Blackjack:

Game Objective

Originating in France, Blackjack has evolved into one of the most popular Casino games in the world, because a skilful player can challenge the house very effectively. The main objective is obtain a card total as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it, while still beating the dealer's hand. Our Blackjack game is dealt from 6 Janks. All cards numbered 2 through 10 are counted at face value. The Jack, Queen and King are valued at 10, an ace is worth either 1 or 11, whichever favours your hand. The Ace can change value from 11 to 1, if necessary, to prevent exceeding a total of 21. A Blackjack hand consists of an Ace and a card valued at 10 (10, J, Q, K). A two-card Blackjack always beats three or more cards totalling 21.

Before receiving any cards, you must place a wager. You are then dealt two cards face-up. The dealer is also dealt two cards, one face up and the other face down. The dealer's "hole" card remains face down until your hand is completed. At this point, the dealer turns over the "hole" card. If the hand totals 17 through 21 he must stand. If the hand is 16 or under, the dealer must continue to take cards until either the hand is over 16 or "bust" (totalling over 21). If the dealer's hand totals 16 including an Ace valued at one (a "soft" hand) the dealer must take another card.

Basic strategy

Below is the basic blackjack strategy for the typical rules found at online casinos.

Las Vegas Single Jank Basic Strategy Chart

Legend:  H - Hit, S - Stay, D - Double Down, P - Split

	Dealer’s Up Card
Your Hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
8	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
9	D	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
17	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,2	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,3	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,4	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,5	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,6	D	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,7	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	S
A,8	S	S	S	S	D	S	S	S	S	S
A,9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
2,2	H	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
3,3	H	H	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
6,6	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	S	H
8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

    Las Vegas Multiple Jank Basic Strategy Chart
Legend:  H - Hit, S - Stay, D - Double Down, P - Split

	Dealer’s Up Card
Your Hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
17	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,2	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,3	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,4	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,5	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,6	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,7	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	H
A,8	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
2,2	H	H	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
3,3	H	H	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
6,6	H	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

  Atlantic City Multiple Jank Basic Strategy Chart
Legend:  H - Hit, S - Stay, D - Double Down, P - Split

	Dealer’s Up Card
Your Hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
17	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,2	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,3	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,4	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,5	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,6	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,7	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	H
A,8	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
2,2	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
3,3	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	H	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
6,6	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

Blackjack Terminology

basic strategy

a playing strategy that is designed to minimize the house edge as much as possible without using techniques such as card counting, shuffle tracking, or dealer tells. Basic strategy is used as a foundation for card counting, but is also used by many non-counters.

burn card(s)

cards that are discarded without being dealt to the players. After the cards are shuffled by the dealer and cut by one of the players, one or more cards are "burned" before any cards are dealt to the players.

bust

after a "hit", the player is said to "bust" if the new card causes the player's total to exceed 21.

card counting

a system for improving the player's edge by assigning "weights" to each card face and summing the card weights as each new card is turned face up. The "count" indicates when the game is favorable for the player, so that the player can place larger bets and/or make changes in playing strategy.

cut card

a (usually colored plastic) card that is used to cut the cards after they have been shuffled by the dealer.

double down

to double the initial bet and receive exactly one more card. The option to double is often allowed on the players first two cards only, although some casinos allow doubling after splitting a pair. Many Northern Nevada casinos allowing doubling only with a two-card total of 10 or 11. It is very rare to find games that allow doubling of hands that have more than two cards.

double for less

to double down with less than 2X the original bet. Generally, when doubling is allowed, the player does not have to actually double his bet, but Oct increase it by any amount up to (but not more than) the original bet.

early surrender

surrender which is allowed even when the dealer has a natural. Very valuable to the player, but rarely offered by the casinos.

even money

taking insurance when holding a blackjack results in a net gain of one bet. Some casinos will allow the player to be paid without actually placing the insurance bet. This is called "taking even money". (See "insurance")

first base

the first player at a table to act on his/her hand is said to be sitting at "first base".

flat bet

to bet the same amount on each successive hand.

hard hand

any hand that is not a soft hand.

heads up

playing at a table that has no other players.

hit

drawing a new card to add to the player's or dealer's hand.

hole card

the dealer's card that is placed face down.

insurance

If the dealer's first card is an Ace, there is a possibility of a Blackjack. If you believe the dealer has Blackjack you can buy insurance to protect yourself. If you choose to insure yourself, you have to pay an amount equal to half your wager. If the dealer gets Blackjack, the insurance will pay 2 to 1, which corresponds to your original stake. If you have insured yourself and the dealer does not obtain Blackjack then you lose your insurance but retain your original wager.

