The Basics of Blackjack
Blackjack is a card game for intellectuals, mathematicians and people who like the chance of beating the house. It is also a very popular casino game that has a long history and many variants. It is also a very complicated game to master and requires a thorough understanding of its rules, strategy, and casino procedures.
The game is played on a semicircular table that can accommodate five to seven players (or “spots”). Each player is dealt two cards, and the dealer is dealt one card face up and one card face down. The players then have the option of hitting (asking for an additional card) until their hand total exceeds 21 or they decide to stand. In blackjack, suits do not count, and aces may be counted as either 1 or 11. The goal is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21.
After each player has decided whether to hit or stand, the dealer checks her hole card (or up card in some cases) for a blackjack. If she has a blackjack, she will pay off any insurance wagers (usually half the original bet) and the game continues as usual. If she does not have a blackjack, she will sweep the players’ original wagers and take their insurance bets (which pay 2-1).
Some casinos offer an additional side bet called insurance. This bet is offered when the dealer has an ace showing and pays out 2 to 1 if the dealer has a blackjack. This bet is not recommended and should only be placed if the player has a strong knowledge of the odds of the dealer having a blackjack.
Occasionally, the dealer will have a blackjack and sweep all of the players’ bets. This is known as a push. In a push, the players keep their original bets and do not get paid, and the dealer collects the cards, shuffles them and starts another round.
In addition to the main bets, some tables offer a variety of other side bets. These include bets on splitting pairs (two cards of the same rank), doubling down, betting that the dealer will bust, and more. Most of these side bets require that the player place the bet at the same time as her main wager. Side bets are not always offered and they are not as profitable as the main bets. However, they can be fun to play and can add to the overall excitement of the game.