- BlackJack is played on a table, with a croupier and up to seven players. In every player's area there's a square to set the bet.
- The number of players is irrelevant because each one plays against the croupier.
- The bets are made with color chips. Each color is used for a different value of bet, the values depend on the casino.
- All bets are placed before the cards are dealt. After that, the bets can't be modified or withdrawn. If the player doesn't place a bet, the croupier won't give him any cards. The bets are placed in piles, with the highest valued chips on the bottom of the pile.
- On each table there's a sign that clearly shows the minimum and maximum bet value for that table. In the same sign there'll be important information on other things too. We have to find a table with bets according to our funds.
- Since there are many game tables, you have to make sure you're facing a Blackjack table. On the table's surface there'll be a sign: “BlackJack pays 3 to 2” if that's the case.
- Once in the right table, you have to find out if you're playing a version of one deck or several decks.
- Beginners are recommended to play in the several decks version, which consists of one game with six or eight decks shuffled. The cards are dealt faced up so that everyone in the game sees them. The reason for it is to make the beginner feel more comfortable with the game and the casino enviroment. It's also recommended to choose the table with the lowest bet in the casino, so that he won't lose too much, too fast. Take into consideration that the bigger the number of cards. the bigger the casino's advantage.
- Once you've practised and understood the basic rules, you may want to change to the one deck version, where the cards are dealt faced down and the croupier only has one card facing up.
- Each player gets two cards, either faced up or faced down, and the croupier gets one faced up and one faced down. The value of the hand is the sum of both cards.
- If a player gets a ten and an As, sums 21, that's called BlackJack and it pays 3 to 2.
- The color of the cards is not important in this game.
- The cards from two to nine are worth what's written on them.
- The ten, jays, queens and kings are worth ten.
- The Asses can be worth one or eleven.
- The purpose of the player is to have a bigger number than the croupier's and the closest possible to 21. If a player or the croupier goes over 21, they lose the game. If the player and the croupier have the same number, it's a tie and neither one wins. As it was said before, the players don't play against each other. The players go first, if any of them goes over 21 they lose the bet, even if the croupier goes over too.
- Since the As can be worth one or eleven, during the first card dealing, the value doesn't matter. It's the same if it's worth one or eleven, that's why it's called a “Soft hand”. If with the next card, and the As worthing eleven, the total value is over 21, the As is going to be worth one, and that's why it's called a “Hard hand”.
MediaGambling Staff
