In blackjack, the goal is to beat the dealer by getting a higher total than his. If the dealer and player both bust out, the player loses. Otherwise, the game is called a push. In this scenario, neither the player nor the dealer wins. In blackjack, each player has his or her own game with the dealer. A dealer can lose to only one player, but it is possible to win against both players if the dealer has a weak hand.
Surrendering gives the player half of their bet
The term “surrender” is not used in all games of blackjack. Typically, a player can use hand gestures to signal their intention to surrender, but the rules of blackjack are different. In general, players must draw a horizontal line behind their bet with their index finger and then verbally announce their intention to surrender. While hand signals are not required in online blackjack, some land-based casinos have begun to incorporate them to help players understand how to properly use them.
Double down on a total of 9, 10 or 11
A common misconception is that you must double down on a total of nine or ten to win in blackjack. However, this is not the case. In most cases, the dealer must hit a soft 17 in order to make a winning hand. If you have a total of ten or eleven, you can still double down on the hand. This play is also known as the “double down rule” in blackjack.
Insurance bets pay out at odds of 2 to 1
Blackjack dealers may ask for an insurance bet before they deal the cards. If the dealer is holding a blackjack, an insurance bet pays out at odds of 2 to 1. That means that a $5 insurance bet will win $10 if the dealer does not have a blackjack. Likewise, an insurance bet will lose if the dealer has a ten-value card in the hole. Players who accept insurance bets are essentially breaking even, and they continue playing their hands as normal. Some blackjack players, however, argue that taking insurance is a better option than breaking even.
Aces count as face cards
The face value of an ace is completely up to the player. The face value of any other card is 10, and ace’s are considered high or low. The player can double, however, to get many bets out of a winning situation. Another strategy is to surrender early when the dealer has a high hand. This strategy can help the player avoid reaching a total of twelve, and can also help the player draw more than one card.
Aces can be re-split
Many blackjack games have rules limiting when and how a player can split an ace. While some states allow multiple splits of an ace, most only allow one. Once an ace is split, a player is limited to drawing only one card and cannot split another ace. Re-splitting an ace can result in a higher payout than splitting an ace with a pair of 10-value cards. As such, re-splitting an ace with a 10-value card is not the most optimal strategy. However, it is a viable strategy in certain circumstances.
Queens count as face cards in blackjack
The value of aces and face cards in blackjack is entirely up to the player. Aces are worth either one or eleven points. The face cards are worth ten points. Queens, Jacks and Kings count as face cards. Any other card is worth a pip. Each player makes a bet in the designated area. Limits are set for each game. The betting range is generally from $2 to $500.