Whether you’re brand new to Blackjack or you haven’t played in a while, refreshing on the rules, and having a firm idea of how to play the game is essential. The great news for those worried about card games’ being too complicated is that Blackjack is most definitely one of the simplest and therefore has a set of rules pretty much anyone can follow. However, don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security – you will need to concentrate in order to win and the game still has plenty of opportunity for fun and excitement. So, what are the must-know blackjack rules for anyone interested to try it for the first time.
The Rules of Blackjack
The idea of Blackjack is that you need to get as close to 21 as possible using the cards in your hand and the cards dealt with by the dealer – however, don’t go over 21 as this is a bust and you immediately lose the hand. When you join a table, you are dealt 2 cards (usually face down so only you can see them) and it is the value of these two cards combined that will help you decide your next move.
- Hit – This is when you decide that you want another card to add to the existing ones that you have; keeping in mind that this card plus the two that you have in your hand needs to be close to 21, but not over. You can ask for as many cards as you like from the dealer, but you should keep in mind that the more cards you have the closer you are to going over 21. Cards from the dealer are dealt face up.
- Stand – This is when you decide that you don’t want to risk another card and are close enough to 21 to have a fair chance of winning.
Once you get to this stage and everyone else around the table is at the same stage as you, the dealer reveals their cards, and you can all see who is closest to 21 – and therefore who wins.
Things To Keep in Mind
Different casinos might have slightly different rules but in general, you are able to do things such as:
Split your hand into two separate hands if you have been dealt two cards of equal value. You can also double down, where you double your bet mid-hand and can be dealt just one more card after this.
Generally, the dealer must deal on any hand that is below the value of 16 and you often win more if the value of your cards when you have finished equal exactly 21.
Playing with a Strategy in Mind
As you can see the rules for playing Blackjack are relatively simple, so it’s a fun game that pretty much anyone can join in with. However, if you do a little research into playing the game, you’ll see that there are plenty of strategies and theories around how to play and give yourself the best possible chance of winning. There are many different strategies out there, so doing some research and seeing if any sound like ones you want to try can be a good idea.