The Basics of Blackjack
Blackjack is a card game that pits the player against the dealer. The objective is to build a hand value of 21 or higher, beating the dealer’s hand. The rules of blackjack differ slightly between casinos and tables, but the basic concepts remain the same. Players can use a variety of betting options to play their hands, including splits and doubles. The rules of the game also dictate which cards are considered to be in a player’s favor and which aren’t.
The game of blackjack has a long and provocative history, with many subtle–and some major–changes. In its most basic form, the game consists of a deck of 52 cards, and each player has two bets that they can choose to hit or stand. The dealer is also dealt two cards, and must draw cards to a total of 17 or more to beat the player’s hand. If the player and dealer have a tied hand, it is known as a push, and the player keeps his original bet.
In most casinos, cash is not used to make bets; instead, casino chips are used. To buy chips, a player must wait until the dealer is done dealing the current hand and then ask for them. The dealer will then convert the cash into chips and place them in front of the player. Once a player has his chips, he can start playing his hand.
Once a player looks at his first two cards and determines whether to hit, stand, or double, he must signal to the dealer that he wants another card. This can be done by making a beckoning motion with his hand or tapping the table behind his cards lightly. The dealer will then either hit the player’s hand or take his bet and begin the next round of play.
After each player has acted, the dealer will check her hole card (using a special viewing window in the table). If the dealer has a ten underneath, she gets a blackjack and pays everyone their original wagers. She will also pay out any insurance bets at 2 to 1 on the original wager amount.
If the dealer does not have a blackjack, she will collect and shuffle the cards and the game continues. Some casinos will reduce the 3 to 2 payout for blackjacks, which increases the house edge and makes the game less profitable for players. This is a good idea to read the rules on the table before you play.
If the player has a blackjack and the dealer does not, it is called a push, and the player keeps his money. The dealer will then collect the cards and shuffle them for the next round of play. Players may make additional side bets, such as predicting the next card to appear on the dealer’s hole or betting on a particular player to have a blackjack. These side bets have a large effect on the overall profitability of the game, and should be avoided unless you are counting cards.