Basics
Another name for blackjack is 21, which represents the critical number of points each player must earn. As long as the number of points is less or equal to 21, the higher the number is, the better are the chances to win the game. If the number exceeds 21, it is called a bust. A player that busts always loses, even if the dealer busts too.
Blackjack cards have the following point values:
- 2 through 10: the number of points corresponds to the cards face value.
- Face Cards (jack, queen, king): always worth 10 points.
- Ace: worth 1 or 11 points depending on whether it busts the hand or not.
The goal of each player is to beat the dealer, earning a higher number of points, but not exceeding 21. If the player and the dealer have the same number of points, this is called a push, and no one wins, but another hand is played.
Blackjack at casinos is most commonly dealt from a shoe of 4 to 8 decks, but sometimes may be dealt from 1 or 2 hand-held decks. This type of the game is called pitch game. The dealer gives 2 cards to each player and to himself. One of the dealers cards is placed face-up and exposed to all players. The other is faced-down and is called the hole card. In European Blackjack the hole card is not dealt until all the players play their hands. If it is a pitch game, all players receive their cards face-down. If the game is dealt from a shoe, the cards are faced-up.
If the players two first cards are an ace and a ten-value card, this combination is already worth 21 points, and is called blackjack or natural. A player who gets a blackjack, automatically wins the game, unless the dealer has a blackjack too. Blackjack pays 3:2 at most casinos. If the players combination is different from blackjack, he continues playing, performing the following actions:
- Hit: take another card
- Stand: take no more cards and play the hand
- Double Down: double the bet, take one more card and stand. (in some casinos double-down is only allowed if the player has a certain combination.
- Split: divide the hand into two different hands, adding another bet (split can only be performed if the player has two equal value cards in the hand).
- Surrender: give up, losing a half of the bet (surrender is not allowed at most casinos)
After all players make their turns, the dealers plays his hand. Common house rules say that dealer must hit if he has less than 17, no matter what other players cards are. At some tables the dealer is also obligated to his soft 17, the combination composed of an ace and a 6. Whether the dealer hits or stands soft 17 is indicated on the left of the blackjack table. If the dealer busts then all players that did not bust win and are paid 1:1.