17”. If the dealer has an “Ace” – its value will “11”. So if its hand was “Ace” and “6” giving “17” in total – dealer must “Stand”.

2. In some online casinos blackjack game rules may vary, but it usually depends on its software provider. The rule is that if the dealer gets “soft 17” – they must take additional card and stand if “soft 18” is received. As you see, all is simple: dealer just hits the cards until they bust or reach at least “17”.

BlackJack is the highest possible combination players are able to receive, which is usually pays out with “3:2” odds. Sometimes in online blackjack riles there is a difference for suited blackjack, which pays out as “2:1”. In general, this is the same as “21”, but BlackJack could be received only with an “Ace” and any card which value is equal to “10”. But if player gets a pair of Aces, split them and gets a card with “10” value – this is not a BlackJack, but only “21”. In case of both player and dealer have BlackJack – no one wins, and the hand is declared as “push” or “tie”.

Player’s Options.

1. Surrender. Well, when it comes to surrender, we cannot say that player very often do this, but sometimes it happens. Players have to decide whether to play their hand or not, and if they chose not to play – they make surrender. It means that they fold their current hand, but lost 1/2 of their bet. BlackJack standard rules allow players to make early or late surrender. Early surrender means that players are given the possibility to fold their hand before the dealer checks does he have a BlackJack or not. Late surrender means that players can fold only after dealer checks its cards, and only if there is no BlackJack.

2.Hit/Stand. After cards were dealt, it’s up to player to decide whether to “Stand” or “Hit” their cards. If player chose to stand – no additional cards will be dealt to them. But if they chose to hit – they will get additional card(s) until they hit as much as possible or bust.

3. Double. Perhaps, the most profitable option in BlackJack rules. Making a double, player doubles increases their bet in two times, but they will be able to get only one additional card. This option is very good decision in case of player has “9”, “10” or “11”. If they make “double” and get any card with “10” value – then maximum combination will be reached.

4. Split Pairs. If player gets a pair, so according to online blackjack rules they are able to split it to two different hands, and for every hand there will be two different bets. Saying other words, initial bet will be doubled. For example, a pair of eights (“16” in total) after split could be changed to two “18” hands if you will be lucky enough to get additional “10” cards. And if player wins – they will win four times their original bet. Sometimes rules for blackjack allow players to make a re-split, but very rarely.

5. Insurance. It is hard to say that Insurance bet is very profitable for players, but this option is presented in blackjack standard rules. Insurance means that player could bet 1/2 of their initial bet to protect themselves from dealer’s BlackJack. After the cards were dealt, and the dealer has an “Ace” as the first card, player could make “Insurance” bet. And if the dealer has BlackJack and wins the hand – “Insurance” will pay out with odds “2:1”. So, when the original bet is lost – player “wins” their bet back. If the dealer doesn’t have BlackJack – the “Insurance” bet will be lost, but player still able to play their initial hand. However, advanced BlackJack players advice not to pay “Insurance” because casino has a high advantage on players.

There are standard blackjack rules, which are almost the same for any online casino. But if you need more information – just search over the Internet “casino rules blackjack” or read carefully through our site. Good luck!