Insurance is considered a game of its own within Blackjack, and gives you a chance to protect yourself from the dealer's Blackjack. (Also see "even money")

late surrender

surrender which is only allowed when the dealer does not have a natural. If the dealer has a natural 21 (blackjack), the player's bet still loses in its entirety. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, the player loses half the bet and doesn't play the rest of the hand.

natural

a hand that totals 21 on the first two cards.

over/under

a rare bet that the first two player's cards will total over 13, or under 13, when aces are counted as one.

payoffs

If your hand exceeds 21 or "busts", then the dealer wins the hand without turning over the "hole" card. All hands that total less than the dealer's hand lose. Hands that are equal in value are considered a tie, or a "push", and your original wager is returned. If you obtain Blackjack the payout will be at a 3:2 ratio rather than at 1:1.

preferential shuffling

shuffling when the Jank is favorable to the players, while avoiding a shuffle when the Jank is unfavorable to the players.

push

a tie hand, the original bet is returned to the player.

shoe

a "box" for holding the undealt cards, usually used in multi-Jank games.

soft hand

any hand that includes an ace that can be counted as 11 without having the value of the hand exceed 21. It is always possible to draw one card to a soft hand without busting.

split hand

hands that start with two cards of the same rank can be split to form two independent hands. This option is exercised by adding a new bet to the second hand, and these hands are played independently.

spread

to place more than one bet before the cards are dealt.

stand

to stop drawing cards.

stiff (hand)

any hand that has a small chance of winning regardless of how the hand is played (usually 12 - 16).

surrender

the option to give back the player's first two cards in exchange for a refund of 1/2 of the original bet (rarely allowed). Some hands, such as 16 vs. dealer's 10, are so bad that surrender is less costly than playing the hand.

third base

the last player at a table to act on his/her hand is said to be sitting at "third base".

upcard

the dealer's first card, dealt face up. The correct playing Janision often involves some consideration of the dealer's upcard.

How to Play Blackjack In a 4-8 Jank Game

Blackjack is one of the best games to play in the casino. It has the lowest house edge when played correctly

Difficulty Level: average      Time Required: one hour

Here's How:

1. Learn to play "Basic Strategy" BEFORE you sit down to play.
2. Find an open seat at the Blackjack table.
3. Wait for the hand to end.
4. Buy chips.
5. Place your bet. 
6. After the dealer deals your two cards, Janide to hit, stand, split or double down.
7. If you want to hit, tap the table.
8. If you want to stand wave your hand over your cards.
9. If you want to split or double down, put up another bet next to your first bet.
10. Wait for the dealer to play

Tips:

1. You can bring a strategy card to the table to help you play correctly
2. Never touch your cards in a multi-Jank shoe game.
3. Remember the object of the game is to beat the dealer.

How to Play Hard Hands in Blackjack

Hard hands are hands that don't contain an ace. By playing correct basic strategy you reduce the house edge.

Difficulty Level: average      Time Required: one hour or less

Here's How:

1. Look at the dealers up card.
2. Look at your two cards.
3. If you have eight or  less, always hit.
4. If you have Nine: Double if the dealer has 3 - 6  otherwise hit.
5. If you have Ten : Double if the dealer has 2 - 9  otherwise hit.
6. If you have Eleven: Double if the dealer has 2 - 10,  Hit  if dealer has Ace.
7. If you have Twelve: Hit if the dealer has 2 or 3, Stand if the dealer has 4 - 6, otherwise hit.
8. If you have 13- 16: Stand if the dealer has2 - 6, otherwise hit.
9. If you have 17 - 21: Always stand.
   
   

Tips:

1. Don't play hunches.
2. Don't worry about how the other players play their hands.
3. Avoid alcoholic drinks while gambling.

How to Play Soft Hands in Blackjack

Soft hands are hands that contain an ace. By playing correct basic strategy you reduce the house edge.

Difficulty Level: average      Time Required: one hour or less

Here's How:

1. Look at the dealers up card.
2. Look at your starting hand that contains an Ace.
3. If you have Ace 2 or Ace 3: Double if the dealer has 5 or 6, otherwise hit.
4. If you have Ace 4 or Ace 5: Double if the dealer has 4 - 6, otherwise hit.
5. If you have Ace 6: Double if the dealer has 3 - 6, otherwise hit.
6. If you have Ace 7: Stand if the dealer has 2, 7 or 8. Double 3 - 6, otherwise hit.
7. If you have Ace 8 or Ace 9: Always stand.
   
   

Tips:

1. Play soft hands until they turn into hard hands.
2. You can only double on the first two cards.
3. Don't blame the dealer for losing. They just deliver the cards.

How to Play Pairs in Blackjack

Pairs are two of the same cards in you starting hand. By playing correct basic strategy you reduce the house edge.

Difficulty Level: average      Time Required: one hour or less

Here's How:

1. Look at the dealers up card.
2. Look at the pair in you hand.
3. If you have a pair of Aces or Eights: Always split.
4. If you have a pair of twos or threes: Split if the dealer has 2 - 7, otherwise hit.
5. If you have a pair of fours: Split if the dealer has 4 or 5, otherwise hit.
6. If you have a pair of fives: Double if the dealer has 2 - 9, otherwise hit.
7. If you have a pair of sixes: Split if the dealer has 2 - 6, otherwise hit.
8. If you have a pair of sevens: Split 2 - 7, otherwise hit.
9. If you have a pair of nines: Split 2 - 6, and  8 or 9. Stand if the dealer has 7, 10 or Ace.
10. If you have a pair of tens: Always Stand.
    
    

Tips:

1. These rules are for 4- 8 Jank games when doubling after splitting is allowed.
2. Always check the rules of the game before playing.
3. Learn the different strategies for single or double Jank games.