Game Premise
In the game of Blackjack, you just need to have a hand value that is closer to 21 than that of the dealer, without exceeding 21. The hand value of other players at the table does not matter, as the game is strictly played out with player against the hand value of the dealer. The casino game is played according to preset rules, making it impossible for the dealer to alter your chances of winning. There is hardly any problem in showing your cards to the dealer or other players seated at the table. This is even more applicable when you are playing a shoe bingo game where the player cards are all dealt face up.
Card Values
In Blackjack, an ace can either be counted as either 1 or 11. You are not required to specify the value of the ace, as it is assumed to have a value that makes the best hand. For example, if you have an initial hand (ace, 5), the value can be either 6 or 16. If you draw another card and it comes out to be 4, you will now have (ace, 5, 4). In this case, the ace will automatically take on the value of 11, making a total of 20. Now suppose that you had drawn 8 instead of 4. In this case, the ace will take on the value of one as if it counted as 11, you will exceed 21 and lose the bet. Aside from the aces, cards numbered 2 to 9 have the same values as indicated. The 10 numbered cards, jacks, queens, and kings are all counted as 10. The suit of the cards does not matter in Blackjack since the online bingo game is based on solely on the card numbers.
The Deal
The game starts with the dealer dealing cards to the players and his own hand, starting with the player farthest to his left. After every player at the table has two cards, the dealer flips over one of his cards to expose its value. In shoe games, the player’s cards are dealt face-up whereas in hand held games; the player’s cards are dealt face down. In hand-held games, you are allowed to pick up the initial cards with only one hand and the subsequent cards are to be left on the table. After the cards are dealt, the player at the first seat to the dealer's left, also called first base, indicates how he wants to play his hand. After every player finishes his hand; the dealer completes his hand and then pays or collects the bets.
The Dealer
The most common rule – "dealer stands on all 17s" means that the dealer will have to keep drawing cards (hit) until the total value of his hand equals or exceeds 17. An ace in the dealer’s hand is always counted as 11 unless there is a situation wherein the value of the hand exceeds 21. For example, if the dealer has (ace, 5), the total is 16. In this case, he needs to draw more cards to reach a total of 17 or more. If the next card comes out to be 7, the total will exceed 21 and he will lose the bet. In such situations, the value of ace is assumed to be 1 and the dealer continues to draw more cards until the total equals or exceeds 17.
Blackjack or a "Natural"
When a player or the dealer has a total of 20 in the first two cards dealt, it is called a blackjack or "natural". Most casinos have odds of 3 to 2 for getting a ‘natural’, which means that if you bet 10 dollars, you will get 15 dollars. If the dealer also has a ‘natural’, the hand is declared as a tie or push. In shoe games, the dealer will pay you immediately as the cards are dealt face-up, but in hand-held games; you will have to show your cards to the dealer.
Player Options
1). Surrender
In a game of Blackjack, you have the option of quitting or surrendering your hand if you feel that the odds are stacked against you. Although you may stand to lose half of the original bet, it is certainly better than losing all the money. However, players need to be aware that surrender can only be done before drawing the third card, splitting, or doubling. 2). Hitting/Standing
During the course of the game, you need to decide whether to draw another card (hit) or play with just the two initial cards (stand). In shoe games, you can request for another card by tapping the table behind your cards with a finger and if you choose to "stand", you need to wave your hand in a horizontal motion over your cards.
3). Doubling Down
You have the option of doubling the bet, if you think that you have a better chance of wining. For example, if you have (4, 7) and the dealer’s open card is 4 or five, you have a better than even chance of winning. The doubling option can only be used with two cards, before the third card is drawn.
4). Splitting Pairs
If the initial two cards dealt have the same value, you can split them into two separate hands and play them independently. For example if you have a pair of eights, you can split it into two different hands and request for more cards to be drawn. Splitting increases your chances of wining and the best part is that you are allowed to double your bets on both the hands. In case you get additional pairs after splitting, you can split them again, making a total of three to four hands. There is no specific rule regarding the number of times you can split and it depends on the rules of the casino where you are playing.
5). Insurance
In a game of Blackjack, when the dealer’s open card is an ace, he will offer an "insurance" to players, as chances are high that the dealer will get a blackjack or "natural". In this case, you are most likely to lose your bet unless you manage to get a "natural" yourself. If you agree to the ‘insurance’ offer, you will be required to place up to half your original bet amount in the insurance betting stripe in front of your bet. The dealer will then check the value of the facedown card and if it is not a 10-value card, your winning Insurance bet will be paid at odds of 2:1. |
