Blackjack Dealer Rules
Set of Rules to Follow in Blackjack
Blackjack is a card game instantly recognizable by all casino players. It is one of the best games to play both in online and offline casinos, offering a high level of gambling entertainment. The rules of blackjack are very easy to learn and remember.
Even complete newbies will not have any trouble learning the blackjack rules. What makes single deck blackjack games so popular and attractive is that they have one of the lowest casino edges in comparison to other casino games.
The skill element is also present in blackjack, which means players have an influence on the gameplay and can win money by applying a basic strategy as they play.
Playing Blackjack – What Does It Involve?
Blackjack is a fast-paced card game where you, as a player, compete against the dealer. Your main goal in the game is to beat the dealer, regardless of whether you play alone on the blackjack table or there are more players beside you. The blackjack dealer represents the casino and they are leading the game in a professional and smooth manner.
Your main goal when you play blackjack is to defeat the dealer by forming a hand that is as close to 21 as possible. If you go over 21 you automatically lose the bet and a new round starts. Not always you have to be close to 21 to win the round. Sometimes you can hold cards that have a much lower total of 21 but can still win if the blackjack dealer’s hand goes bust with a total over 21.
Originally, the game of blackjack was a single deck game, then came double-deck, but nowadays online casinos offer blackjack games with 6-8 decks. That makes it a bit difficult for players using systems, especially for those that want to try a card counting system, as this system does not work in online casinos.
Blackjack Dealer Rules – Basic Things To Know
Blackjack has very straightforward rules that anyone can learn quickly. There are no complicated bets to take, which makes this game relaxing and easy for both the player and the dealer. Over the course of the blackjack game, you only need to make a few decisions for your hand, which are all very simple too. In each round, in each hand, you are free to choose how will you play your cards. The blackjack dealer does not have this liberty as their actions are pre-determined by the blackjack rules.
When it comes to game rules, the game of blackjack has many variations in online casinos, with each variation coming with a different house edge. It is advisable you learn the blackjack rules of all variations, which can help you a lot in establishing the best basic strategy to apply on the tables.
The blackjack table has a semi-circular shape, and it has several betting areas where you can clearly see what you can do. Playing online is very easy and most casinos have rules right on the table, so players will have no trouble finding everything they need even before making their initial bet.
Blackjack Table Terms
Like all other table games, blackjack also comes with many terms you need to remember. That will help you better understand the game and casino play will go much more smoothly. The following are the most important terms in the game of blackjack.
Hit – Get another card
Stand – End your turn without getting any additional card
Double Down – Double your stake in the hand
Split – Split your first two cards into two new hands and play them independently from each other
Surrender – Give up half of your wager and keep the half without playing your hand
Insurance Bet – A side bet which you can make if the dealer holds an Ace and you suspect he has a Blackjack
Shoe – Place for storing card decks
Hole Card – The dealer’s card with its face value down
House Edge – The casino advantage in games they offer, shown in a precise percentage
Soft Hand – Hand with an Ace counting as 11
Hard Hand – Hand without Aces or a hand with an Ace that counts as 1.
Value of Cards in Blackjack Game
The card and hand value in the game of blackjack is easy to understand and learn. All cards represent their numeric value, except for the face cards and Aces. All face cards – Jack, Queen, and King count as a ten-value card, while the Aces are either 1 or 11, depending on the hand. That is why the Ace is the most powerful card you can have because it prevents you from busting and can help you get as close to 21 as possible. Whenever you get an Ace in blackjack, you can use it to adjust the value and help yourself form a winning blackjack hand.
When it comes to card suits, players should know that they have no meaning in the game of blackjack i.e they are irrelevant. Only the value is what counts so forget the colors and suits.
To win in online blackjack games, the best hand you can have is a combination of an Ace and a ten-value card. That is a blackjack hand paying out typically 3:2. You are an instant winner if you get such a hand. The only exception is if the dealer also has a blackjack hand when the round is called a push and you receive your stake back. In such a situation, nobody is declared a winner.
Blackjack Dealer Rules Gameplay
The gameplay in blackjack goes fast and it is very exciting. If you are a complete beginner and have no idea how everything works, perhaps you can play some blackjack demo games to get familiar. We are sure you will have no troubles whatsoever, as you are just clicking a few things and the game goes nice and smooth.
The first thing players do when they play blackjack is to place their bets on the table. A good idea is to have a pre-determined bankroll and know exactly how much you will wager on each hand. Blackjack games in online casinos come at all stakes, so you can bet from less than a dollar to up to hundreds of dollars per hand. Each blackjack casino game has a minimum and maximum bet, which is clearly displayed on the table. In general, it is good to start small until you are comfortable enough to place higher bets.
How to Place a Bet in Online Blackjack
Placing a bet is done very easily. Just click on the chip with the proper denomination and you can start the round. After that, you will receive two cards face up. The blackjack dealer will also receive two cards, one of which will be face down. The hole card, or the down card, is crucial in the process. If the dealer has a 10-value card or an Ace, they will have to check for a blackjack. In case they do have a blackjack, you will lose the hand. In case you both have a blackjack, the round is a tie and you both receive your bets as if it was not placed at all.
