Blackjack

Also called "21", Blackjack is probably one of the most popular and exciting card games, involving chance and skill. To get started, you first need to decide which table you will play. Look at the betting amount, pay percentages, speed of the game, and so on. After choosing a table, you would sit down at the table with a Blackjack dealer and seats to accommodate one to seven players. If you play a table with open seats, you can play more than one hand.

As you sit facing the dealer, the first seat located to the left is known as "First Base" and the seat furthest to the right is "Third Base." The Blackjack table is covered with squares in front of each player called "Betting Squares." In front of the dealer is the chip tray, deck of cards, slot for discarded cards, and losing chips. Some casinos will also feature an automatic reshuffling machine while others do not.

Learn the rules of the table by reading signs posted advising of the minimum and maximum bet allowed, which usually range from $3 to $100 per hand. If you are a novice player, choose games that use six to eight decks of cards or "Blackjack pays 3 to 2" games, which is called a "shoe" game. In this game, all cards are dealt face up, allowing players to see each other’s hands. Other Blackjack games deal cards face down. If you have played Blackjack previously, consider a table with fewer decks of cards.

When playing Blackjack, you are not playing against other players but against the dealer. The goal is to get a hand that equals as close to 21 as possible without going over. While playing, if you take a "hit", which means taking more cards one at a time, but go over 21, you have gone "bust." If dealt cards equaling 21 anytime during the game, you have "21." However, if dealt a 10 or face card along with an Ace in the first hand, you have "Blackjack."

Dealer is also dealt cards but once they reach 17, they have to "stay", meaning they cannot take a "hit" or more cards trying to get closer to 21. If the dealer reaches 17, you are then required to beat 17 but not go over 21. If you end up at 17, then you and the dealer have a "push" and no money is lost or gained. If at any time, the dealer’s cards go over 21, they are "bust." In this case, the player or players who did not go bust win.

As an example, let us say you were dealt a King and a three card, making your total hand value 13. If you "hit" but were dealt another card with a value of ten, you would now have a hand value of 23, meaning you went "bust" and lost. Now, if you were to receive a two after taking your first "hit", your total hand value would now be 15. With this, you need to decide to "stay" with the 15, hoping the dealer goes "bust", or take another "hit" to try to get even closer to the coveted 21 so you win the game.

To bet, you would purchase chips according to the table rules and the amount you want to spend. Next, you would place the chips in front of you on the table. Once all the players have the chips down, the game would begin. You would then place a bet, putting the coordinating chip(s) in the circle located on the table. After the bet is placed, you cannot touch it. If dealt two cards such as tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings, you can choose to split them, which means you get to play two separate hands, giving you two ways to win, or lose. To split, slide the additional chips onto the circle next to your original bid – never on top.

Once the game is over, the dealer will start with the left-side player paying money due in chips, making his or her way around the table paying all the players who won. When all the winning players have been paid, the dealer will then remove all the losing chips, discarding them in the appropriate slot. Finally, when you win a hand, it is customary to tip the dealer. For this, after the cards and chips are removed from the table and prior to a new game starting, you would push a chip toward him or her. With that, the dealer would pick up the chip and tap it so overhead security cameras know the chip was a tip and not the dealer helping him or herself to money.

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