Beat the Dealer
First of all let’s dispose of one of the biggest fallacies surrounding the game. The objective is NOT to get cards totalling 21! It is NOT even to try to get as close to 21 as you can without going over! The objective of the game is to beat the dealer!!
How do you beat the dealer?
If you have a total higher than the dealer's without going over 21 you win.
If you or the dealer goes over 21 the hand is "Bust." And if you bust you automatically lose.
As long as you are not bust and the dealer busts you win but the player must always take action first. This means that it is possible for the player to bust before the dealer has taken any action and if he busts then he loses even if the dealer then goes on to bust.
Card Values
You can safely ignore the suits of the cards as they have no value in the game.
Cards 2 - 10 have a value the same as their face value.
All of the face cards (J,K,Q) have a value of ten.
Aces can have a value of either one or eleven.
A Jack and a four would equal 14.
An ace and a six would total either 7 or 17.
Hands with no ace are referred to as a Hard Hands because there is only one possible value.
Hands with one or more aces are called Soft Hands because there is more than one possible value.
If you draw a card to a soft hand and counting the ace as eleven puts you over 21 then the hand becomes a hard hand.
Blackjack Tables
When you select an online blackjack table from the lobby, you will see that there is a separate circle for each player with the words “sit here”. Select a position and click in the circle.
Now you can choose the amount you want to bet by clicking on the betting chips. They will appear in your betting circle. You can click on tem in the betting circle to remove chips as well. When you have the right amount, click on the “Bet” button to commit.
Each player is now dealt two cards face up. The dealer receives one card face up and one card face down (the hole card).
Each player in turn (right to left) now has to decide what action to take. Its very easy to follow the rules as only buttons for actions you can take will be active so you can’t go wrong.
You will make your decision about how to play your hand based on the dealer's up card and the two cards that you were dealt.
A nice rule of thumb for beginners is to always assume that the dealer has a ten value card in the hole.
Remember that if you are playing at a multiplayer table, there is a timer!
Blackjack
If you or the dealer is dealt a ten value card and an Ace (making 21!) it is called a Blackjack. Some people call it a “Natural”. If you get a blackjack and the dealer doesn’t, you will be paid 3 to 2 for your bet.
If both you and the dealer get a blackjack then the hand pushed (you get your bet back!). If only the dealer has blackjack then all players lose.
Below is a list of rules variations you'll find on the tables:
2. Dealer Stands on Soft 17-- The dealer stands on 17 or better even with an ace in the hand.
3. Dealer Hits on Soft 17-- This rule requires the dealer to draw another card if hes holding a soft 17 but will stand on a hard 17.
4. Doubling-- Some tables do not allow doubling, while others allow it. Some tables only allow doubling on the first two cards, while others allow doubling on any number of cards.
5. Doubling After Split-- allows you to double even after the hands have been split. Some tables will allow you to keep splitting, as long as you keep getting pairs on the initial hand.
6. Surrender-- Can be “early” or “late” if allowed. You can “early” surrender before the dealer checks for Blackjack. “Late” surrender is after the initial check. If you surrender, you retain half of your original bet.
7. Insurance-- if the dealer's up-card is an Ace, you will be offered “insurance”. This is a side bet of half your original bet. The dealer will then check the hole card to see if it is a 10 value. If the dealer does have a blackjack then insurance bets are paid out at 2:1. You will lose your original bet unless you have a blackjack so the net effect is that you'll break even. If the dealer does not have blackjack, you'll lose the insurance bet and still have to play out your original hand.