After betting and receiving two cards, players need to choose their next steps. Depending on which choice you make, the game scenario will unfold differently. If you do not go bust i.e over 21, and your hand total is higher than the dealer’s – you win and receive the amount equal to your initial wager. All winning hands in blackjack come at even money, except for the blackjack hand which pays 3:2.
As you can see the basic blackjack rules are very simple. Each time you have to decide whether you are satisfied with your hand total or you want to receive more cards to improve it. There are no complicated steps to follow or long game explanations. The most important thing is to follow a basic playing strategy to beat the dealer’s hand. Do not bother with card counting, because it will not help you in online blackjack. Most casinos use lots of decks that are reshuffled before each deal, making card counting an impossible strategy to follow.
Player’s Decisions In Blackjack
After receiving two cards, blackjack players have to decide what to do next. The main decision to make is whether to hit, stand, or split the hand. If blackjack players believe their hand is weak, they should hit and receive additional cards to improve the total. So, hitting is requesting new cards.
To stand is the opposite of to hit. When you choose to stand, you are satisfied with your hand and you believe you can beat the dealer without taking additional cards. In such cases, you wait for the dealer to reveal his hand and see whether the dealer stands or goes bust by receiving additional cards.
In some situations, players are given the choice to split their ten-value cards, double down, take an insurance bet, early surrender, or take some blackjack side bets. The rules for this are variable from one blackjack variant to another so a good idea is to learn everything first about that variant before sitting to play.
Splitting, Re-Splitting, and Insurance Bet
Re-splitting aces is a piece of good advice to hold on to, as that can help you form not one, but two winning hands within the same round. Almost all blackjack variants allow splitting pairs and face cards, but it is good to check the specific rules in advance. The rules regarding splitting and re-splitting are not the same in all online casinos, which is why it is worth checking before playing.
Some blackjack variants allow players to take insurance if they believe the dealer has a blackjack. That means to take a part of their original bet back if the dealer reveals a blackjack. To take insurance, players need to make a side bet that is half of the amount of the initial wager. If the dealer has a blackjack, your original bet is a loser, but your insurance bet is a winner. Blackjack games that allow insurance bets usually have a higher house edge, which is another thing to keep in mind.
Besides insurance, some blackjack casino games offer the surrender option. In such games, if the dealer’s upcard is a 10-value card or an ace, the players can surrender. That means they can give up half of their bet to the table without playing the hand and receiving the other half back. This early surrender move can be very beneficial if you know you are about to lose against the dealer. There is also a late surrender option, depending on the time when players can perform this move.
When to Take a Surrender?
Since the surrender option increases the house edge and is not good when following the blackjack basic strategy, players should only use it in rare situations. It is advisable you consider the surrender option when you know that you are likely to lose the hand. For example, if your hand total is 15 or 16, and you see the dealer jas a Jack or an Ace. In this case, a good option is to give up half of your bet and keep half because you are likely to lose the entire bet without using the surrender option. That is a basic strategy the beginning players should certainly use. However, you should not surrender every time you receive unfavorable cards. If you do that, you will lose more money long-term than if you played those hands.
Dealer’s Decisions in Blackjack
We all know that dealer deals in blackjack, but they also have other sets of rules to follow. For example, blackjack dealers cannot double down, split their pairs, or use the surrender option. They are also enforced to always stand on soft 17. If the player chooses to stand, the dealer must reveal their hole card to determine the winner of the round. If the dealer has a blackjack, players lose their bets.
If the dealer does not hold a blackjack in their hand, they are required to either hit or stand, depending on the game variation. In general, the gameplay rules for the dealers only slightly differ from one version to another. Anyhow, they always need to check their hole card for possible blackjack if their upcard is an Ace.
Players can check everything about the rules of blackjack tables, betting limits, and the specific house edge if they read the terms of each table before playing. Also, keep in mind that video blackjack is different from Las Vegas blackjack so make sure you know all details before playing.
Optimal Basic Strategy When Playing Blackjack
Blackjack is a card game that combines both skill and luck. Players do have a say in this game and can influence the outcome of the round. For that to happen, they need to follow some strategy. An important thing to remember if you want to beat blackjack is that the more you know about it, the better your winning chances will be.
One of the best things about blackjack is that it has a very low house edge compared to other popular casino games. You can become a winner and make good profits by following a correct blackjack strategy that is optimized for multi-deck games.
Card counting can reduce the house edge, but the problem is that online casinos use lots of decks in their games which makes counting cards impossible. The best thing players could do is download specific blackjack strategy cards online. These charts will point to which decisions to make in any given situation. By playing optimally, players can hope to make profits and enjoy their winnings.
Summary – Play Blackjack and Beat the Dealer with Optimal Strategy
As we can conclude, the blackjack dealer rules are not much different than player rules. The big difference between the players’ and dealers’ rules is that dealers cannot double down, split, or surrender. Other than that, they follow the same rules as the players and try to win in favor of the house. To outplay the dealers and beat them, players should play favorable blackjack games with a low house edge. Explore the blackjack games online, find a suitable variant, and follow the optimal strategies to win real money.
