
Blackjack is a card game in which you play against the dealer. The object of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. When the player’s hand is higher than the dealer’s, he wins, but if their hands are not equal, they will both push (lose).
Players can make one or more bets per round. They use casino chips or “checks” to make their bets.
The dealer shuffles the cards and deals them face-up to you. You will receive two cards in your hands, and then you must decide which of these cards you wish to keep or discard.
You can also choose to hit (ask for another card) or stand (stay with your current hand). When you are dealt a total of 21, you win; otherwise, you lose.
There are many variations of this game, but the basic rules are unchanged. You must try to get as close to 21 as possible without busting or exceeding the dealer’s total, and you can only do this by drawing cards.
Before you begin to play, you should study the rules of the game and learn the value of your cards. The face cards are worth 10, the numbered cards are worth their printed values, and the aces count as either 1 or 11.
In most casinos, you can play more than one hand per round. If you do not have enough money to bet, you can ask the dealer for additional chips.
The dealers are trained to deal the cards and are usually very good at their jobs, but some of them are not so well-trained. The best way to avoid this is to play only at tables with experienced dealers and to be aware of the dealer’s tells.
A dealer’s tells are not always obvious, however. Some of them are very subtle and take time to become familiar with, so it may be difficult to spot a dealer’s tell when you first start playing.
Insurance: If you have a good idea of the dealer’s ‘hole card,’ you can take an insurance bet against them. The insurance bet pays out at twice your original bet if the dealer has blackjack. This bet is very risky, and it’s important to know what the odds of having a blackjack are before you place your insurance bet.
If you do not have a good understanding of the odds, then you should never make an insurance bet. The odds of having a dealer’s blackjack are about 9:4 (2.25:1), and if you do not have a good idea of the dealers ‘hole card,’ it’s very risky to place an insurance bet.
Non-Insurable Dealer Blackjack: When the dealer is showing a ten up, they will check their hole card automatically before anyone is allowed to play their hands. If there is an ace underneath, they have a blackjack and all bets on the table will be taken except for any player blackjacks which would just push.