Blackjack

 
 
blackjack

>> Blackjack objective

In Blackjack, your objective is to get the value of your hand as close as possible to 21 without exceeding it.

Really there's two ways of winning:

  • Get the value of your hand closer to 21 than the dealer by drawing more cards

  • Stick with your hand and see if the dealer goes bust (in most Blackjack variants the dealer cannot stick on less than 17).

>> How to play Blackjack

  1. At the start you are dealt 2 cards and the dealer is dealt 1 face up card.

    1. Blackjack - If you are dealt 21 on your initial hand (Ace & ten value card), it is refered to as Blackjack (the highest hand) and you are paid 2.5x your stake.

  2. Assuming you have not been dealt a Blackjack you can then:

    1. Stand - Refuse additional cards, do this when you either have a high hand or if you feel there is a chance of the dealer going bust.

    2. Hit - Accept an additional card to get your hand value closer to 21. You can repeat this option until you are satisfied.

    3. Double - If your hand is between a certain value (usually between 9-11) you are offered the option to double. If you choose this option your stake is doubled and you are dealt one additonal card then your turn ends.

    4. Split - If you have you have been dealt a pair of the same cards, you are offered the option of splitting. Where your pair is split into two new hands and an additional card is dealt for each of the two new hands which are then played independantly.

>> Get luckier at Blackjack

Blackjack is a game which you can be far luckier if you play smart. Based on knowing your hand and the dealer's face up card follow the Blackjack strategy table below to maximise your chances of winning:

H
Hit
  
D
Double
S
Stand
  
SP
Split
Sp
Split if allowed to double after, otherwise hit

For example:

If you were dealt a ten and a six (16 total) and the dealer was showing a six you would stand.

This is because the dealer cannot stand on anything less than 17 thus if his face down card is a ten then that gives him a grand total of 16 which he must draw again, with the odds he will exceed 21 and go bust.
Basic Blackjack Strategy Table
Player's Hand
Dealer's Up Card
Hard Totals 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
17 (+) S S S S S S S S S S
16 S S S S S H H H H H
15 S S S S S H H H H H
14 S S S S S H H H H H
13 S S S S S H H H H H
12 H H S S S H H H H H
11 D D D D D D D D D H
10 D D D D D D D D H H
9 H D D D D H H H H H
8 (-) H H H H H H H H H H
Soft Totals 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
Ace & 8 (+) S S S S S S S S S S
Ace & 7 S D D D D S S H H H
Ace & 6 H D D D D H H H H H
Ace & 5 H H D D D H H H H H
Ace & 4 H H D D D H H H H H
Ace & 3 (-) H H H D D H H H H H
Pairs 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
Ace & Ace SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP
10 & 10 S S S S S S S S S S
9 & 9 SP SP SP SP SP S SP SP S S
8 & 8 SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP SP
7 & 7 SP SP SP SP SP SP H H H H
6 & 6 Sp SP SP SP SP H H H H H
5 & 5 D D D D D D D D H H
4 & 4 H H H Sp Sp H H H H H
3 & 3 Sp Sp SP SP SP SP H H H H
2 & 2 Sp Sp SP SP SP SP H H H H