Blackjack Rules Without Betting
Blackjack rules are fairly similar worldwide — with a few variations. Sometimes a small placard sitting on the table indicates where the casino stands in regard to certain scenarios. If you don’t see a placard, you may ask the dealer what the house rules are, even when you’re in the middle of a hand. Learning how to play free bet blackjack is easy. All the rules of American Blackjack run true, but players are offered free doubles on card totals of 9,10 or 11 and free splits on all pairs expect 10s. There is a caveat to these generous rules though – the dealer pushes on 22.
Blackjack has many rule variations, but the difference between most variations and standard blackjack rules are minimal. (With that said, small changes in rules can significantly change the house edge.)
Basics
Decks:
Blackjack is played with 1-8 decks.
Card values:
Cards from 2 to 10 are scored according to their face value, whilejacks, queens and kings are scored as 10 and aces as either 1 or 11 (up to the player).
Goal:
The goal in blackjack is to have a hand with a higher score than the dealeras long as the score is 21 or under. You don't compete against other players in blackjack,only the dealer.
Blackjack:
When a player's hand score is exactly 21 with the first two cards,he/she has made a blackjack (meaning there has to be an ace and a face card or a ten).In standard blackjack games, players make 3:2 on their bet with a blackjack, which is whygetting a blackjack is preferable for the player. There are 6:5 blackjack games too,in which making a blackjack pays 6:5 on players' bet and significantly increases the house edgewhen compared to standard 3:2 blackjack games.
Player's Options
Hit:
You 'hit' when you want another card. A player can request more cards until his/herscore is 21 or higher. In live games, you tap the table with your finger in case you want another card.
Stand:
You 'stand' when you don't want any additional cards. The signal in live games is towave your hand over your cards.
Double Down:
When 'doubling down', you double your bet and receiveexactly one more card. After having doubled down, you won't be able to requestadditional cards. You can only double down with the first two cards (so if you've beendealt three cards, you can't double down anymore). The signal in live games is to placeanother bet next to your original bet.
Split:
You can 'split' when you have two cards of the same value, such as two 6's.The sixes become separate hands and both hands are automatically dealt additional cards,so that there'll be two cards in both hands. You'll have to place an additional bet sinceyou now have two blackjack hands to play. The value of the additional bet must be equalto the original bet. You'll be able to either 'hit' or 'stand' in both of the hands.In some games, you'll be allowed to double down after having 'split' your hand.
Surrender:
You'll only be able to 'surrender' in some games. The act of surrenderingin blackjack means that you you receive half of your bet back and give up the current hand.
Dealer's Options
Dealers have no options in blackjack.
They only have a simple rule to follow. They must take more cards until they reach a scoreof 17 or higher, after which they must stop taking more cards. (Remember that aces or 1 or11 for the dealer, too, so even if the dealer reaches 17, for instance, with an ace anda six, he/she is allowed to take more cards in case you have a score higher than 17, since thedealer just decides to play the ace as 1.)
Gameplay
1. Players bet:
Players have to place their bets before the game starts.
2. First cards are dealt:
Once players have placed their bets, the dealer deals two cards per player.Cards are dealt one per round, so the dealer makes two rounds. In shoe games, players get their cards dealtface-up, while in hand-held games they're dealt face-down. One of the dealer's cards is dealt face-up, one face-down.
3. Players' turn:
After the first two cards have been dealt, the players got options which have been explained above.
4. The dealer's turn:
After all the players have made their decisions, it's the dealer's turn to actunless all the players have already busted, in which case the dealer automatically wins.
Results
Win:
You can win at blackjack by having a higher score than the dealer up to 21.
Lose:
You can lose at blackjack by having a lower score than the dealer.
Bust:
You can also lose by having a score higher than 21, in which case you 'bust'.
Push:
If both the player and the dealer have equal scores, the player receives his bet back.
Yes, understanding the basics of blackjack is relatively easy. But, before you can walk away a winner, you need a deeper understanding of the nuances of the game and casino protocol.
Finding a table: Strategic seating
Blackjack begins by selecting a seat at the table. Typically, a blackjack table allows for five to seven players. Whenever you see an empty seat at a blackjack table, you may assume it’s for your taking (unless chips or a coat are holding the spot for a player who just stepped away for a moment or unless some player is playing two hands). In most cases, joining a game in progress is okay, although some tables have a No-Midshoe Entry policy (usually marked by a sign at the table), which means you have to wait until the shuffle before playing.
For your first trip to the tables, you’re better off finding a nearly full table. Although the number of players at the table hardly affects the odds on your hands, the game is much quicker with fewer players. A fuller table gives you more time to think about each hand without being rushed or pressured.
