The Rules of Online BlackjackWithout a doubt, one of the most popular online casino games around the world is
blackjack. This game of skill has captured the imaginations of countless generations of gamblers and continues to do so today on the Internet.
Online blackjack is certainly not one of the most complex gambling games to play but is one of the hardest to master.
If you are new to online gambling and want to learn the rules of blackjack, here they are:
1. While there may be between 1 and 7 players in any Blackjack hand, you are only playing against the dealer, not the other players.
2. The objective of the game of blackjack is to achieve 21 or as near to 21 as possible without
exceeding 21 or 'busting'. Getting 21 is known as a 'blackjack'.
3. Each player places a bet or wager to enter the hand.
4. In a clockwise direction, the dealer deals each player two cards (one at a time) and then deals himself two cards, one face up and the other face down.
5. Each player adds up the numbers on their cards. Aces represent either
one or
eleven points, Kings, Queens and Jacks represent 10 points each while 2 to 10 cards retain their face value.
6. If your card total is under 21 and you would like to be dealt another card, you ask the dealer to 'hit' and he will deal you another card. A player can be hit an unlimited number of times until he busts. For example, if you were dealt a 4 and 7 giving you a total of 11, you would ask the dealer to hit you. Say you receive
a 9, giving you 20, you would be wise to 'stick', meaning take no more cards and
wait to see what the dealer has. You now hope that the dealer busts himself or ends up with a total lower than yours for you to win.
7. Once all the players at the table have completed their hands, the dealer reveals his face down card to show his hand. The casino rules of blackjack dictate that he must 'hit' until his total is 17 or above. If his hand is between 17 and 21, he must stick. However, if his cards total 16 or below, he must hit until his hand has a value of 17 or higher. If he busts, he automatically loses meaning that all the players remaining in that hand win.
8. A blackjack hand will wins a payout of 3:2 and a winning hand pays out 1:1 (even).
9. Splitting - If are initially dealt a pair, you can choose to 'split' them and play them as two separate hands. However, if you choose to split aces, you will only receive one
more card per ace. Say you split up two A's and one of them adds up to 21, it is considered
'21' and not, unfortunately, a blackjack.
10. Doubling Down - After you are dealt your two cards, you may increase your bet by any amount up to your
initial bet or you may double your bet if you think that another card will help you beat the dealer's hand. Once you 'double down' you have to take one more card. In other words you cannot stick
and are required to take one and only one extra card.
11. Insurance - This is designed to protect you when you think that the dealer may have a blackjack. To purchase 'insurance', you place half of your initial bet by hitting the insurance button. If it turns out that the dealer does in fact have a blackjack, you win 2:1 on your insurance bet. If the dealer doesn't, you lose your insurance bet.
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