Play Blackjack
Blackjack or online blackjack, also called B.J., Twenty One,
Vingt-et-un, Van John, and Pontoon is the most popular bank
card game in the world. It's origin is widely disputed, but
it is most certainly related to the French games Ferme and Chemin
de Fer and the game Seven and a Half, of Italian origin. In
blackjack, players try to get a total card value of 21, or come
closer to it, without going over, than the dealer. In blackjack,
all betting is done against the house, or dealer.
In the non-casino private game version of blackjack, a 52 card
deck is used for play. The dealer can be arbitrarily chosen,
or alternately, in several ways in preliminary rounds of play.
Blackjack dealers then set their limits on bets. Aces count
at either 1 or 11, at the option of the player holding the
card, face cards hold a value of 10, while all other cards
are taken at their face value. Blackjack play then begins
with the dealer shuffling the deck, with any other player
having the right to cut. After being shuffled, the blackjack
deck is placed on an upturned joker, serving as an indicator
card. If no joker is available, the blackjack dealer turns
the top card face up and places it at the bottom of the deck.
If this card is an ace, he reshuffles and tries again. Depending
on the version of the private game being played, bets can
be placed before the deal, after one card has been dealt to
each player, or after each player has been dealt two cards
face down, and the dealer has his second card turned face
up. If a blackjack player's first two cards equal a total
of 21 (one being an ace and the other either a face card or
a 10), he has a blackjack, or natural, and wins double the
amount he has bet. If the dealer is dealt a blackjack, he
collects all bets , or in some private blackjack games, double
the bets, of all players, except in the case when another
player has a blackjack, who usually has his bet returned,
but in some variations of the game must also pay the dealer.
After taking care of any natural hands containing blackjack,
players, in turn, are each offered additional cards. If a
player decides to stand, it means he wants no more cards.
When a player takes a "hit," he recieves more cards,
one at a time, until he stands, or goes over twenty one. If
he goes over twenty one, the player looses and immediately
forfeits his bet to the dealer.
The dealer, who plays last, also stands or draws cards. If
he goes over twenty one, all remaining players are paid on
their bets. If the dealer stands on, say, 19, he announces
"pay 20," because the dealer wins all ties as well
as on hands which are less than his final blackjack hand.
Bets are then settled, the collected cards go face up at the
bottom of the deck of cards, and a new hand is dealt. The
deal passes to the first player other than the dealer to get
a blackjack.
Blackjack rules in casinos differ and vary from the ones
above, players place their bets before recieving their cards,
blackjacks are paid one and a half times the bet, or sometimes
three to two. Ties are a standoff, in addition, the dealer
stands on counts of 17 or more, and draws on 16 or less. Players
receive two cards face down. The dealer may use a single deck,
but more frequently two to four or more decks of blackjack
cards in a card holder, which is called a shoe in blackjack.
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Playing
the Game of
Blackjack
Online Blackjack Rules
Online Blackjack has certain rules.
This version of Blackjack is played with a single deck
of cards, which is shuffled after the completion of
every hand or game.
You may draw up to nine additional cards (i.e. a total of 11
cards) as long as the value of your hand does not exceed 21.
If you go over 21 this is called a 'bust' and you automatically
lose the hand. If you have not exceeded 21 after receiving eleven
cards you will automatically stay and the dealer will play his
hand.
The dealer must stand on 17 and draw on 16.
If the Dealer gets a Blackjack after you have Split, or Doubled
your entire wager (both original and Double or Split amounts)
are lost.
All of the face cards (the Jack, Queen and King) all have a
value of ten in Blackjack.
The 'Ace' card in blackjack may have a value of either 1 or
11. Any combination of cards which contains an Ace card and
whose value does not exceed 21 is referred to as a 'soft hand'.
An 'Ace' will adopt the value most beneficial for your hand.
For example an Ace and eight will add up to 19 but if you choose
to take another card that would cause the hand's value to exceed
21 the Ace will revert to a value of 1.
If you are dealt an 'Ace' in combination with a card that has
a value of ten (a natural ten or face card) as your first two
cards this is called Blackjack. You will automatically stay
when you receive a Blackjack. If you beat the dealer with a
Blackjack you are paid out at 3 to 2. Blackjack SMOKIN!!
If you get two cards of the same value (such as two 'Ace's
or two fives or two tens) you may 'Split' your hand. This means
that your cards are divided into two separate hands. You then
wager a second amount equal to that of your original wager on
the second hand and are able to play both hands as normal, at
the same time.
Cards of the same value but not of the same denomination (or
ranking) cannot be split in this version of Blackjack. So, while
a king and ten may have the same numerical value, a hand consisting
of these two cards cannot be split because the cards do not
have the same denomination.
If you have split a pair of aces and then draw a card with
a value of ten then this is not counted as Blackjack. Such a
hand would have a value of 21. It will beat any dealer's hand
with a value of less than 21 and draw against all other Dealer
hands except a Blackjack. This rule applies also to splitting
pairs of cards with a value of ten. If you split a pair of tens
or face cards and then receive an ace this hand is not counted
as Blackjack.
If the value of your initial two cards is 9, 10 or 11 then
you are allowed to 'Double.' Doubling is a wager that your next
card will be sufficient to beat the dealer's as-of-yet-uncompleted
hand. This wager costs as much as your original bet, but if
you win you will be paid double of your total wager (or four
times your original wager).
Blackjack Insurance only covers your original bet. It does
not cover any Double Down bet. When the dealer is dealt an 'Ace'
you will be given the option to place an insurance bet. The
Insurance bet costs half your original bet and will pay out
2 to 1 if the dealer gets Blackjack. You lose your original
bet. If the dealer does not get Blackjack you will lose your
insurance bet and the game then proceeds as normal.
After all blackjack hands have been played, your hands are
compared to the dealer's hand. If the value of both hands are
the same it is called a Push. On the event of a Push you receive
your bet back and no one wins. Blackjack (which value is 21)
beats a hand that's value is also 21. If both the dealer and
you have Blackjack this is considered a Push.
BLACKJACK ATTENTION- This version of Blackjack is played with
a single deck of cards, which is shuffled after the completion
of every hand or game.
A more complete set of Blackjack instructions are included
with the Casino Kingdom software.
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