Blackjack Rules

In lesson one we learned about the blackjack table and the basics of how to play blackjack. For this lesson we are going to learn more about blackjack rules. These rule deal with american blackjack.

Let's start with the dealers rules.

   One of the biggest advantage the player has over the casinos is that they can vary the way they play, but the casinos are held to a strict set of rules. They must play exactly the same way every hand.  The first and most important rule that the casinos must follow is the 16 -17 rule.  If they have 16, or less, they must hit until they have 17, or more, and then stand.  There is one exception to this rule and that has to do with the dealer's 17.  Because the ace can be used as a 1, or an 11, if the dealer's cards, totaling 17, included an ace, it is know as a soft 17. When this happens, the dealer (usually) must take a hit until they get a hard 17 or more.  The dealer has to follow these rules. A dealer cannot "Double Down", "Split" or "Surrender" and has to continue to draw cards until they have 17 or more. 

     Now the player’s rules:

   The player’s rules are all optional. In other words, you can do what you like. You can stand on a five, or hit a nineteen, if you want. It is up to you.  One of the things most people that are new to the game of "Blackjack" don't realize, is that most of your plays are indicated by hand gestures, not verbally. This is done for the cameras watching from the ceiling; to prevent cheating. 

     Some of the options that are available to the player are:

Hit: to take a "Hit" means to get another card.   You request another card by tapping the table with your finger or scraping the table lightly with your cards. This this known has "Scratching".  If you decide to take a "Hit"and go over 21, simply turn your cards face up and lay them on the table. The dealer will then pick up your cards, collect your bet and move on to the next player. 

Stand: to "Stand" means that you don't want any more cards.  A "pat hand" is the hand that doesn't require a hit after your first two cards. If you want to "Stand", once again, you don't verbally tell the dealer. You have got to use hand gestures for the cameras in the ceiling.  The signal for "Standing" is to hold your hand a few inches above your cards, palm down, and move your hand side to side. "Blackjack", also known as a "natural" consists of getting 21 with your first two cards.

Doubling Down: What you're saying when you "Double Down" is, (in essence), I'm willing to bet double that I can draw one card and beat the dealer. Usually this is done when the cards total 10 or 11, hoping to get a 10 or face card and wind up with 20 or 21.  You "Double Down" by waiting until the dealer comes to you and then turning both of your cards face up and say, "Double", then double your bet. You are allowed to "Double Down" for less than your original bet, if you wanted to.  The dealer will issue you one card, face down and move on to the next player. 

Splitting: To "Split" means splitting matching pairs of cards.  For example, a pair of sevens. You can "split" the two sevens into separate hands and play them separately. How you do this is by waiting until the dealer comes to you, turn both your cards face up and say "split".  Then you place a bet, matching your original bet, next to your original bet.   The dealer will then separate the two cards, deal one more face down card on each and allow you to play them as to individual hands. Usually you have to finish playing the first hand before you can begin the second hand. 

Re-Splitting: suppose you "Split" a pair of sevens and are dealt an additional seven.  In most casinos, you can split this new pair of sevens and create another hand. Some casinos will restrict the number of times that you can re-split; usually to three times, equaling a total of four hands.

Splitting Aces: "Splitting" aces is very beneficial to the player, so most casinos will restrict the way that "Splitting" aces is played.  When "Splitting" aces you will receive one card face down on each ace and will not be allowed to draw any cards. Also, suppose you get a ten on one of your aces. This is not considered a "Blackjack", so you will not receive any bonus for it.  Instead, it will be treated like any other hand with a total of 21.  Most casinos will not allow re-splitting of aces. 

Doubling after Splitting: Suppose you "Split" a pair of eights and draw a three on one of the hands. This 11 is a good hand to "Double Down" with. Some casinos will allow you to double down after splitting, some won't.  If allowed, what you do is, instead of taking another hit you would say "double down". All the doubling down rules will apply.

Insurance: Most people don't understand what “Insurance” is, or how it works.  If the dealer’s face up card is an ace, they will offer “Insurance”.  “Insurance” is actually a side bet.  If you believe the dealers face down card is a ten, giving them "Blackjack", then you can bet up to half of your original bet. If you are right, you will be paid, 2 for 1, on this bet. In other words, if the dealer does have black Jack you will lose your original hand, but, you will be paid 2 for 1 on your “Insurance” bet. You are actually  just breaking even. However, if the dealer does not have black Jack, you will lose your “Insurance” bet. You then continue on to play your hand. You make an “Insurance” bet, when asked if you want “Insurance”, by placing, (up to), half of your original bet, on the dealer side of your betting circle.  “Insurance” is not a good bet. The odds favor the house 12 to 1 against you.

Even Money: “Even money” is actually just “Insurance”. It is offered to the player that has a “blackjack”, against the dealer ace. Suppose you were playing $10.00 a hand. With a blackjack you'd expect to collect $15.00, unless the dealer also has a “blackjack” and you wind up with a push. However, if you decide to take “Insurance” offered to all the players and place half your original bet, ($5.00), in front of your betting circle, two things can happen. 

Number One: The dealer could have a “Blackjack” for which there would be a tie and you would not collect any money. However, the $5.00 “Insurance” bet will pay you 2 for 1, and  you win $10.00.;

Number two: The dealer does not have a “Blackjack”, in which case you lose your $5.00 “Insurance” bet. but you win $15.00 for the black Jack. $15.00, minus ($5.00) = $10.00 . Either way, if you make the “Even money” bet, you’re guaranteed to make $10.00, or “Even money” with your original bet. So to simplify things, most casinos will just offer “Even money” rather than “Insurance”, when a player has a blackjack, against the dealers ace. While a guaranteed $10.00 does sound pretty good, you are actually costing yourself money that you could’ve won.  Remember, I told you the odds are twelve to one against the dealer having black Jack.  That means 11, out of 12 times you would win $15.00 rather than just the $10.00 with the  “Even money” bet. Until you learn to count cards and have a pretty good idea that the dealer has a ten “In the hole”, don't ever take “Insurance”. It’s a suckers bet.

Surrender: to “Surrender” means you do not believe you can win with the cards that you have been dealt, for example a 16 against the dealers ace. By “Surrendering” half of your original bet, you can be excluded from playing the hand out. Not every casino will offer you the chance to “Surrender”, but for the ones that do there are two types of “Surrender”: "Early surrender", and "Late surrender". The difference in the two types of “Surrender” have to deal with whether the player can “Surrender” his hand, before, or after, the dealer checks for “Blackjack”, when they have an ace showing. Early surrender is a very big advantage to the player and few casinos will offer this option.

If At any time you would like to try out your new skills with some blackjack practice, go to the Free Blackjack Game on this site and have some fun.

To continue, see: Blackjack Strategy