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Blackjack Card Game
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The Blackjack Card Game
The card game of blackjack is widely regarded as one of the most popular of all
casino games. It is fun, fast moving, and easy to learn. It also provides the
player with a bit of an advantage, as it is the table game with the lowest
house edge. In this article, we will examine the rules of blackjack, and arm
you with the knowledge and confidence to sit down at any casino and give this
timeless card game a try.
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Blackjack card game - Beat the Dealer
The object of a blackjack card game is simple. The player tries to beat the
dealer by making a hand closest to 21 without going over. Each card is
designated a point value (10, J, Q, K = 10, face cards are face value, and an
Ace can be used as either an 11 or 1) and the player makes his decision to hit
or stand based on the cards he is dealt and the upcard (card showing) of the
dealer. If a player wants to hit (be dealt another card), he should signify
this by tapping or sweeping the table. If the player wishes to stand (not be
dealt any more cards), he should put his hand palm down in the air and move it
from left to right. The dealer has set guidelines by which to act, and these
will never change regardless of the strength of your hand. If the dealer has a
hand of 16 or less, the dealer must hit. If the dealer has a hand of 17 or
more, the dealer must stand. After all actions are completed, the hands are
totaled and the better hand wins!
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A few tricks...
There are a few actions in a blackjack card game that can be beneficial in
certain situations. The first such instance is known as "insurance". Insurance
is a bet made if the dealer has an Ace showing, and the player wants to guard
against the dealer having blackjack. If it turns out that the dealer does
indeed have blackjack, the player will be paid off at 2:1 on his insurance bet,
while losing his original wager. In most instances it is not prudent to make an
insurance bet, unless the player is counting cards (See Blackjack Card
Counting) and believes that the chances of the dealer having 21 is high.
Another option available to players is that of "doubling down". This is an
action that many players like to take if their two hole cards total 9, 10, or
11. By placing an additional wager next to the original wager (not on top of
the original wager), a player is signifying to the dealer that he is doubling
down. The player will then be given just one more card, and the total of the
player's three cards will be used to determine if the bet is won or lost.
"Splitting" is yet another action that some players use while at the blackjack
table. This action occurs when a player has a pair in his original two cards.
The player can then "split" the two cards, placing another wager next to the
original wager. The player is now playing two seperate hands, and play
continues as usual (hit, stand, etc.). The only time a player will not have an
option to hit or stand after this action is if he is splitting Aces, where in
that case he will be dealt one card only for each Ace.
Place Your Wage
The action begins in a blackjack card game with all players placing a bet in
the circle (or square) in front of him. Each table has different minimum and
maximum bet limits, so be sure to check the sign at the table you are sitting
at. After all bets are made, the dealer will deal from left to right at the
table, making sure each player receives two cards. Now, depending on what
casino you are playing in, these cards may come face up or face down. If they
are dealt face up, do not touch them! This is very important, as casinos do
this to prevent players from cheating. If the cards are dealt face down, pick
up your cards with ONE hand only and do not remove them from the table. Again,
this is for the security of the game, and for the dealer to be able to see the
cards at all times. In blackjack, the player is only trying to beat the dealer.
The hands of all other players at the table are irrelevant.
Twenty one!!
In a blackjack card game, the most superior hand is 21, otherwise known as
"blackjack" or "natural". If the player is dealt 21 in his original two cards,
he will paid off at 3:2 on his bet. It is not considered blackjack if the
player reaches 21 on more than two cards, although the bet will still win most
times at a 1:1 payoff. The only time this bet will not win is if the dealer
also makes 21, making this hand a "push". The money is left on the table, and
the player can increase, decrease, or make the same wager for the next hand.
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