Blackjack Rules and how to play.

• The dealer must draw cards until a total of 17 or greater is reached. Face cards such as Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 10 points. Aces are worth 1 or 11, whichever is preferable. Other cards are represented by their number.
• If you make a total of 21 with the first two cards (a 10 or a face and an Ace), you win automatically. It is the strongest hand in Multi-hand Blackjack, and automatically stands.This is called 'Blackjack'.
• Note that if you bust you lose, even if the dealer also busts.
• If you win with a Blackjack you are paid out at odds of 3:2 on your original bet.
• When the value of the cards dealt equal twenty one it is a 21, but not Blackjack. The hand automatically stands.
• If both the player and the dealer have the same point value, it is called a "push", and neither player nor dealer wins the hand.
• Before receiving any cards players must place a wager. Then the players are dealt two cards face up. The dealer gets one face up, one face down. Each player in turn either stands or takes more cards to try and get closer to 21 without busting.
• Players who do not bust wait for the dealer's turn. When all the players are done, the dealer turns up the down card. Once the dealer has drawn 17 or higher the dealer must stand anything less than 17 the dealer must draw another card Follow this link to see games where the dealer has to draw on soft 17

At this point you may think that Blackjack is easy, and in theory you are right but you will need a strategy which simply boils down to, having a higher hand than the Dealer's without going over 21 (going bust). Simple? Hold your horses! If you are not well prepared for online gambling, you could end up turning your favorable position to your disadvantage. To further complicate matters there are several variations and strategies of the Blackjack Rules, such as the number of decks used or whether the dealer can hit a soft 17 vary with the casino. Besides knowing the basics of the game I strongly advise that you read up on all the blackjack rules and links on this site and that you first play free blackjack games before putting money on the table and remember to read the Blackjack Rules of the online casino you intend playing

The Terminology you will see in Blackjack rules

• Insurance : Is a side bet up to half the initial bet against the dealer having a natural 21 and is only allowed when the dealer's showing card is an Ace. If the dealer has a 10 face down and makes a blackjack, insurance pays at 2:1 odds, but pays nothing if the dealer does not (Never take insurance! I increases the dealer odds by up to 8%)
• Surrender : Giving up your hand and lose only half the bet.
• Surrender : Surrender allowed before the dealer checks for blackjack.
• Double Down : Double your initial bet and hit one last card. A good option if you are in a strong position.
• Split : Split the initial two-card hand into two and play them separately and is allowed only when the two first cards have an equal value. Each card is then the start to a separate hand and place and a second bet equal to the first is placed on the split.
• Hard Hand : A hand without an Ace, or with an Ace valued at 1 is said to be Hard in that it can only be given one value, unlike a Soft Hand. (You can value an Ace 1 or 11 whichever suites you).
• Soft Hand : A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 is called a Soft Hand.

Related Links
Strategy:Your best chance at beating the house
Blackjack Rules and how to play (You are here)
Know the facts and start winning
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