Blackjack Rules

Blackjack is a very simple game to understand and play, which makes it very popular among casino patrons around the world. Players of virtually any skill level will be able to grasp the basic rules of the game without much strain. The best part of the game however, is that there are many skills that are necessary to play the game and these skills differentiate the professionals and experts from the novices.

How to Play the Game

The game of Blackjack takes place on a table that is specially designed for the game. It is semi-circular in shape and each player has a separate area. There are typically 8 players at a single table, however there are some tables that are designed to take more players. There are squares or circles marked on the circular edge of the table that specify where the player should sit.
Once the player decides to play at a table, he/she sits at the table and purchases chips from the casino. These chips come in various denominations, depending on the specifications of that particular table. Once the player receives the chips, they must then make a bet that must exceed or equal the table minimum. After the bets have been made, the game begins. In Blackjack, each player plays an individual game against the dealer.
The game is said to have begun when each of the players receives two open cards. The dealer then receives one open card and one closed, which is called the “Hole Card”. After all the cards have been dealt, the player must decide upon his/her next move. Depending on the card total and the dealer’s open card, the game proceeds.

Rules of the Game

In case any player has a Blackjack, with the dealer holding some other hand, the player receives a 3:2 payout. In case both the dealer and the player have a Blackjack, then the game is termed a Push, in which case the bet remains and another hand is dealt. If neither holds a Blackjack, then the player needs to decide on the next move, for which there are five different possibilities. Players can choose to either Hit, Stand, Split, Insurance or Double depending on the hand he/she holds as well as the dealer’s open hand.

If the player chooses a Hit, it means that they will receive another card. Players can choose the Hit option as long as the hand is not a Bust. The Stand option means that the player will not receive any extra cards and will play the remainder of the game with the existing hand.

The Split option can be taken by the player when he/she holds two of the same cards (disregarding the suit). In this case, the player’s hand is split into two and played as two individual hands. The Insurance option is available to the player if the dealer’s open card is an Ace. With this option, the player is allowed to make an extra wager on the possibility that the dealer’s hand is a blackjack. Finally, the Double option is available to players who wish to double their initial bet.