How to Play Blackjack

Author: Dolly Gambler

When it is your turn to bet, you will have the following options:

Hit – Add another card. You can Hit as many times as you wish until you are happy with the cards you have or go bust.
Stand – Keep the cards you have and pass to the next player
Double Down – Double your bet, take only one more card then pass to the next player
Split – If you have a two of the same cards (e.g. two 10’s) you can split them to play each as a separate hand. You receive one more card for each and then you are able to hit or stand on each hand. You will need to put up another bet as you are now playing two hands.
Surrender – This allows you to “surrender” your hand and give up half your bet on your first two cards after the dealer checks for Blackjack. This is to your advantage if you are likely to lose your whole bet if you stay in the game. The dealers face down card is then shown. If the dealers card has a card total of seventeen or above then no extra cards are permitted. If the dealer has a hand of sixteen or lower then extra cards are permitted. At the end of this hand if your cards are closer to 21, you will win. You will be paid even money, that is the amount you that wagered plus your original wager. However if the dealers hand is closer to 21 you will lose and your wager goes to the house.

Card Values
Cards in Blackjack are assigned the following scores:

Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) each count as 10 points
An Ace counts for 1 point or 11 points whichever is better for the owner of that hand
All other cards have their numerical face value.

Blackjack Strategy
Keep in mind that you will not win every hand. However in the long run, you may find yourself retaining more of your money, playing longer and possibly going home a winner. Learn the chart and practice the method to be sure it works for you. If you follow the guidelines, you'll see an improvement in your playing.