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The Blackjack Table
In casinos, Blackjack is played at a semi-circular table with the players around the round portion facing the dealer who stands behind the straight section. Most Blackjack tables accommodate seven players and the green baize covering will have the following notices written on them: “Insurance Pays 2 to 1”, “Dealer must Hit Soft 17 or Dealer Must Stand on All 17’s”.
How to Play Blackjack
The player’s objective in Blackjack is to attain a total of 21 points from the 2 cards dealt to him by the dealer and by drawing more cards. He may not exceed 21. In order to win, his points must be higher than those of the dealer. All cards are counted at face value except for the Ace which can be counted as 1 or as 11. For example, a 2, and 8 and a 9 will total 19. The picture cards, Jack, Queen and King all count as 10, so a Queen and an 8 makes 18 points. The ideal hand is an Ace and a picture card, giving a total of 21, where the Ace is counted as 11. This is a “Blackjack”, or a “Natural” and it is unbeatable. If the dealer has the same, it is a tie, which is called a “Push”. Bets are noted on the table and should be checked when joining the game. The bet, which is on the hand, will show as “Minimum $5, maximum $500.
Blackjack Systems
The first position among the blackjack players is that immediately to the dealer’s left and is called “First Base”. The first card is dealt to him. The opposite side, at the dealer’s right, is called “Third Base” and he receives the last cards. This is an important position as it dictates what cards the dealer will receive. A prospective blackjack player should not hesitate when seeing an empty table. A one-on-one game with the dealer gives the best possible odds to the player.
Blackjack Basic Strategy
“Doubling Down” in blackjack means doubling your bet and receiving one more card only. You can “Double Down” on any first two cards by placing the cards face up in front of the betting circle, and placing a bet equal to your original bet next to it. You must say “Double Down” when you do this.
When a player is dealt two cards of the same value, the player may decide to “Split” his hand and play two hands and place a bet equal to the original bet on each of the two hands in action. In a “Split” hand the player can draw more than one card to finish out each hand. All casinos will allow you to “Split Aces”, but you will only be dealt one additional card on each of the two Aces.
Blackjack Tips
A “single Deck” means a deck of 52 cards without Jokers or Wild cards. Two decks will be 104 cards and a “Six Deck Shoe” is box that looks like a shoe with 312 cards in it. The cards are all shuffled. In a “Six Deck Shoe” the cards may group together and allow a blackjack player to hit winning streaks more frequently than with smaller decks.
Blackjack Strategy
In Blackjcak, a “Soft Hand” on the first two cards dealt, means a combination of an Ace with any card, other than any 10 card. The player can count the Ace as either 11 or as 1. For instance, if you are dealt an Ace and a 3, you have a “Soft Hand” - your hand can be either 14 or 4; this is called a “Soft 14”. However, if your two cards are a 10 and a 4, this is a “Hard 14”, also known as a “Stiff”. A “Soft Hand” is a better hand and will allow you to get close to 21, or indeed make 21, by drawing six or more cards. This is called “Six and Over” and in some casinos is an automatic winner, often paying out 2 to 1. The number 17 is crucial in Blackjack because it can be either the worst hand for the player or the dealer. As in “Craps”, where the number 7 can be either the player’s friend or foe, so in Blackjack the number 17 can make or break the player’s hand.
Look on the table for a sign that says “Dealer Must Stand on All 17”. These are favorable rules for the player, and mean that dealer’s Ace with a 6 is a “Soft 17” hand, he must count the Ace as 11 making the total hand as 17. This means that the dealer has no options. Don’t play if the rules state, “Dealer Must Hit Soft 17”, because you would be giving up part of your edge.
Blackjack Doubling Strategies
Some casinos will only allow you to “Double Down” if the combined value of the first two cards dealt is 10 or 11. This means that if the dealer is showing a 6 as the up card, this would be a good time for you to Double Down. If your total is 9, you cannot Double Down. By eliminating this choice, the casino further reduces your ability to win money. Veteran blackjack players will stay away from casinos with these restrictions. If you do find a casino that offers all of the good rules, the chances are they will only be offered on the six-deck blackjack game.
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