The game of Blackjack is probably the most commonly played card game in casinos around the world. Blackjack is played with one or more card decks of 52 cards. When you play Blackjack you draw cards to an initial two card hand and your objective is to bring the total value of the hand as close as possible to 21 without exceeding it. The casino (or the house), which plays after the player, will lose if they do not get up to the player’s total. The casino will also lose if they exceed 21. The game of Blackjack is played in different variations at casinos with variations of table rules.
Player decisions in Blackjack
After you have received your two initial cards you have four standard options. You can “hit,” “stand,” “double down,” or “split a pair.” Regardless of the option you need to use a hand signal if you are playing at a casino.
Hit – You decide to take another card from the dealer.
Stand – You decide not to take another card. In Blackjack this is also known as “stand pat”, “stick”, or “stay”.
Double down (this is only available as a first decision of a hand) – You are allowed to increase your initial bet by up to 100% in exchange for committing to stand after receiving exactly one more card. Your additional bet is placed in the betting box next to the original bet. The rules for “double down” may vary depending on the casino that your are playing at.
Split a pair (this is only available as a first decision of a hand) – If yout first two cards are a “pair” (of the same denomination) you can split them into two hands. You do this by moving a second bet equal to the first into an area outside the betting box of your original bet. The dealer separates your two cards and draws a further card on each. You then play the two hands separate. The rules for “split a pair” may vary depending on the casino that your are playing at.
Now you know the basic rules and decisions of Blackjack.