A Popular Blackjack Game

Among the many different card games blackjack is one of the most popular ones. You’ll find blackjack at nearly every online casino. Blackjack’s popularity is due to its simple rules. The player is required to use a combination of cards to score 21 points or close to it.

Classic rules

The game has been around for many years, and over the years there have been many versions that differ not only in stakes, but also in rules. This is especially true at online casinos, which have come up with different variations to attract customers, allowing them to win more often.

However, any version of blackjack involves playing at a table with rectangles for participants to bet on. Initially, all players are dealt two cards open, and then they draw more. Their goal is to beat the dealer and not the other players.

Card value in classic blackjack

Blackjack is considered to be blackjack with six standard decks. Players end up putting together a combination of a set of 312 cards. Their task is to draw 21 cards or close to it. In case of overcards, a loss automatically follows.

One of the peculiarities of the game is that the suit of cards is of absolutely no importance. Combinations are assembled from different suits. All pictures, except for the Ace, give 10 points. The cards with numbers correspond to their value. The Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11 at the discretion of the player.

Blackjack combo

Initially two cards are dealt per box. If both are an Ace and any 10-value card then the hand is called “Blackjack”. It is considered to be the highest and no other cards can be drawn. This combination cannot be beaten with other cards. If the dealer is not holding an Ace or Ten, he pays 3 to 2. If the dealer himself gets “blackjack”, the game can only be drawn if there is the same combination.

How the dealer draws the cards

After the cards are dealt to the playing boxes, the dealer takes his own. There’s a rule that says he has to finish when there are 16 points in his hand or less. After completing a set, the dealer’s and the players’ combinations are compared. If the dealer’s cards are overcards then he pays the bets of all of the contestants.

Split

It can happen that a player’s first two cards are identical. In this case, the dealer can offer to double the bet and split the box into two hands. In this case the cards are dealt in two hands. If the two cards are identical again, the split can be continued. However, in some casinos, the number of splits is limited by the rules.

It’s important to know that when splitting, you cannot make a blackjack hand – it counts as a 21-point hand. Either way, such actions add intrigue and excitement to the game and allow the participant to increase their chances of winning.

Doubling down on the first two cards

In some cases, a player may double his bet on the first two cards. But then he only gets one card per box. Different casinos have different rules on doubling. For example, in some establishments, doubling is allowed only when the combination of two cards equal to a certain number of points. In other cases, you can not increase the size of the bet.

Refusal to play

Also, in some situations, the player can save half of his bet. To do this, he needs to declare a sundown (or “give up” in Russian). However, you may only do this before a set of cards begins. In most casinos, the dealer himself offers the opportunity to the player who holds less than ten points. That said, there’s an important restriction. If the dealer’s first card is an Ace, the player cannot surrender.