Blackjack Strategy Gaming
Before any cards are dealt, the player must wager. Let's take a look at the basic rules of play. If you have a blackjack hand, you win 3:2 times your bet (example - a $5 bet will win $7.50), as long as the dealer does not have blackjack. Aces have a value of either 1 or 11, face cards as 10 and the cards that are left are valued as their face numbers. If the total of your hand is over 21, you'll bust and lose your bet. A winning blackjack pays the player 3 to 2. Going over 21 is called "Busting. If the player hits and busts (goes over 21), he immediately turns his cards over and his wager is lost. DOUBLE DOWN - The player is allowed to double the bet on his first two cards and draw one additional card only to improve his hand. SPLITTING PAIRS - If the first two cards a player is dealt are a pair, he may split them into two separate hands, bet the same amount on each and then play them separately. Starting to the dealer's left side, the cards are dealt in a round one at a time to each player ending with the dealer receiving his second card face down. INSURANCE - If the dealer's up card is an ace, the player may take insurance, a bet not exceeding one-half his original bet. If the dealer's down card is a 10 or any face card, the player wins 2 to 1. When you split two aces and one of your hands totals 21, this is not blackjack, it's 21. Note that at some online casinos, you cannot split a split hand. An Ace can count as 1 or 11 depending on what is most beneficial to your hand. Player's add the value of their cards and either decide to "Stick" or "Stand" with their current cards or receive another card, called a "Hit" or "Draw," hopefully raising their total closer to 21 without going over. If the dealer has blackjack, the insurance pays 2:1, matching the amount of your original bet. If you and the dealer both have blackjack, the game ends in a push. Surrender is not offered at very many online casinos. When surrender is available, if you are not pleased with the cards you were dealt, you may give them up and lose half of your bet.