The Basics of Black Jack
Blackjack is a card game in which players try to get a hand that totals 21 without going over (busting). The object is to beat the dealer’s hand and win money.
There are many rules and variations to Black Jack, but the basic game is based on a single deck of cards. It is a very simple game, and beginners will find it easy to learn.
When the dealer deals the first two cards to each player, they must decide whether to ‘HIT’ or ‘STAND’. ‘HIT’ means that they want to take another card and get closer to 21, and ‘STAND’ means that they don’t want any more cards.
The dealer will then deal the next two cards to each player. The dealer can ‘HIT’ on 16 or less and ‘STAND’ on 17 through 21, or he can ‘DOUBLE DOWN’, which means that he will double his bet, turn up one card, and take another.
If a player’s first two cards are an ace and a 10-value card, they automatically have a ‘Blackjack’, or ‘Natural’, which is a winning hand and pays 3:2 on their bet. In 2003 some casinos started paying only 6:5 on Blackjacks, which was criticized by long-time Blackjack players.
When a player has a blackjack, they can also choose to ‘INSURANCE’. Insurance is only offered when the dealer’s upcard is an ace, and it pays out half of the initial bet with a payout of 3:2 if the dealer’s upcard is a ten or an ace.
In addition to the basic rules of Blackjack, there are some side bets that can add to your winnings. These include pairs, colors, and a number of different betting combinations. The odds on these bets can range from 35x to INR 350, depending on the casino.
A player can also ‘DOUBLE DOWN’ after splitting a pair, but this is only allowed on specific combinations of cards. Some casinos restrict this to pairs of the same rank, while others allow it for all combinations of cards.
Some games also allow a player to resplit their aces, reducing the house edge by about 0.13%. However, this rule is extremely rare and only a few games offer it.
Splitting Aces
The usual rule is that a player is only permitted to receive a single additional card on each of their hands when they split an ace. Some casinos also limit the number of non-matching ten value cards that can be split, preventing them from hitting a blackjack or doubling down after splitting a pair.
Rules for Resplitting Aces
Some games allow a player to resplit their ace as well, reducing the house edge by about 0.03%. This technique can be effective when playing against a dealer who is very good at counting cards, and can help to increase the chances of a win.
It is usually a poor play to split 10s, as it makes a 12 a worse stand, since you will have to draw a 10-value card before you can hit. It also makes a pair of 8s a much better stand than a pair of tens, as you will have the same chances of a win.