How to Play Black Jack
What is Black Jack? Nearly everyone has played the card game called twenty-one - well that's all that Black Jack is. The object of the game is to get a total value of cards as close to 21 as possible without going over and beat the dealer's total. Numbered cards are worth their face value. Face cards -- Kings, Queens and Jacks -- are each worth 10. Aces are worth either 1 or 11, whichever is better in the circumstances.
If the total value of your cards exceeds 21, you "bust", which means you lose. If your total is less than or equal to 21 and the dealer's total is over 21, then the dealer busts and you win. If neither your total or the dealer's total exceeds 21, then the higher total wins. In the event of a tie, no one wins and no one loses. A tie is called a "push".
You start the game by placing your bet. Next the dealer deals two cards to you and one to himself. Usually these cards are dealt face-up. Then the dealer gives himself a second card face-down. This is called the hole card. Now you have to make a decision: do you take another card ("hit") or pass to the dealer ("stand" or "stay"). If you hit, the dealer gives you another card and again asks if you want to hit or stand. You keep hitting until you are satisfied with your total or you bust. The dealer must keep taking cards until he has 17 or more.
How to Win at Black Jack
If the first two cards dealt to you or the dealer are an Ace and a ten-count card (10, Jack, Queen or King), that is "blackjack". If you have blackjack, you win automatically, unless the dealer also has blackjack, in which case it is a push (tie). Blackjack pays higher than an ordinary win, which pays even money. Blackjack pays 3 to 2, meaning you win 3 dollars for every 2 you bet. Blackjack is sometimes called "a natural". The remaining players with a higher count than the dealer win an amount equal to their bet. Players with a lower count than the dealer lose their bet. If the dealer busts, all the remaining players win.
Black Jack Tips
- The dealer stands a greater chance of busting if his up card is a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. He stands a greater chance of completing his hands when his up card is a 7, 8, 9, 10, face card or an ace.
- You hold a 52% advantage over the casino if you are dealt an ace as your first card.
- Double down when you're dealt 7s or 8s and the dealer's up card is equal or lower in value. As a general rule, do double down on face cards, 10s or 5s. (To double down you increase your initial wager in return for being dealt one more card if you think that you have a good chance of beating the dealer.)
- Regardless of what the dealer's up card is, you stand a better chance of winning if you split on aces and 8s. Split 2s and 3s against the dealer's 4, 5 or 6.
- If you are using the most recent version of our software, and are not confident with your Blackjack tactics, you may use the "Expert Mode" and take advantage of the default strategy provided, or alter the strategy to your own preferences.
Strategies
- The dealer stands a greater chance of busting if his up card is a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. He stands a greater chance of completing his hands when his up card is a 7, 8, 9, 10, face card or an ace.
- You hold a 52% advantage over the casino if you are dealt an ace as your first card.
- Double down when you're dealt 7s or 8s and the dealer's up card is equal or lower in value. As a general rule, do double down on face cards, 10s or 5s. (To double down you increase your initial wager in return for being dealt one more card if you think that you have a good chance of beating the dealer.)
- Regardless of what the dealer's up card is, you stand a better chance of winning if you split on aces and 8s. Split 2s and 3s against the dealer's 4, 5 or 6.
