Online Blackjack Rules
Blackjack Rules
Learn How to Play Blackjack
The goal of Blackjack is to have a hand total of points higher than the dealer's hand, without exceeding 21. If you have a higher hand you win. There are special Online Blackjack variations that offer special bonuses for certain Blackjack hand combinations. These variations have their own special Blackjack rules varying from casino to casino.
Blackjack Rules for card values:
- An Ace has a value of 1 or 11, whichever suits you best.
- Cards 2 to 9 bear their respective face value.
- 10, Jack, Queen and King are worth 10.
A Blackjack is a situation when your first two cards score 21, which is only possible with an Ace and a card valued ten. Blackjack beats any hand other than another Blackjack, which results in a tie.
If your total is equal to the dealer's, it is a tie. Blackjack rules call this a "Push". When your two initial cards are an Ace and a 10 or a face card then it is "Blackjack", which pays 3:2 if the dealer does not receive a Blackjack as well. These rules are the same when you play Blackjack in online casinos.
How To Play Blackjack
Before any cards are dealt you place your bet according to the limits of the Blackjack table you are playing: some tables allow you to place a minimum bet of $1 while others would not accept bets lower than $500. Always make sure that you know what the table's limits are before you place bets and start playing Blackjack. According to Blackjack rules, first you place you bets, then receive your cards. The dealer will deal two cards to all players including himself, with one card up. The players then each take a turn to decide what they want to do.
You then may choose a few playing options to continue your game. You may split cards, buy yourself insurance if you think that the dealer is about to hit a Blackjack, you can "stand" without taking more cards, and you may also double down. Different places may have specific rules govern these things. Every casino and online casino can set the rules they want, but these are the standard, basic Blackjack rules. Most casinos and online casinos will have to conforms to these basic Blackjack rules.
Player's options:
- Surrender - withdrawing from the game for the cost of half of your bet. This rule is not available in every Backjack game and can only be played before any other choices.
- Hit - requesting an additional card to the dealer.
- Stand - not drawing a card.
- Double Down - doubling a player's bet and getting one card. After which, according to Blackjack rules, the player must stand.
- Splitting Pairs - if a player gets a pair, then, following the rules of Blackjack, he can split them and play both hands independently. Upon splitting pairs, a bet must be placed on the newly split hand amounting to the bet on the previous hand.
- Insurance - if the dealer turns up an Ace he will offer insurance to the players. The choice of insurance allows a player to bet up to half of his original bet against the dealer's Blackjack. The dealer will check for Blackjack as specified by Blackjack rules; in case he does, the player will lose his original bet but the insurance bet will be paid out at double odds, effectively covering the original bet.
Dealer's options:
In accordance to the house Blackjack rules of most Las Vegas and online casinos, the dealer will hit until his totals are 17 points or greater, or until he busts. Otherwise, the dealer will stand. That's it!
Notice that an Ace in the dealer's hand under this Blackjack rule is always considered to be worth 11 points unless it makes the dealer go over 21 points and, according to Blackjack rules, he cannot split, double down, insure himself or surrender.
The winnings at the Blackjack Table work in a very simple way:
- Winning hand pays 1:1
- Insurance pays 2:1
- Blackjack pays 3:2
After you learn these basic Blackjack rules, you may want to study Blackjack strategies like card counting, which consists in counting every card by every player in order to determine the likelihood of drawing a favorable card. You may also want to learn about Blackjack betting strategies and a reliable money management policy, so that you may minimize your loses on the Blackjack casino.
You will definitely need to practice and adjust what you have learned about Blackjack rules to your own personal style. You can check our selected online casinos and practice playing Blackjack there for free. All the books in the world can never beat experience.
In addition, while you learn how to play Blackjack, practice your Blackjack glossary. If you know the game's correct lingo, you are more likely to understand the game more quickly.
Aaron Cummings - PR/Publications