Blackjack has really easy rules, but also some complicated strategies. This is one of the most entertaining casino games, and when you play blackjack well, it can give you very good rate of return.
But first, here's a little history. Blackjack started in France, and was initially named "vingt-et-un", which is French for "twenty-one". When French players brought it to America, not many Americans cared for it. To grab the players' interest, the casino made a hand with a "black jack" (jack of clubs or jack of spades) worth more money. In those days, only the ace of spades and black Jack were considered the best hand. Currently, it is a hand with any two cards that add up to twenty-one.
The purpose of the game is to get your cards to add up to a total as close as possible to twenty-one, with each card valued at a set number of points. Cards with numbers are easy; they are each worth their corresponding numbers. Face cards (Jack, Queen and King) are each worth ten points. An Ace is worth eleven, if the player does not go over twenty-one, or "bust". If the rest of the hand is worth eleven or more, the Ace is worth one point. If the player busts, they lose the hand.
In the casino, players play against the dealer, even when many players are seated at the same table. Consequently, there can by many winners and losers in the same hand of blackjack. If the dealer has blackjack straight off, any players who don't have >blackjack automatically lose, and any players who have Blackjack tie ("push") with the dealer.
The dealer deals the players their first card face-up, one at a time, and then deals his own facedown. He then deals the second cards to the players face-up, then his own facedown, then flips over one of his cards. The face-up card is called the “upcard”, while the facedown card is known as the “hole card”. Only the dealer can see his own hole card.
From there, the dealer asks each player, starting from his left, if they want to take another card (“hit”) or stay with their current hand (“stand”). Players can take as many cards as they want until they either choose to stand or they bust. Players usually hit when they have sixteen points or less. With sixteen points, you are unlikely to win the hand anyway, so it is a good idea to hit.
These are the most common actions. More intricate moves are listed below.
The player can also double the starting bet and take only one more card. This move is called a "Double Down". Players will typically use this move with a total hand of nine, ten or eleven in hopes of getting an Ace or ten-point card.
If a player has two cards, which are identical or have the same value (e.g. 10, K or 6, 6), they have the opportunity to "split" their hand. This means that they will use their existing cards to make two new hands, where each card is the first card in the new hand. Most players split aces and eights, but don't split fives or tens.
In some casinos, players can also surrender their hands. This means that they lay down their cards and take back half of their initial bet. Smart players will surrender if their hand is between thirteen and sixteen while the dealer as a ten-point upcard.
Each action has a specific hand gesture:
- Hit: Tap the tabletop with your index finger.
- Stand: Wave hand horizontally over the cards.
- Double Down: Put more chips behind the bet.
- Split: Put more chips next to the bet and extend the first two fingers.
- Surrender: Make a vertical motion. Usually the player says it out loud, however.
A player's hand is finished when they bust, stand, or double down. Even if the dealer busts, the player loses if they bust first. This gives the casino a slight edge against the player. Once all players are done hitting, the dealer takes a turn. If the dealer busts, all the players still in the hand win their bets. The accepted rule is that the dealer must hit if they have seventeen points or less.