How to Play Blackjack
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Blackjack is a game of chance and skill in which players compete against the dealer. In blackjack, a hand is beat when the player’s cards exceed the dealer’s cards and total more than 21. A perfect hand consists of an ace with a ten or face card, and the Jack, Queen or King.
Before playing, decide whether to play for the insurance or the dealer. If you play for the insurance, you are placing a side bet on the dealer’s hand. The insurance bet is half of the original bet, and it pays at two to one if the dealer has Blackjack. However, if you want to play for the dealer, you should keep in mind that it’s unlikely that you will win, and you will lose your bet.
The dealer will start the game by showing his hole card, which is a two-card hand that he will use to determine whether he has Blackjack. Normally, a dealer has an ace in his hole less than one-tenth of the time. It’s possible for the dealer to have a ten-valued card in his hole, but the dealer has to hit on soft 17 to qualify for the blackjack.
When the dealer’s first card is an ace, he may offer the player an option called “insurance”. This is a side bet that the dealer has a Blackjack, and it’s paid at twice the amount of the initial bet.
Depending on the rules, a player may also be allowed to split his or her hand into two hands. For this to work, the two cards must be of equal rank. Players can then play each hand independently. If the cards do not match, they may double their bet, which is usually restricted to doubling after splitting a pair of cards.
Some casinos require that players have a minimum bet when playing for insurance. The amount varies from casino to casino. After the player has placed his or her bet, the dealer will deal the second card to the player. Once the dealer has flipped the first card, the player has the option to continue to play the hand, stand, or to surrender the bet.
Blackjack can be played in a single-player, multi-hand, or tournament form. Tournaments are usually held over a number of rounds, and the winner is the player who has the highest chip count. There are also various other types of blackjack games, such as mini blackjack, mini-blackjack, and Elimination Blackjack.
Most casinos have a side bet, often called the insurance, that can be played if the dealer gets blackjack. It is a bet on the dealer’s ace, and it is paid at 2 to 1 if the dealer has Blackjack.
Blackjack is a simple game to learn, but there are a few special rules that you should be aware of. A blackjack player must stay under 21, or otherwise bust. Also, a player who busts will win by default, regardless of the outcome.