Blackjack is a fast-paced card game that’s widely enjoyed across the world. It’s easy to learn and fun to play. However, there are some etiquette rules that you should follow to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Basic Strategy
The goal of playing blackjack is to beat the dealer’s hand by scoring 21 or as close to it as possible without going over. Players can use different strategies to try and do this, including surrendering their cards, doubling down or splitting.
Insurance
The player can place an insurance bet up to half of their original wager if they think the dealer has a blackjack. If the dealer does, they pay out their insurance bets at two to one and play continues with the player’s original bets.
Basic Play
The first step in playing blackjack is to understand the values of the cards. Face cards are worth 10, cards from two to 10 are valued according to their printed values and aces can count as either 1 or 11, depending on which value helps the player’s hand the most.
A good blackjack player will be able to memorize the basic strategy for each hand, as well as knowing which remaining cards are advantageous to them and when to make larger bets. In the long run, these rules will minimize the house advantage and give players a better chance of winning.
Dealer’s Handvalue
The dealer will always have a face-up card and a face-down card in front of them. They can check the face-up card to see if it’s a ten or an ace, and they will also look at their face-down card to check if the two make a natural hand.
Hitting on a Handvalue of 16 or Below
The blackjack dealer must stand if their hand’s value is 16 or below. If they do not stand, they must draw a new card until the value is 17 or higher.
This is part of the blackjack dealer’s rules and it’s a must-hold on rule. It’s also called a soft 17.
Surrender and Pair Split
If a player believes they are in a losing position, they can surrender their hand. They can do so by placing a second bet equal to their initial wager on another hand, and the dealer will not reveal this hand until all of the other bets are settled.
It is important to remember that the dealer has no incentive to cheat you, so they will do whatever they can to help you win. Tip: The best way to get the most out of a blackjack table is to play it with friends.
Live Chat
If you’re playing blackjack online, there is often a live chat feature for the dealer and other players. This is a great way to communicate with other players and is very popular, but you should never abuse it or send rude messages. These can get you banned from the game, so try to keep it pleasant and courteous.