Rules Of Blackjack - A Simple Introduction Into Blackjack Game Rules

Basic Blackjack Rules - Overview

A real money game of Blackjack is played against the dealer using at least one deck of 52 cards. The goal is to beat the house, which can be accomplished by getting 21 points on your first two cards, reaching a higher score than the dealer by the end of the game without exceeding 21 points and going bust or letting the dealer go bust by drawing additional cards until his hand exceeds 21. The game begins with each player being dealt two cards. Face cards are counted as 10 points, while other cards are counted at their face value. Aces are counted as 1 or 11 points, depending on which scenario would be more advantageous to the player. As the game goes on, players can choose one out of several actions. The most basic actions are getting a hit (taking another card) or making a stand (refusing to take more cards). However, most Blackjack variations give you multiple opportunities to pursue more advanced tactics.

Player Actions

In most Blackjack variants, you'll have to choose one out of five standard actions upon receiving the initial cards unless you hit the Blackjack and win the game outright. Please note that the house always wins regardless of the player's hand if the dealer gets a Blackjack. The standard Blackjack actions are as follows:

Hit - you takes a new card from the dealer.

Stand - you decide not to take any additional cards and stands with his/her current hand.

Double Down - you increase the bet that you've placed before the start of the game by up to 100%, but you're forced to stand after receiving exactly one additional card. Please note that in several Blackjack variants you won't be allowed to determine the size of additional bet. In such a case you either fully commit, or you don't double down at all.

Split - splitting is allowed as the first decision during a Blackjack game as long as both of your cards have the same value. If you decide to split, you place a second bet equal to the first one and play out both of your hands separately. Please note that many casinos apply several restrictions to split hands. For example, some Blackjack variations won't allow you to split ten-valued cards that don't have the same rank (J-K or Q-10) or to get a more than one hit after splitting your aces.

Surrender - some Blackjack variations allow you to surrender your hand. This option is available exclusively as a first action. If you surrender your hand, the house takes half of your bet, while you get to keep the other half.

Dealer Actions

The actions of the dealer are governed by a strict set of rules and aren't up to the person representing the house, which makes the game somewhat predictable. The dealer isn't allowed to double down, split or surrender - the only options are to split or stand. In most Blackjack games, the dealer is required to hit until he scores 17 points or more. As you've probably already guessed, there are two distinct variations of this rule: "dealer hits soft 17" and "dealer stands at all 17." A soft hand is a can in which the ace is valued at 11 points. Other hands are considered hard. Consequently, a soft 17 is a hand composed of an 11-point ace and some other cards that are worth 17 points in total. Ace, 6 or ace, 2,4 are good examples of soft 17. If the dealer hits soft 17 and stands on hard 17 or higher, the casino has a slightly higher edge than in the case of the games that require the dealer to stand at all 17.

Playing Online Blackjack For Real Money

If you've ever wondered how to set up an online casino account and start playing real money Blackjack online, you're pretty much guaranteed to find all the basic answers here. This page has been designed to assist inexperienced online Blackjack enthusiasts in making their first online casino deposit. Real Money Online Blackjack

Online Blackjack For USA Players

Some people would make you believe that playing real money online Blackjack is illegal in America. This article explains why they're wrong. If you're curious about the federal and state-level regulations pertaining to online casino gambling in the United States, read on. USA Online Blackjack

Is Playing Online Blackjack Legal?

There are a lot of misconceptions about the legalities surrounding USA online blackjack. In short there is nothing illegal about playing online blackjack for money as long as you are playing with an offshore site. The laws pertaining to online gambling such as the UIGEA are more geared to stop banks from processing transactions rather than to go after players themselves.

Blackjack Strategy

Once you feel comfortable with the basic Blackjack rules, it's time to move on to basic strategy and tactics. The purpose of this article is to put you on the right track when it comes to learning the subtleties of this beautiful game and to help you avoid the most costly beginner mistakes. Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack Card Counting

Card counting is and advanced strategy that allowed multiple players to beat land-based casinos in the United States and Europe and to turn Blackjack into a steady source of income. In this article, we explain why online play is different and why those tactics simply won't work in an online environment. We also provide you with a different way of maximizing your profits without going to a brick and mortar gambling establishment. Blackjack Card Counting

Live Dealer Online Blackjack

This article covers the basics of live dealer online Blackjack games, which allow you to interact with a real dealer and the other players and to experience the unique ambience of a land-based casino without ever leaving the comfort of your home. Live Dealer Online Blackjack