Black Jack
Rules for Black Jack!
Black Jack is the most popular casino game
of all. Black Jack's popularity is so high because if played right
the odds are much higher than in any other game. The rules are
slightly different from area to area and from casino to casino. This
means you have to make sure you inform yourself about the exact
rules for black jack and guidelines each casino has, before you
start gambling. In Black Jack you don't play against any other
players - only against the dealer. The main objective in Black Jack
is to get a hand higher than the dealer's without going over 21.
The game starts with every player making
their opening bets. Make sure to read the sign next to the dealer
which indicates the minimum and maximum table limit. Most
online casinos have table limits from as low as $1 up to
$100. After all the players placed their bets the dealer will
start dealing the cards. Starting with the player to his left he
gives every player one card, face down, including himself. This is
the dealers down card. Then he deals a second round of cards,
face down but this time the card he deals himself will be face up.
This is the dealers up card. You now can look at both of your
cards and find your total by simply adding the values of your cards.
The values of the cards in Black Jack from
two to ten are at face value. Jacks, Queens and Kings
count ten and the Ace counts eleven or one. The Ace always
counts eleven except if your total exceeds 21 - then
the value of the Ace is reduced to one. A hand with one Ace having
the value of eleven is called a soft hand and a hand with all
Aces having the value of one is called a hard hand. In Black
Jack for instance, if you get an 8 and Ace dealt it would be a soft
19 while an 8, 10 and Ace would be a hard 19. Getting a start total
of 21 is called a Black Jack and you have to show your hand
immediately. If the dealer's up card is an Ace he checks for a
dealer black jack first and then continues the game. Exceeding a
total of 21, and already counting all the aces you have in your hand
as one, means you are bust and lose your bet.
By turn each player will then have to make
one of the following five decisions.
Hit / If you are not satisfied
with your current total you can ask the dealer to hit you which
means he deals you another card in addition to your two. You are
hit until you are satisfied with your total, or until you bust.
Stand / You stand if you don't
want any more cards.
Double / If you think you will
win without getting more than one card you double. You have to add
an amount equal to your original wager and receive only one card.
If your total is higher than the dealer's after receiving the card
you win.
Split / If your starting hand
contains two cards of the same type (i.e. two 9's) you can split
them up into two new hands. You have to add an equal amount to
your wager and get two more cards dealt forming two separate new
starting hands.
Insurance / Insurance is offered
to the players if the dealer's up card is an Ace, to protect
against a dealers Black Jack. You will have to pay half of your
original bet and will get 2:1 odds when the dealer has a Black
Jack. Unless you also have a black jack your original bet is lost.
Surrender / This decision is
quite rare and not offered is most casinos. After you see your
starting hand and the dealers up card and you don't think you can
win, you have to give your cards back to the dealer immediately.
If you surrender you will only lose half of your original bet. You
cannot surrender if the dealer has a Black Jack.
After all the players have made their
decision the dealer will then play his hand. The playing of the
dealer's hand must follow certain rules. He must hit on every
total less than 17 or otherwise stand. Some casinos
even let the dealer hit when he has a soft 17. The rules which the
dealer has to follow will be written clearly on the Black Jack
table, so there will be no confusion.
You win if either the dealer busts or has a
total less than yours. The odds are 1:1. If the total is the same
it's a draw or a push and your original wager is returned to you. A
black jack beats an ordinary 21 and is paid 3:2 odds.
Ready to play?
Click to start playing at one of our recommended
online casinos.
|
