How to Play Blackjack

A winning blackjack hand with gambling chips

Blackjack is a card game that requires a comprehensive understanding of strategy and calm nerves. When you play blackjack in a casino, you are playing against the dealer. So a good poker face is not required. But you still need to understand the game and know how to win before you can be successful playing blackjack.

Dealing the cards

The game starts with the dealer giving everyone at the table one card face down, and a second card face up. A blackjack is when a player has a face card or a ten, and an ace. If the dealer is showing an ace, then he will ask if anyone would like to buy insurance. Insurance is a side bet you make that pays if the dealer gets blackjack. If the dealer does not have blackjack you lose your insurance, but you can continue to play.

Playing options

In blackjack, you can take a hit, stand, double-down or split. A hit means that you want the dealer to give you another card. The card is dealt face-up. If the combination of your cards exceeds 21, then you bust. Standing means that you require no further cards and believe that your hand beats the dealer's hand. Double-down means you double your bet and take only one more hit. You must stand after you receive the hit on a double-down bet. A split means that you have two cards of the same denomination (for example _ two jacks) and you want to play them as two separate hands. You split your cards into two piles, place a second bet which matches your original bet on the second card and the dealer give you a new card for each pile.

Check the house's rule on when the dealer has to stand and when he has to take a hit. In most casinos, the dealer must stand on 17 and take a hit on anything below 17. This can work to your advantage, but also becomes part of your strategy.

Winning or losing

If your card total is higher than the dealer's but did not go over 21, then you win. If the dealer's total is higher, then the dealer wins. If you get blackjack then you win double your bet. If the dealer gets blackjack, then everyone at the table loses unless someone has a blackjack. A tie with the dealer, even with a blackjack, is called a push and your bet stays on the table for the next hand.

It takes time to understand when to take a hit and when to stand in blackjack. Watch more experienced people play for a while before you take a seat for yourself.

When you play blackjack in a casino, you are playing against the dealer