Seeking single-deck tables
Without getting into a lot of math, here’s a good rule to follow: The fewer decks the casino uses, the better for you. Your chances for success increase if you can find a single-deck game. Most casinos worldwide have gone to six or more decks in an attempt to thwart card counters (skilled players who keep track of cards). But some places still deal blackjack the old-fashioned way — with one deck of 52 cards. Most of the casinos in northern Nevada (Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Wendover) still use one deck of cards at many of their blackjack tables. If you aren’t sure how many decks the casino is using, just ask.
Eyeing table bet levels
Before you actually sit down, look for the table’s minimum and maximum betting limits. Every table has these fixed limits, which the casino usually posts on a small sign located on the table to the right of the dealer.
You may sit down at a table where the placard says $5–$500, which means you have to bet at least $5 on every hand and can never bet more than $500 on any one spot. Typically, the higher the minimum starting bet, the higher the maximum bet for that table.
When you’re starting out, find the lowest minimum table in the casino and begin there. Making smaller bets keeps you out of trouble until you understand the game better — and you’re less likely to end up sitting next to a high roller (who may not appreciate a novice at his table).
Purchasing chips
After you select your seat, you need to buy chips from the dealer. Select the amount of money you want to start with and lay your cash on the felt in front of you. The dealer changes your cash into chips and slides them across the felt to you.
Don’t hand your money directly to the dealer; doing so is a breach of etiquette and brands you as a greenhorn.
After you receive your chips, leave them on the table in front of you. Chips come in several denominations and are color-coded. Although every casino uses distinctive chips, most colors are standard.
Start off with a small amount of chips. A good approach is to cash in no more than 25 percent of your daily bankroll for chips. For example, if you budget $400 for the day, buy in for no more than $100 to start. This way, when you’re losing, you minimize the temptation to bet more than you planned. You can always buy more chips later if necessary.
Homing in on house rules
Blackjack rules are fairly similar worldwide — with a few variations. Sometimes a small placard sitting on the table indicates where the casino stands in regard to certain scenarios. If you don’t see a placard, you may ask the dealer what the house rules are, even when you’re in the middle of a hand.
Blackjack Rules Without Betting Poker
Does the dealer hit on a soft 17?
A soft hand is any hand that counts an ace as 11 rather than 1. The hand is soft because it can’t bust on the next card. For example, if you hit (take another card) a soft 18 (an ace and a 7) with a 6, the ace automatically reverts to 1 (rather than 11), and the hand total is now 14 (rather than 24, which would be a bust).
Whether a dealer hits on a soft 17 is usually spelled out in bold white letters right on the felt. Normally the dealer counts an ace as 11 anytime he has a hand of 17 or more. However, about half the casinos worldwide deviate from this rule on soft 17 (an ace and a 6). In those cases, the ace counts as 1, and the dealer hits his soft 17.
Is doubling down restricted to certain card combinations?
Blackjack Rules Without Betting Against
In Las Vegas, casinos typically allow doubling down, an option that allows you to double your bet, on any two cards, but other places may restrict this move to just 10s or 11s. The placard probably won’t list restrictions to doubling down. If you aren’t sure whether restrictions are in place, don’t be afraid to ask the dealer, even if you’re in the middle of a hand.
Can you surrender?
A playing option known as surrender is an extremely profitable option for you as a player, but not many casinos offer it. When you surrender, you lose half of your initial bet and give up your hand. For example, if you bet $10 and are dealt a 16, you can surrender and only lose $5 (half your bet) rather than risk the entire $10 on a bad hand. Once again, the placard may not readily advertise this rule variation, so always ask if surrender is available.
Dealing what’s in the cards
Blackjack Rules Without Betting Odds
All right, you’re situated at the table, you’ve made your bet in the betting box, and your heart is pumping like a jackhammer. The dealer flashes you a warm smile, wishes you good luck, shuffles the deck, and asks you to cut the cards.
If you’re playing a one- or two-deck game, the dealer holds the cards in his hands and deals you two cards face-down. You can pick up these cards, but make sure you only hold them in one hand.
However, the majority of blackjack games today use six or eight decks. In these cases, the dealer deals your two cards face-up from a shoe (a boxlike device that houses the cards).
Blackjack Rules Without Betting Rules
Whether your cards are dealt face-up or face-down really doesn’t matter — dealers follow strict rules, and seeing the values of your cards doesn’t influence them. Dealers’ hands always start off with one card exposed and one card hidden, regardless of the number of decks.