Blackjack Rules
Here we continue our look at the basics of Blackjack by examining each of the options open to us after we receive our first two cards. At this point in the game you can see the dealers up-card, and you know your first two cards. It’s time to decide if you want another card or if something else is a better option.
Hitting
To hit is to ask for an additional card on your hand. If you were dealt two fives as your first two cards, you would certainly want to hit, since your total is quite far from 21, you have no chance of going over 21 with one more card, and a total of ten is a weak hand.
To hit when playing at an online casino, there should be an obvious hit button presented whenever it is an available option. In a land-based casino, when you want to hit you should both ask for it out-loud with the word ‘hit’, and indicated a hit with your hand. To indicate a hit with your hand scratch the table felt lightly towards you with your finger. If you are playing a game where the cards are dealt face down, use the corner of your cards to scrape the table.
You should hit until you are satisfied with your hand, at which point you indicate to the dealer that you wish to stand.
Standing
To stand is to refuse any further cards or any further action towards your hand. If you choose to stand you will not receive any more opportunities to alter your given hand.
To stand when playing at an online casino simply choose the stand option when it is presented to you, as it will only be presented when there is an option to stand. To stand in a land-based casino say the word ‘stand’ out-loud while waving an open palm, face down, over your hand. This will indicate to the dealer that you do not want any more cards.
Doubling down
The action of doubling down is one of the most important parts of blackjack. It is the rare opportunity to increase your bet part-way through your hand. Doubling down is literally doubling your original bet when you see an opportunity. Most casinos will only allow you to double down on your first two cards. If those two cards put you in a position where one additional card will likely give you a hand stronger than the dealers, you should double down.
Your best opportunity to double down will come when you recognize the dealer as showing ‘busting cards’. The concept of busting cards and their importance is covered completely in our advanced blackjack strategy section.
To double down simply place another stack of chips equal to your original bet down right beside your original bet, so that the stacks are side by side, just about touching each other. This will indicate to the dealer that you wish to double your bet. When you double down you will only be presented with one more card. This means if you double down on 10, and receive a 2, your hand is stuck at 12, and you wont get another chance to improve it.
Splitting
When your initial two-card hand is made up of a pair, you have the option to split. Say you were dealt two 8’s as your first two cards. Your total is 16, which is sometimes difficult to know what to do with. It isn’t a strong hand, but it’s risky to hit on, since it’s close to 21. Since both cards are 8’s, you can ‘split’ them into two different hands. To do so place a new bet equal to your original, beside your original bet, but with a few inches between (if it were placed directly beside it, it would mean you want to double down). At the same time tell the dealer you wish to split, and the dealer will separate your cards.
Each 8 is now the first card on a new hand. So you see how smart it was to split your pair? Now you have a decent chance of having two strong hands. Of course, if you were dealt two 4’s as your first cards, splitting would have been silly.
Taking insurance
When the dealer’s up-card is an Ace, they will stop before they deal the players a second card and ask if anybody would like insurance. What does this mean? It means that you can ‘buy insurance’ against the fact that the dealer will have blackjack. You need to put up half of your original bet for insurance. If the dealer does have blackjack you will lose your original bet, but win your insurance bet. In the end you have lost nothing and gained nothing. Statistically, although it may seem like a good idea at the time, it’s never smart to take insurance.
This concludes our extensive coverage of blackjack rules. Soon also we’ll provide detailed articles on free slots and online keno. If you have already tried online keno and you’re a huge fan of this popular numbers game, now’s your chance!
