A. Blackjack Glossary of
terms
blackjack - the first two cards being dealt to a player are an ace and a ten
value card
natural
- a ten value card and an ace
face card - King, Queen and Jack
soft
hand - a hand that can use the ace as one or eleven
stiff
hand - a hand between twelve through sixteen
hard hand - a hand that does not have an ace or a hand that
cannot use the ace as eleven
draw or hit
- to draw additional cards
hole
card - the face down card dealt to the dealer
insurance
- side bet for up to half of the original bet when the dealer is showing an ace
press -
to increase the amount being wagered after a win usually by the original amount
split
- to make two hands from a pair
push - when
the dealer and player have identical card values. No winner or loser.
stand - to
not draw any more cards
surrender
- an option where the player may give up half of their bet
bust -
when the dealer or player draws cards that total more than 21
B.
Beginnings of Blackjack
Blackjack had its origins in France as the card game "vingt un" or
"21" in the 1700's. It is called blackjack because a player who
was dealt an Ace of Spades and a Jack of Spades, was rewarded with extra money.
Blackjack which was first played in Indiana (US) in the early 1900's.
Because blackjack was new and not yet popular, the gambling houses offered to
pay 3 to 2 for a count of 21 in the first two cards dealt to a player.
Today, in a single deck of 52 cards, those cards with a value of 10 (the 10,
Jack, Queen and King) represent 30.8% of the deck.
C.
Blackjack Rules
The main objective in blackjack is to beat the dealer by getting closer to 21
than the dealer. You win an amount equal to the amount you bet, if
the total value of your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer?s hand. If
you have a blackjack hand (ie it totals 21), you win 3:2 times your bet (example
- a $10 bet will win $15), as long as the dealer doesn't have blackjack as
well. You can choose if your aces have a value of 1 or 11 (and so a hand
with an ace is called a soft hand). Face cards have a value of 10 and
the remaining cards have a value the same as their face numbers.
If
you and the dealer have the same card total, from 17 upwards, you get your bet
back in a push as neither of you has won. If your hand has a total greater than
21, you'll bust and lose your bet. Blackjack beats a count of
21.
The games rules
force the dealer to draw cards until they have at least 17 and to
stand at 17 or higher.
Hitting or
Drawing cards
If
you are not satisfied with the total of your first two cards, you can draw
additional card(s) until you stand or bust. Taking additional cards may be
called "drawing" to hitting.
Standing
If
you are satisfied with your first two cards, you can choose not to draw any more
cards - to stand.
Split
If
you have been dealt two cards with the same face value, you can choose to split
them into two separate hands by placing a second wager of equal value and
drawing cards as usual. At many online casinos, if you split two aces, you
only get one additional card for each hand. Secondly, if you split two
aces and one of your hands totals 21, this is not considered to be a
blackjack, it's 21. Some online casinos do not allow you to split a split
hand.
Double Down
If
you have been dealt two cards and think that a third card will give you a better
chance to beat the dealer?s hand, you can choose to double down. If you decide
to "double down", your bet is doubled and you draw only one more card.
Insurance
Insurance
is really a separate game or gamble in itself, and as such, isn't
recommended. You would take out insurance when you thought that the dealer
has blackjack, effectively enabling you to protect your bet. A
situation might be where the dealer?s first card is an ace and you think
that the dealer?s hole card is of value 10, you could buy insurance against
dealer blackjack. The cost of the insurance bet would be half of your
original bet. If the dealer does have blackjack, the insurance pays
2:1, effectively matching the amount of your original wager. If you have
bought insurance and the dealer doesn't have blackjack, you'll lose your
insurance bet. Let's say you and the dealer both have blackjack, the
game ends in a push.
Surrender
A
very few casinos offer players the option to surrender. When surrender is
available, a player who isn't satisfied with the cards he was dealt, may "surrender"
or give them up and lose half of his bet.
Some final quick tips...
only increase your bets when you are winning
