Get a grip on all your blackjack gaming here. We discuss the diferent rules, styles and strategies for winning.

What is Blackjack?

Blackjack is all about getting a card total higher than the dealers, as long as you do not go over 21. Even though blackjack is known as 21, you are not playing to get as close to 21 as possible; you are playing to beat the house.

Blackjack, despite of what you may think, is not a group game. You could get this false impression when you see several players around a single table, but actually the dealer is playing against a single player each time.

How Blackjack is Played:

Blackjack could be played using between one to eight decks of cards. The players start the round by placing their bets in the circle infront of them, then the dealer starts playing with the player left-most of him and draws him a single card. The dealer than goes on dealing a single card to each of the players around the table, and himself last, while his card is facing up. Then another card is dealt by the dealer to each of the players and himself, and this time the dealers card is facing down.

When every player gets a second card, the dealer starts, again from his left, asking the players if they wish to be dealt another card. The dealer tends to that player until he goes over 21 ("bust"), or wishes to stop taking cards ("stand"). Having all the gamblers finished their hands, the dealer now begins his. The dealer has certain instructions about his play, and has no personal interference. The rules usually are that he must draw another card ("hit") if his total equals to or less than 16, and must "stand" if his score is 17 or more.

When the dealers hand is done, the dealer will collect bets from players that have worse hands than his, and pay bets to player with better hands. In case of a tie, no money is taken/given ("push"). If the dealer is "busted", all player who have not automatically busted, win. Gamblers then collect their earnings, and can place new bets.

Interesting Facts

• Cards are dealt face-up. (unless is a game played with one deck only)
• Player are not allowed to touch their cards or the original bets.
• The "Face Cards" (king, queen, jack) are worth 10 points.
• Aces worth eleven ponts (soft ace), or one point (hard ace).
• A winner is he who totals more than the dealer, but did not cross 21.
• The best hand in blackjack is an ace and a ten points worth card and is called "blackjack".
• A blackjack that wins the game pays a 3:2 rate.
• Any different winning bet pays even money.
• If the dealer as well as the player get blackjacks the bet is a push. a hand that totals over 21, busts (loses).