The Rules of Black Jack
In the game of Black Jack, the main opponent is the dealer. If your aim is a winning, you should consider the following:
~ The sum of your cards is to be 21 or about it, but not more; so, take cards keeping to this rule;
~ In case your cards make 12 points or more, you can miss your turn expecting the dealer to have points in excess when taking cards.
Thus, the participant, who may be either a player or the dealer, whose number of points makes 21 or about this figure, is the winner. As you see, the rules are rather simple.
- Extra points:
If the sum of a player’s cards is more than 21, the player loses the game.
- Tie:
If both a player and the dealer have an equal sum of points, the game ends in tie, and the bet is returned to its owner. The combination Black Jack is stronger than cards with the sum of 21 points.
- Black Jack:
This is an advantageous combination possible if the first two cards of a player are ten and ace. The sum of the points of these cards makes 21. In case no one else has this combination, the player with Black Jack is the winner.
- Payoff:
~ The winner is paid 1 to 1;
~ The insurance is paid 2 to 1;
~ Black Jack is paid 3 to 2.
The Value of Cards:
~ ten and cards with pictures make 10 points;
~ ace makes 1 or 11 points;
~ the sum of the points of the other cards is equal to the figure marked on them.
When the dealer gives you the first two cards, he opens one of his cards, and sometimes he opens two cards, depending on the type of the game. Black Jack is played with 6 decks of cards. The dealer shuffles them after each deal. But if you come across the game played with one or four decks of cards, it would be preferable for you to play it, for the advantage of the casino in such a game is much smaller.
And one more thing you should keep in mind. If you don’t want to take more cards, you can make Double or Split after you’ve taken the first two cards.
Split
It may occur that you have pairs of cards, for example, ten and ten, etc. These cards can make two separate hands. In this case, you are to make an additional bet that must correspond to your initial bet. Still remember, if you have pair aces, which you divide into two different hands, you get one card for each ace. In case the card you get for one of them is ten, you have 21 points. But don’t mix it up with the combination Black Jack. And there’s one more point you should keep in mind. Once separated, the cards cannot be split for the second time.
Double
When you make Double, you have an opportunity to double the bet and to have one card more. It is possible if you have already taken the first two cards and are sure that the third card will help you make the combination of Black Jack.
Insurance
Actually, the insurance is considered to be an independent game. If you are afraid that the dealer will have a Black Jack combination, you may play safe by buying the insurance paying half of your first bet.
- If the dealer will have Black Jack, as you thought, the payment for the insurance will make 2:1.
- In case the dealer doesn’t have the combination of Black Jack, they won’t return you the bet for the insurance. You stay in the game and continue playing.
- If both of you simultaneously have Black Jack, the game ends in a tie.
You’d rather not make bets on the insurance, as it is a disadvantageous bet, as you can see.
Surrender
One can hardly come across Surrender in the Internet casino, though it may be an advantageous step. You may use it in case you dislike the cards you are given. If you surrender, you lose only half of your bet, and another half is returned to you.