Blackjack is a thrilling and extremely popular casino game. Additionally, it is also a popular game to play with friends and family at home. Here, you’re going to learn the rules of Blackjack whose principle is simply to beat the dealer by achieving a score of 21!
Requirements
You need the following elements to play Blackjack:
-1 to 8 decks of 52 cards
-1 to 7 players
-Chips to bet
-Table
Goal of the Game
The goal of Blackjack is not to exceed the score of 21. You must be able to beat the dealer without surpassing that fateful number.
The Value of Cards in Blackjack
Cards in Blackjack are counted as follows:
-A card from 2 to 9 is worth its face value (the number displayed on each card).
-A 10, Jack, Queen, or King is worth 10 points.
-An Ace is worth 1 or 11 points (according to the choice of the player as they would not want to exceed the score of 21).
Setup
The players position themselves in front of the dealer.
Each player places their bet (chips) in front of themselves (the bet minimum or maximum depends on the casino, or the players if you are with friends or family).
The dealer deals one card face up to each player starting with the player on their left and ending with themselves (the dealer).
The dealer again deals 1 card face up to each player and 1 card face down to themselves in the end (this means that each player and the dealer will have two cards each).
The game can now start:
The player on the left of the dealer takes the first turn.
The player can either “stand” (not ask for any more cards) or “hit” (ask the dealer for more cards). When a player chooses to take more cards, they’re dealt one card at a time. The player has to pay attention as to not let their hand exceed 21 points. After the turn is finished, the next player goes.
The round continues in this way until the turn reaches the dealer.
The Different Possible Outcomes Depending on the Players’ Cards
Natural Hand
When a player gets an Ace card and a ten-point card (10, jack, queen, or king), they have a natural hand (a perfect score of 21 points). Which means that the player wins immediately, unless the dealer also has a natural, in which case there is a tie.
If a player has a natural and the dealer does not, the dealer immediately pays that player one and a half times the amount of their bet.
Example:
If a player gets an Ace and a Jack, they have a natural. If their initial bet was $10, they will then receive $15 (10 x 1.5 = 15).
Hit
When a player is still far from the score of 21, they have the option of asking the dealer for one or more cards to get closer to 21, but they have to be careful not to go over it. They just announce “hit me” or tap the game table to receive an additional card.
Stand
When a player is satisfied with the cards they have or don’t want to risk going over 21, they announce that they don’t want to receive any more. All the player has to do is announce “stand” or make a horizontal sign with their hand over their cards.
Doubling Down
After the two cards have been dealt, a player can double their bet (possibly because they believe they have a strong hand). If this occurs, the dealer gives the player who wishes to double down only one more card, which is left face down until all the other bets are settled.
Notes:
- The dealer doesn’t have the option to double down.
- In some casinos, you cannot double down if the total of your two cards is not equal to 9, 10, or 11.
Splitting Pairs
When a player has a pair (two cards of the same value), they have the option of splitting the two cards, which means that each card is going to be treated as an independent hand, and the player’s bet is going to be placed twice (once on each hand). When this takes place, the dealer adds one card to each card of the pair. This essentially means that the player will have two hands during that turn.
Important note: When a player splits a pair, they no longer have the possibility of forming a natural hand (perfect 21 points), even if one of the hands contains an Ace and a ten-point card.
Insurance
When the dealer’s visible card is an Ace, giving them the possibility of getting a natural if their hole card is worth ten points, a player can make an insurance which would make them win the bet if that happens.
When a player makes an insurance, they place a side bet which can’t be higher than half of their original bet.
If the dealer’s hole card turns out to be in fact worth ten points. The player who made an insurance will be paid double their side bet. If the hole card isn’t worth ten points, the player loses the bet.
Surrender
If you surrender a hand in progress, you only lose half of your initial bet.
The Dealer’s Turn
The dealer’s hand must be worth at least 17 points.
If the dealer did not reach 17 points, they must draw additional cards until they have a value of at least 17.
If the dealer’s hand is lower than 21 points (but equal to or higher than 17, of course), all players with a higher score win their bets and those with a lower score lose.
If the dealer has exactly 21 points, they collect all bets from other players, except those who also have exactly 21 points (a tie).
If the dealer has more than 21 points, all players who are still in the game win their bets and the dealer has to pay them the respective amounts.
If a player has the same score as the dealer, it is a tie and neither of them loses or gains anything.
Leaving the Game
After a round has ended and all bets have been settled, a player can leave the game if they wish so. Or you can end the game entirely if you’re having a home game.
