Blackjack - The Basics

The Object of the Game

In blackjack, each player plays only against the dealer (i.e. the bank), independently of other players. Your goal as the player is draw cards (i.e. "hit") until your hand adds up to 21, or comes as close as possible without exceeding 21. If your first two cards total 21, you have blackjack.

 

The Rules

If the total value of your cards is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, you win as much as you have wagered. If you have blackjack, you win 3 to 2 times your bet (assuming the dealer does not also have blackjack).

Aces count as either 1 or 11, dressed cards as 10, and remaining cards according to their number values.

If the total of your cards exceeds 21, you "bust" and lose your wager. If you have the same card total as the dealer, from 17 and up, no one wins and you get your stake back in a so-called "push." Blackjack beats a score of 21.

Split
If your first two cards are of the same value, you may split them into two separate hands, placing a second wager of equal value. You then proceed to draw cards as usual. However, if you split two aces, you get only one additional card for each hand. If you split two aces and one of your hands totals 21, this is not considered blackjack, but 21.

Double Down
When you have been dealt two cards, and think that a third card will give you a position to beat the dealer’s hand, you can "double down". Your wager is doubled, and you are allowed to hit and receive just one additional card.

Insurance
Insurance is a game of its own within blackjack, and gives you the chance to protect yourself when you believe that the might have blackjack. If the dealer’s first card is an ace, he is considered to have a fair chance of getting blackjack. If believe that the dealer’s dark card is of value 10, you may insurance against dealer blackjack at the price of half your initial bet. If the dealer does have blackjack, the insurance pays 2 to 1, corresponding to the amount of your initial bet. If you have insurance, and the dealer does not have blackjack, you lose your insurance. Your initial bet is then settled by comparing your cards with the dealer’s. Should you and the dealer both have blackjack, the game results in a push.

 

Rules for the Dealer

The dealer must draw cards until he has at least 17, and must stand at 17 or higher. If the dealer gets 16, he must take another card. The dealer may not decide whether or not to draw a card based on your hand, but must abide by the existing dealer rules. On the other hand, your player strategy should be guided by two factors: your own cards and the dealer’s open card
 

Pilarski's Blackjack Tips

• Keep your emotions under control. The dealer is only the messenger of fate. Don't take your losses out on him.
• Always remember you can win. You didn't bring $100 to a casino to play with and lose. If you are losing at a particular table, set a three-losses-and-you-move routine.
• Focus on the dealer and his up card, not your neighbor's cards. If other players at the table are upsetting you with their playing strategies, you can move.
• Drinking and gambling do not mix. Players have been known to lose thousands waiting for their free drink.
• You must have discipline, so set loss limits and win goals.
• Only bet what you can afford to lose. Rent, car payments and other day-to-day expenses have no place in a casino.
• Even the small blackjack player deserves to be rewarded for their play. There is nothing wrong with asking for a free breakfast, lunch or something smaller like a deck of cards or a pair of dice. But since pit personnel are most likely not tracking your play, you will need to ask.
• Most players don't even consider the rules before they sit down and play. If you don't know the rules or any of the playing strategies of blackjack, learn the game on a 25-cent video blackjack machine. A five-dollar blackjack game should not be your classroom.
• When you feel tired, it's time to call it quits, or at least take a break and rest for an hour or two.
• Compared to a single deck, a two-deck game handicaps your play -0.35%, four decks, -0.48%, six decks, -0.54% and eight decks -0.58%. As you can see, it is always to your advantage to play on a game that offers the fewest decks. Also note, the house edge goes up substantially when you go from one deck to two, but the change is less dramatic as you add more decks. How much is this costing you in dollars and cents? If you were to play 100 hands per hour at $5 per hand, each -0.1% would cost you approximately 50¢ per hour. Playing on a game with two decks versus one deck will cost you $1.75 per hour, with each additional deck costing you increasingly more.
• Smart blackjack players always play in a casino that offers the best rules. To avoid hostile playing conditions in blackjack, look for the following combination of rules that are favorable to the player:
  
  a single deck game
  surrender, both early and late
  double down allowed on any two cards
  double down allowed after splitting pairs
  multiple pair splitting allowed, plus re-splitting aces
  dealer stands on a soft 17
  deep deck penetration