The Basics of Blackjack
The player plays against the dealer and tries to get more points than the dealer, but not more than 21 (bust wins the game). A tie (push) results if both the player and the dealer get equal card values.This is how the game is played:
- The player places a wager on the table layout.
- The dealer deals two cards facing upwards to the player and one card to the dealer face up.
- The dealer draws a second card and places it face down.
- The player is asked if they would like another card (also known as a hit) or if they wish to stand.
- The player may request as many hits as they like until the total value of their cards reaches 21 or they bust.
- If the player busts, the casino (house) wins.
- If the player stops at a total card value that is less than 21, then the dealer will reveal the value of dealers second card.
- If the dealer's has Blackjack (total value of 21), then the casino (house) will win.
- The dealer must keep drawing cards until the total value of dealer's cards is 17 or more. If the dealer card-count exceeds 21, the dealer busts and the player wins.
Cards in one hand make the amount of the points. The numerical values of the cards are: dressed cards (10, J, Q, K) = 10; Ace = 11 (if the hand is more than 21 ("bust"), than the Ace = 1); other cards - according to their number values (7 clubs = 7, 2 spades - 2 etc.).
For the players to feel more quietly not counting cards, in our game you can see the whole hand as value/value by bust (having the Ace). If one hand has more than one Ace, then the reducing of the sum by bust can be repeated.
In our online game you can play with one to three hands. Every hand has its amount of points, and one hand can win and another one - lose. You can play with three hands against dealer's one hand. If the player's hand or the dealer's hand is 21 and this is the first deal (first two cards), this combination is called Blackjack and you win 3 to 2 times your bet. If both the player and the dealer have Blackjack, no one wins and no one loses - the game comes to a push.
The dealer's behaviour is strictly restricted by the rules. It is important to understand that the dealer doesn't play against the player. He strongly obeys the rules, he doesn't have any freedom of action at all. The rules of dealer's behaviour are written on the table: "Dealer must stand on 17, and must draw to 16". In practice the dealer draws cards until he has 17 or higher. Before this he can't stand and as soon as he gets 17 or higher, he has to stand.
Player's cards always are dealt face up, the dealer's first card is dealt face down and the second - face up.
If the dealer has a dressed card face up (10) by the first deal, there is a possibility that he has a Blackjack. That's why the dealer checks his card face down not showing it to the player. If he has an Ace (it means he has Blackjack), the game stops and the dealer's and the player's hands are being compared.
If the dealer has an Ace face up, then there is a large possibility that the card face down is a dressed card or a 10 (Blackjack). That is why the player can buy insurance for each his/her hand. To buy insurance you have to make an additional bet (a half of your initial bet). If the dealer does have Blackjack, the player gets his/her insurance 2 to 1 depending on the amount of your initial bet. As a result, the player gives his/her initial bet to the dealer, but in exchange for it he/she gets the same amount of money. If the dealer doesn't have Blackjack, he gets the insurance and the game goes further.
When the player has been dealt two cards, he/she can double down his bet. At that he gets one, only one additional card. This action is logical when the player is sure that his/her combination plus one additional card will allow him to beat the dealer's hand.
When the player's first two cards are of the same value (two dressed cards, two Aces, two numbers), he/she can split his/her hand into two separate hands. Each new hand gets one card and the cards are then drawn as usual. Once a hand is split it can't be split again, and if one of your hands has 21 (an Ace and a dressed card), it is not considered Blackjack. If you split a hand with two aces, you get only one additional card.