Rules of Casino blackjack
Object of the Game of Blackjack
The player attempts to beat the house, represented by the dealer, by obtaining a hand total that is equal to or less than 21 so that the player's total is higher than the dealer's total. This is the basic object whether playing Blackjack in a Canadian Casino, European Casino, American Casino or an online casino.
Blackjack Card Values
Each card is face value except for the ace and the picture cards. All 10's and picture cards are counted as 10. The ace can be valued as either 1 or 11, at the player's option, although if you have not busted the Ace is always valued at 11. The suits have no value.
Number of Players
The game has one dealer and usually from one to seven players (although you are always playing against the dealer). The players may sit or stand at the semi-circle table across from the dealer.
Number of Decks / Shuffle
Most casinos use between 4 and 8 decks. The rules and strategies in "Pocket Guide to Winning Blackjack" are aimed at the popular 6 deck game. However, most of the information is valid for any game. In any game where more than 2 decks are in use, 2 cards are dealt face up to each player and 1 card is dealt face up to the dealer. The dealer's 2 card is dealt face down. The cards left to be dealt are held in a box on the table layout in a "shoe." The cards will be shuffled at the end of the hand in which a colored plastic card comes out (usually placed at about 3/4 of the way into the shoe).
After the cards are shuffled, the dealer will pass the colored card to a player. If you would like to "cut" the cards, place the colored card into the stack. If it is too close to the edge, you will be asked to cut again. You can always refuse to cut if you like - the dealer will just pass the card to the next player.
Many casinos have installed shuffling machines at their tables so that there is never a break in play due to shuffling. The use of these machines is detrimental to the player. This is because after each hand, the cards are returned to the machine and are constantly being shuffled. If possible, play at a table where you can see the cards and know how much more of the shoe remains to be dealt. It is a good idea to get up and take a short break between shoes.
There are other types of shuffling machines that just shuffle all of the cards at once (ie: 6 decks), and then they are placed in the "shoe" and dealt normally.
"Blackjack"
When a player receives an ace and a 10-value card as the first two cards it is referred to as a "blackjack" or "natural." Generally you will be paid one and one-half times the original bet (3 to 2). If the player and the dealer both have blackjacks, the player "pushes" with the dealer, with no money won or lost.
Player's Action
If it has been determined that the dealer does not have a blackjack, the players are allowed to take certain actions on their hands. The player at the dealers far left will go first (the right side of the table if you are looking at it). If the player wants another card, they can ask for a "hit." This is done by scratching the surface of the table with their finger(s). The player may take as many hits as they want as long as they do not "bust." If the table allows "surrender", you should consider altering your strategy to include for a blackjack surrender strategy.
If the player does not want any more cards they should inform the dealer that they wish to stand. This is done by waving the hand in a lateral motion with palm down over the table.
A player may double the amount of their initial bet after looking at their first two cards. This is referred to as doubling down and once this is done the player receives one additional card only. If the player wishes to double down, they should place an additional bet equal to the initial bet in the betting circle and announce "double down." Many casinos place restrictions on when a player may double down. Some casinos only allow doubling down on hand values of 10 or 11. Some do not allow doubling down on soft hands, or after splitting. The fewer restrictions placed on doubling down, the more advantageous it is for the player.
If a player's initial two cards are identical in value, they may split them by betting an amount equal to the original bet on the second card. An additional card is then drawn on each of the 2 hands, playing each hand (from right to left) in turn. Most casinos place a limit on the number of times a hand may be split, usually from 1 to 3. When aces are split, a player is normally permitted to draw only one additional card on each ace.
Some casinos allow the player to surrender their first two cards. When a player surrenders their hand, they immediately give up half the bet without playing the hand. On early surrender, the player gives up half the bet regardless of whether the dealer has a blackjack or not. On late surrender, if the dealer has a blackjack the player loses their entire bet.
Busting
If a player's hand ever exceeds a total of 21, the hand is busted and the bet is lost regardless of the dealer's total. When a player busts, the dealer immediately removes their cards and bet.
Push
If a player and the dealer have the same total, and this same total is 21 or under, the hand is a tie, or a "push" and no money is won or lost. The only exception to this rule is that a blackjack always beats a hand value of 21.
Dealer's Play
Once all the players have acted on their hands, the dealer flips the unexposed (hole) card over and draws cards until they have a total of 17 or above. Some casinos require the dealer to also hit soft 17s, which is to the player's disadvantage. A "soft" hand is one in which the taking of an extra card cannot bust the hand (such as an Ace and a 6).
Insurance
When the dealer's exposed card (up-card) is an ace, the players are allowed to make an insurance bet equal to half of the amount of their initial bet. If the dealer has a blackjack, the players will be paid at 2-to-1 on their insurance bet.
If the dealer does not have a blackjack, the insurance bet is lost. Insurance is almost always a poor bet and should be avoided unless the player is counting cards and the insurance bet is favorable.
Tipping
Tipping is left up to the player's discretion and is not required. You should only tip if the dealer was friendly, helpful or in some way made your play pleasant. I recommend you only tip when winning.
The best way to tip (or "toke") is to place a small additional bet for the dealer on the side of your betting circle. If your hand wins, the dealer wins with you. If you lose, the dealer’s bet is also lost, but should still be appreciated.
