Anyone wanting to beat the casinos at a game of their own will need to know how to play blackjack. The purpose of this article is to provide you with a basic understanding regarding blackjack rules.
Objective of the Game
There are many definitions of the objectives of this game, but when you get right down to it, in its simplest definition; you only need to beat the dealer. Players achieve this by drawing hand values higher than that of the dealer, but equal to or lower than 21 or forcing the dealer to draw a hand value exceeding 21. If either you or the dealer exceeds 21, they lose automatically.
With the above understood, players intent on winning will be required to repeat the process for as long as they remain in play. As an important side note, other player hands at your table have no bearing or impact on your own game, in contrast to the experience in Poker games, in blackjack only the player is matched against the dealer.
Blackjack Card Values
The game employs a standard deck of playing cards, and suits have no bearing on the game in blackjack. All the numbered cards from 2 to 10 retain their face value and all face cards Jack, Queen, King receive a value of 10. Aces are wild cards that receive one of two values either a 1 or 11, with the value purely dependent on which will offer the greatest value towards compiling a winning hand.
Blackjack Table Layout
In a near universal standard, the game utilises a semicircular table that may accommodate anywhere from five 5 to 12 players, with the most common table arrangement accommodating seven players. Players sit in front of the table, with the table between themselves and the dealer that stands behind his table, with the chip rack either in front of or next to him.
Basic Playing Rules
Despite the great many game varieties and their accompanying rule variations, the most commonly dealt blackjack game utilises either six or eight decks placed in a card-dispensing container known as a “shoe”. A great number of single and double-deck games will always remain popular; however, casinos more commonly employ shoe dispensers to contain the most commonly played blackjack game employing six decks of standard playing cards.
An overview of a basic blackjack round goes as follows: the player purchases chips, places his wager, cards are dealt to the players by the dealer, player decides on a hand strategy and actions his strategy, dealer plays his hand, followed by winning payouts ending each round.
Player & Dealer Game Signals & Actions
One of the first rules to remember when playing blackjack, dealers respond to absolutely no verbal instructions or requests from players, all forms of instructions are communicated via signals as described below.
Purchasing Chips – Placing cash on the felt signals the dealer to count a matching value of chip denominations and push it to the player.
Placing Wagers – To place a wager a player places the chips he wants to bet within his own betting circle on the felt.
Standing – Players satisfied with their dealt hands will signal the dealer they wish to stand by simply waving their hand or placing an open palm over their dealt cards.
Hitting – Players requiring additional cards to improve their hands will signal the dealer for a hit to deal cards by tapping the felt with their finger.
Doubling Down – Players wanting to Double Down will signal the dealer by placing an additional wager equal to their initial wager to the left of chips of their original wager
Splitting – Players wanting to Split their cards after receiving a pair of equal value cards will place an additional wager equal to their initial wager to lift the chips of the original wager. Then signal the dealer a “peace sign” with two fingers, signifying your intention to Split instead of doubling down.
Surrendering – Players wanting to Surrender will draw a line across the felt behind their bet, dealers may mistake this for a hit signal, to be safe always verbalise “surrender” to the dealer.