Learning How To Play Blackjack

Hands in Blackjack are scored by their total points. The hand with the highest total is declared winner except when that hand goes over 21. If your total is over 21 the hand is called a bust. Playing cards' have the following values; the number cards have their same face value, and face cards are equal to 10. The value of an ace is 11 unless this would cause a player's hand to be busted, in this case the face value of an ace becomes 1. A soft hand refers to a hand in which the value of an ace counts as 11 because a bust is not possible if another card is drawn by the player.

Each player aims to beat the dealer by receiving a higher, unbusted hand. A player loses when his hand is busted even if the dealer's card is also busted. A push refers to a situation when both the dealer and player have the same point value, and the hand is not won by either the dealer and player. Every player has an independent game with the dealer so it is likely for the dealer to be beaten by one player but still win over the other players in the same round.

The minimum wager is printed on a sign on the table and may differ from one casino to another, or from one table to the next. Once the beginning bets are placed, the cards are dealt by the dealer, either from one or two hand-held deck of cards, referred to as a "pitch" game, or more commonly from a shoe (containing four or more decks). Two cards are distributed to each player, incsssluding the dealer himself. One of the dealer's two cards is faces up for all the players to see, and the other faces down (known as the "hole card").

When a hand totals 21 (an ace plus a ten-value card) it is called a "blackjack" and automatically wins.

The play proceeds as follows:

- Player automatically loses when the dealer gets a blackjack and the player doesn't.

- The player scores an automatic win when he has a blackjack and the dealer does not have.

- There is a push when both player and dealer gets a blackjack.

- If both player and dealer has no blackjack, then each player discards their hands, one at a time.

- The dealer plays his hand when all the players are done.

The player has the option to play his card based on the following:

- Hit: Pick another card.

- Stand: Retain their original cards.

- Double down: The bet is doubled and then player chooses exactly one more card and then stand.

- Split: As soon as the bet is doubled, each card represents the initial cards in a new hand. This option is only allowed when both cards have the same face value.

- Surrender: sacrifice half of the wager and give up the hand. Forfeit half the bet and give up the hand. This option was practiced during the early and the middle of the 20th century, but is no longer accepted at most casinos.

The player completes his turn when he opts to stand, double down to get another card or gets busted. If the player's hand is busted, he loses even if the dealer gets busted too.