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Blackjack History
Blackjack first originated in France in the 1700's where it was called "vingt-et-un" ("twenty-and-one"). Blackjack was first introduced in the United States in the early 1900's in Indiana . The game was christened 'Blackjack' because if a player held a Jack of Spades and an Ace of Spades as the first two cards, the player was paid out extra. So with Spades being black and Jack being a vital card - Blackjack was born! In a modern deck of 52 cards, those cards with a value of 10 (10, Jack, Queen and King) represent 30.8% of a deck.
Objective
In Blackjack, the objective is to try to beat the dealer by getting closer to 21. If the total value of your cards is closer to 21 than the dealer's, you win as much as you have bet. If you have blackjack, you win 3 to 2 times your bet (example - a $2 bet will win $3), as long as the dealer does not also have blackjack. Aces count as either 1 or 11, face cards as 10, and remaining cards according to their number values. Because you can play an Ace either way, a hand with an ace is called a soft hand.
If the total of your cards is over 21, you'll bust and lose your bet. If you have the same card total as the dealer, from 17 and up, no one wins and you get your bet back in a push. Blackjack beats a count of 21.
The dealer must draw cards until they have at least 17 and must stand at 17 or higher.
Blackjack Glossary
- Blackjack - the first two cards being dealt to a player are a ten value card and an ace
- Bust - when the dealer or player draws cards to a total of more than 21
- Face card - King, Queen and Jack
- Hard hand - a hand that does not have an ace or a hand that cannot use the ace as eleven
- Hit or draw - to draw additional cards
- Hole card - the face down card dealt to the dealer
- Insurance - side wager for up to half of the original wager when the dealer is showing an ace
- Natural - a ten value card and an ace
- Push - when the dealer and player have identical card values. No winner or loser.
- Press - to increase the amount being wagered after a win usually by the original amount
- Soft hand - a hand that can use the ace as one or eleven
- Split - to make two hands from a pair
- Stand - to not draw any more cards
- Stiff hand - a hand between twelve through sixteen
Blackjack Rules
Hit
If you are not pleased with the total of your first two cards, you can draw additional card(s) until you stand or bust. Some casinos refer to hitting as draw.
Stand
If you are pleased with your first two cards, you would then stand and not draw anymore cards.
Double Down
If you have been dealt two cards and think that a third card may give you a chance to beat the dealer's hand, you can "double down." Your bet is doubled and you can draw only one additional card.
Split
If your first two cards are of the same value, you can split them into two separate hands by placing a second bet of equal value and drawing cards as usual. Note that at many online casinos, if you split two aces, you get only one additional card for each hand. If you split two aces and one of your hands totals 21, this is not blackjack, but 21. Also, at some online casinos, you cannot split a split hand.
Insurance
Insurance is not recommended and is considered a separate game of its own within blackjack. When you think that the dealer has blackjack, it gives you a chance to protect your bet. If the dealer's first card is an ace and if you think that the dealer's hole card is of value 10, you can buy insurance against dealer blackjack at the price of half your original bet. If the dealer has blackjack, the insurance pays 2 to 1, matching the amount of your original bet. If you have purchased insurance and the dealer doesn't have blackjack, you lose your insurance. If you and the dealer both have blackjack, the game results in a push.
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