Playing Blackjack At Online Casinos Articles | Casino

By: Richard Bleuze

Playing Blackjack At Online Casinos

The basic idea of the game of blackjack is to have a hand that is closer in numeric value to 21 than that of the dealer - without going over 21.  Blackjack is one on the most popular online casino games after slots.  Thus, I suggest that you know the rules to winning in blackjack.

In blackjack your hand is played out against the hand of the dealer and not the other blackjack players.  The rules for the blackjack dealer is that the dealer makes no decisions and must follow the house rules.  Generally, the rules of the game of blackjack!

What are the card values in blackjack?

1.  The suit of the cards (Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades) does NOT matter in blackjack.
2.  Cards 2 through 9 are face value - The number shown on the card.
3.  Cards 10, Jack, Queen and King are all valued at 10.
4.  The Aces can be valued at 1 or 11 depending on the player of blackjack or the dealer.  Knowing this rule is an important part of the blackjack strategy.

The total of all cards in your hand is your "score", in other words, if you have a 9 (nine) and a Jack your score is 19 (nineteen).  You do not want to exceed the number 21. 

After the bets are made and placed on the table, each backjack player and the dealer are dealt two cards at the start of the hand.  The deal starts with the blackjack player on the far left of the dealer and then goes clockwise. Depending on the house rules, the blackjack cards can either be face down, face up or one card face up and one face down.  However, the dealer is always dealt one card face down and one card face up.

Once the cards are dealt, play proceeds around the table, starting at from the blackjack player to the far left of the dealer. 

As mentioned before, each blackjack player plays against the dealer only and not against the other blackjack players at the table.  This is a major advantage for the blackjack player since the dealer in blackjack must always play his/her hand according to the house rules, the dealer has no choices or decisions to make as to how to play his/her hand.

If your hand has a numerical value equal to the dealer (you tie the dealer)  this is called a "Push" or "Stand Off".  

A blackjack is when a blackjack player or dealer is dealt the first two cards  equaling 21.  You will find that most online casinos pay time and a half (1.5 times your bet) for a blackjack and should the dealer get a blackjack, then you only lose the amount you bet.

After the first two cards in the blackjack game are dealt, the blackjack player must decide if they want to draw another card, called a "Hit", or not draw any more cards, called a "Stand".  Not a major decision.  Deciding to either "Hit" or "Stand" is the basic fundamental decision of the game.

The blackjack player can, however, before they draw any cards, decide to double the bet and only take one more card face up. 

Another option for the blackjack player is when the blackjack player is dealt a pair.  When this happens, the blackjack player has the option, before any cards are drawn to "split" the pair into two hands and play both hands separately.  If the blackjack player decides to use this option, each hand is played as a normal hand, unless the pair that is being split is a pair of Aces.  In this case, the blackjack player splits a pair of Aces, then only one card can be drawn for each hand.

When the blackjack dealer has an Ace showing the blackjack player can decide if insurance is wanted.  Insurance protects the blackjack player against the dealer having a blackjack.  As a rule, insurance is usually 50% of the original bet.  Should the dealer get a blackjack the insurance bet protects the blackjack player from losing his or her bet.  The insurance is paid to the casino, but the original bet is not lost to the blackjack player.  Should the dealer not have a blackjack the insurance bet is paid to the casino and play continues normally.

A few blackjack tips include the following:
1.  The best time to double down is when the blackjack player has 11 (eleven) and the dealer has a 5 or less showing.
 
2.  The old timers say, "Only split Aces and Eights".
 
3.  As a rule, insurance is often a losing bet for the blackjack player.  Thus, I suggest that you do not buy insurance.
 
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