Blackjack

Blackjack is a game of cards that is essentially quick to pick up and enjoy. You can play for money in casinos or just at home for fun! Being a simple game it is particularly enjoyable for younger players and a way to get them moving away from say snap!

You might have heard of the game 21 (Vingt et Une in Europe) or Pontoon in the UK. These are 3 names for the same game.

The objective is to get Blackjack which is a score of 21 with a picture card and an ace. You get dealt by a dealer 2 cards face up the dealer deals his second face down. In the casino game you play against the dealer and a few players can play against the dealer simultaneously without affecting your game. You can also observe the min and max bet written at the table.

How to score and play out..

Cards 2-9 represent their numerical value. Just add them together normally.

An Ace is either 1 or 11 so you can choose how to add them. An Ace with an 8 can be 9 (1+8) or 19 (11+8) for example.

The dealer will pay out odds usually 3 to 2 for any lucky enough to get Blackjack (so long as the dealer also didn’t make Blackjack). Make sure you check the odds of a blackjack win as casinos are becoming more stingy these days.

If you got 2 picture cards you would have 20, 1 away from 21 which is your goal. This is generally a good number to stick on. But it’s your choice.

You can at this point double down and double your stake.

If your hand is low, you can ask to get HIT and the dealer issues you another card. You can continue this until you get either to 21 or beyond in which case you lose as you have BUST.

When you decide to settle or stick and all other players have played, the dealer will show his second card and if less than you, you win. If you have an equal score, the dealer wins.

If you get a pair of cards you can split the hand providing you put up the initial bet again on the new hand. Both hands must play out entirely independently.