Like to know how to play blackjack?

Blackjack is a simple game offering a great return to the player.  All you need to do is beat the dealer's hand without going over a score of 21.

The basics… 

In blackjack, number cards are worth their face value, picture cards are worth 10 and the Ace is worth 1 or 10, at the players advantage.  The object of the game is to get a higher value hand than the dealer, without going over 21 (busting).  If the player finishes with a hand equal to the dealer's the hand is pushed.

The game begins with the player placing a bet.  Once the bet is placed, the player(s) is dealt two cards, both face up, and the dealer received two cards, with one face down.  The player is then given the option of:

• standing (not taking another card);

• hitting (taking another card), you can hit as many times as you like while still under 21;

• double down (double your bet) and receive one (and only one) more card;

• split pairs. If your first two cards of the deal are the same value, you can split the cards and play two separate hands by placing a bet of the same value as your original bet on the second hand. So if you split a pair of 7’s you create two separate hands, each with a value of 7. You then proceed to play out each hand as you would do normally.

Once the player (s) has finished making their choices, the dealer will show their face down card and continue to receive cards until the value of their hand is 17 or more.  If the dealer draws more than 21 they bust and players who are still in the game win.  The fact that the dealer does not take a card until all player choices are made is where the dealer's big advantage lies. Players who bust lose the bet, even if the dealer subsequently busts.

The highest had in the game is "blackjack", an Ace and a 10 or picture card.  Blackjack beats 21 from 3 or more cards.

A win to the player pays 1 to 1, unless the player has blackjack, in which case the player is paid 3 to 2.

Insurance...

If the dealer's up card is an Ace, insurance will be offered to the player.  By taking the insurance bet, you are betting that the dealer's down card will be a 10 (ie the dealer gets blackjack).  The insurance bet amount is almost always 50% of your initial bet stake, and pays 2 to1 if you win (ie the dealer gets blackjack).

So here's an example:

• your initial bet stake is $100;

• the dealer's up card is an Ace and insurance is offered;

• you take the insurance (ie answer yes to dealer's offer to take the insurance bet) and therefore stake $50 on the insurance bet;

Now given the above scenario:

• if the dealer does get blackjack...you lose your $100, but get 2 to 1 on the insurance bet - ie $150 so the overall effect is a $50 win.

• if the dealer doesn't get blackjack...you lose your $50 insurance then play out the hand (ie hit pass etc) and either win or lose the original $100 stake.

Now that you know how insurance works, don't use it, because it is actually a high house edge bet.