How to Play Blackjack

The basic rule for Blackjack is to get 21 or as close to 21 without going over and at the same time beat the dealer’s hand.

How to play Blackjack begins with placing a bet. Before the dealer deals any cards, the player must place a bet. The dealer will deal two cards to each player and then to himself. One of the dealer's cards is dealt face up and one is dealt face down as you play Blackjack. Kings, Queens and Jacks are all worth ten, the Ace can count as either a 1 or an 11 and all the other cards are counted as what their value indicates as you play Blackjack.

As you play Blackjack you will be looking for an Ace and a 10 value card (10, Jack, Queen, or King). When that happens as you play Blackjack you automatically win unless the dealer also gets blackjack, then it is a tie. A winning blackjack pays the player 3 to 2.

Hit or Stand: A hit means to have the dealer give you another card as you learn how to play Blackjack. To stand means that you want to stick with the cards you currently have as you learn how to play Blackjack. If you ask for a hit and you go over 21, you give in your cards and your wager is lost as you learn how to play Blackjack.

Double Down: This means that you can double your bet on the first two cards and draw only one more card to improve your hand as you learn how to play Blackjack.

Splitting Pairs: If the first two cards a player is dealt is a pair, he may split them into two separate hands, bet the same amount on each and then play them separately as he learns how to play Blackjack. Aces receive only one additional card and after the split if you get an Ace and a 10 it counts as 21 and not as blackjack.

Insurance: If the dealers face up card is an ace, the player may take insurance as he learns how to play Blackjack, he can bet one-half his original bet, but not more. If the dealer's down card is a 10 or face card then the player wins 2 to 1, but if it is any other card then the dealer will win as he learns how to play Blackjack.

Surrender: If permitted, a player may give up the first two cards he draws and loses 1/2 of his original bet as he learns how to play Blackjack.

Also note as you learn how to play Blackjack: The dealer must hit 16 and stand on 17.