How To Play Blackjack: Basic Rules
Playing Blackjack is one of the most exciting games you can play at the casino. It's a good game for beginners because you're only up against one person at the table: the dealer. When you come to the casino on a slow day, you can also ask him to teach you the rules, or you can have a friend who knows Blackjack come along so he can coach you during the play. Don't be pressured if it's your first time; take it easy, enjoy the game and get a lot of practice so you can increase the odds in your favor as you go on.
How do you play Blackjack? The goal is have your cards add up to 21 or to get a number closest to it. You should be able to do this without going beyond 21. The card values are as follows:
Face cards = ten points
Aces = one point or eleven points
Number cards = their own number value.
But before you get any card, you must make a bet, or a wager. Each table has a minimum, so better choose low minimum wagers if you're starting out.
After you've made a wager, have placed your wager, you get two cards face up, from a dispensing box that they call the "shoe." The dealer gets two cards as well, though one is face up and the other, down. Any two combination of cards is a Blackjack if they add up to 21. For example, an ace and a face card is a Blackjack. If you get this lucky, you win your original bet plus half of its value.
If the two cards you get are not exactly 21, but is close to it, you can stay and don't take any more cards from the dealer. If you think you don't have enough to make 21, say "hit me" and the dealer will give you more cards. Just make sure you don't go overboard or else you're out of the game and you lose your money.
Losing at Blackjack is called a "bust." This means you've lost. As long as you don't get a bust, you have to wait for the dealer to finish his turn - he has to hit if his cards amount to 16 or less than that number. He can stay in the game if his cards amount to 17 or more. Your goal is to get a card combination that is higher than his. If you win, you get your money back - double. A lower equivalent of cards than the dealer's means you've lost your wager.
You have two options when it comes to aces: you can count it as one point or eleven. You can have a soft hand or a hard hand. A soft hand is where your ace equals eleven. A hard hand is when you don't have an ace, or your ace equals only one point. Be careful as when you are dealt with more cards, and you count the ace as 11, there's a big possibility you could get busted.
Blackjack is a fun game that involves quick mathematics in one's head. Don't overlook the fun part of the game, and you're sure to have a good time when playing Blackjack at casinos for the first time.
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