The rules of blackjack are fairly simple: a dealer has two cards, and all players have the option of asking for another card by scraping their card on the table. The dealer will then deal one card from his shoe, placing it next to the two players’ original cards. The next step is to decide whether to stand or hit again, and if your total is higher than 21 you will forfeit the game. There are several other ways to win, including betting on the dealer’s blackjack.
Splitting aces is a poor blackjack play
If you have an ace and want to split it, consider your chances of winning. Compared to a hard-to-beat hand of 21, an ace will likely beat the dealer in most cases. However, this strategy can cost you money because you could end up with a weaker hand. However, a basic strategy recommends splitting aces. This decision gives you a chance to start two promising hands that can each yield a total of 11.
Insurance is a side bet
If you have an ace, you can place an insurance bet to protect yourself against the dealer having a blackjack. This side bet pays 2:1 and can only be placed when the dealer’s up card is an ace. To place an insurance bet, you must have at least fifteen dollars in your hand, but not more. If you do not have this amount, you should just let the chips fall and continue with the hand.
Pushing if the dealer has a blackjack
When a player and a dealer each have the same value, they are considered to be “pushing”. The push results in the bet being returned, and the player does not win anything. A dealer with a blackjack will always stand when he has a hand that is seventeen points or more, while a player with an inferior hand must continue to take cards until he reaches seventeen. When a dealer is dealt an ace, the dealer must take additional cards until the total of both hands is seventeen or higher.
Betting on a dealer’s blackjack
When betting on a blackjack hand, you may wonder if you’re getting a fair chance at winning. While the odds of the dealer hitting blackjack are less than one in three, you’re still going to get a decent payout if you bet on insurance. This bet is called insurance because it pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has blackjack. If the dealer has an Ace, the insurance bet pays even money.
European style blackjack rules
Having played Blackjack before, you will know that the European style has a different set of rules than that of the traditional American version. In this version, players compete with the dealer to hit 21 or get close to it without going over. The numbered cards, known as pip values, count for one point each, while the face cards, or aces, count for eleven points. If you reach 21 before the dealer, you win the hand.