The player attempts to beat the house, represented by the dealer, by obtaining a hand total that is equal to or less than 21 so that the player's total is higher than the dealer's total. This is the basic object whether playing Blackjack in a Canadian Casino, European Casino, American Casino or an online casino.
Blackjack Card Values
Each card is face value except for the ace and the picture cards. All 10's and picture cards are counted as 10. The ace can be valued as either 1 or 11, at the player's option, although if you have not busted the Ace is always valued at 11. The suits have no value.
Number of Players
The game has one dealer and usually from one to seven players (although you are always playing against the dealer). The players may sit or stand at the semi-circle table across from the dealer.
Number of Decks / Shuffle
Most casinos use between 4 and 8 decks. The rules and strategies in "Pocket Guide to Winning Blackjack" are aimed at the popular 6 deck game. However, most of the information is valid for any game. In any game where more than 2 decks are in use, 2 cards are dealt face up to each player and 1 card is dealt face up to the dealer. The dealer's 2 card is dealt face down. The cards left to be dealt are held in a box on the table layout in a "shoe." The cards will be shuffled at the end of the hand in which a colored plastic card comes out (usually placed at about 3/4 of the way into the shoe).
After the cards are shuffled, the dealer will pass the colored card to a player. If you would like to "cut" the cards, place the colored card into the stack. If it is too close to the edge, you will be asked to cut again. You can always refuse to cut if you like - the dealer will just pass the card to the next player.
Many casinos have installed shuffling machines at their tables so that there is never a break in play due to shuffling. The use of these machines is detrimental to the player. This is because after each hand, the cards are returned to the machine and are constantly being shuffled. If possible, play at a table where you can see the cards and know how much more of the shoe remains to be dealt. It is a good idea to get up and take a short break between shoes.
There are other types of shuffling machines that just shuffle all of the cards at once (ie: 6 decks), and then they are placed in the "shoe" and dealt normally.
"Blackjack"
When a player receives an ace and a 10-value card as the first two cards it is referred to as a "blackjack" or "natural." Generally you will be paid one and one-half times the original bet (3 to 2). If the player and the dealer both have blackjacks, the player "pushes" with the dealer, with no money won or lost.
Player's Action
If it has been determined that the dealer does not have a blackjack, the players are allowed to take certain actions on their hands. The player at the dealers far left will go first (the right side of the table if you are looking at it). If the player wants another card, they can ask for a "hit." This is done by scratching the surface of the table with their finger(s). The player may take as many hits as they want as long as they do not "bust." If the table allows "surrender", you should consider altering your strategy to include for a blackjack surrender strategy.
If the player does not want any more cards they should inform the dealer that they wish to stand. This is done by waving the hand in a lateral motion with palm down over the table.
A player may double the amount of their initial bet after looking at their first two cards. This is referred to as doubling down and once this is done the player receives one additional card only. If the player wishes to double down, they should place an additional bet equal to the initial bet in the betting circle and announce "double down." Many casinos place restrictions on when a player may double down. Some casinos only allow doubling down on hand values of 10 or 11. Some do not allow doubling down on soft hands, or after splitting. The fewer restrictions placed on doubling down, the more advantageous it is for the player.
If a player's initial two cards are identical in value, they may split them by betting an amount equal to the original bet on the second card. An additional card is then drawn on each of the 2 hands, playing each hand (from right to left) in turn. Most casinos place a limit on the number of times a hand may be split, usually from 1 to 3. When aces are split, a player is normally permitted to draw only one additional card on each ace.
Some casinos allow the player to surrender their first two cards. When a player surrenders their hand, they immediately give up half the bet without playing the hand. On early surrender, the player gives up half the bet regardless of whether the dealer has a blackjack or not. On late surrender, if the dealer has a blackjack the player loses their entire bet.
Busting
If a player's hand ever exceeds a total of 21, the hand is busted and the bet is lost regardless of the dealer's total. When a player busts, the dealer immediately removes their cards and bet.
Push
If a player and the dealer have the same total, and this same total is 21 or under, the hand is a tie, or a "push" and no money is won or lost. The only exception to this rule is that a blackjack always beats a hand value of 21.
Dealer's Play
Once all the players have acted on their hands, the dealer flips the unexposed (hole) card over and draws cards until they have a total of 17 or above. Some casinos require the dealer to also hit soft 17s, which is to the player's disadvantage. A "soft" hand is one in which the taking of an extra card cannot bust the hand (such as an Ace and a 6).
Insurance
When the dealer's exposed card (up-card) is an ace, the players are allowed to make an insurance bet equal to half of the amount of their initial bet. If the dealer has a blackjack, the players will be paid at 2-to-1 on their insurance bet.
If the dealer does not have a blackjack, the insurance bet is lost. Insurance is almost always a poor bet and should be avoided unless the player is counting cards and the insurance bet is favorable.
Tipping
Tipping is left up to the player's discretion and is not required. You should only tip if the dealer was friendly, helpful or in some way made your play pleasant. I recommend you only tip when winning.
The best way to tip (or "toke") is to place a small additional bet for the dealer on the side of your betting circle. If your hand wins, the dealer wins with you. If you lose, the dealer’s bet is also lost, but should still be appreciated.
Once you know how to play, and learn some strategy, it's a great idea to practice at home for free before going to the casino... here are some tips on practicing blackjack strategies.
Here's something else that may be interesting for you -- the history of Blackjack!
Here's something else that may be interesting for you -- the history of Blackjack!
Blackjack 21
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