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In blackjack, the object of the game is to reach a total card value as close to 21 as possible. This is done by adding together the value of each card—-Kings, Queens and Jacks are worth 10 each, numbered cards are worth face value, and Aces can have a value of either 1 or 11. A player may choose to 'hit' and take on more cards, or decide to 'stand' and stop adding cards to their hand. If the player's total hand value exceeds 21, the player 'busts', losing the game. If the dealer exceeds 21, the player automatically wins. If neither the dealer nor player reaches 21, then whoever has the highest total wins.
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The game begins with the player placing a bet. The dealer then deals two cards, generally face-up, to the player and one for himself. The dealer then adds another card, facedown, to his hand called the 'hole card'. If the player's first two cards are not a combination of an Ace and a 10 value card equaling 21 (Blackjack) which means an immediate win, then the player may choose to hit or stand. After each hit, the dealer asks the player if he would like to hit again, or stand. This may continue until the player chooses to stand, reaches blackjack, or busts by exceeding 21. If the player chooses to stand, the dealer must continue adding cards to his own hand until he has reached 17 or more, blackjack, or busted.
The dealer follows a set of rules that determine when he must hit, stand, double down, split pairs, or surrender. Dealer rules vary between the different casinos, but two generally accepted variations are as follows:
- The dealer stands on all 17's, meaning that the dealer must continue to hit on his turn and then stand after having reached a total of 17 or higher. Aces are counted as having a value of 11 (influencing whether or not the dealer continues to hit) if this does not cause the dealer to bust.
- The dealer hits on 'soft' 17's, which means that the dealer must continue to hit if his second card is an Ace even if the combination of the Ace and number card total 17 or high. The Ace is therefore counted as having a value of one.
BETTING
- 'Doubling down' is an option given to the player to double his original bet. This can be done after receiving the first two cards, and the majority of casinos will only allow doubling down if the first two cards have a value of nine, ten, or eleven. After taking the doubling down option, the dealer hands the player only one more card and then proceeds to finish drawing cards for his own hand.
- 'Splitting Pairs' is an option allowing the player to play two separate hands by splitting his original hand if the first two cards dealt to him have the same value. This can be done by placing a bet equal to the original amount bet before the split. When dealing with split Aces, special rules apply allowing the player to receive only one more card on each separate hand and in this case, reaching 21 is not treated as a blackjack.
- 'Insurance' is an option given to the player if the dealer's face-up card is showing as an Ace. The player bets half of their original bet, and the player receives a payback of 2 to 1 if the dealer has blackjack. The amount won if the dealer has a 21 ends up equaling the amount lost in the original bet, but if the dealer does not have blackjack, then the player loses the insurance bet.
- Ordinary wins, meaning the player succeeds in achieving a higher total card value than the dealer, pay even money.
- Blackjack wins, meaning the player succeeds in reaching a total card value of 21, pay more than ordinary wins with a payback of 3 to 2.
- A tie, called a 'push', results in no one winning or losing.
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Although the origin of Blackjack is vague, it is almost certain that the game originated somewhere in France in the early 1700’s. A popular game in casinos was uncovered, called “vingt-et-un” which translates as “twenty and one.” By the early 1800’s, “blackjack 21” was being played in casinos across America. Mathematicians became interested in the game and began trying to elucidate probabilities and strategy. Books on the game were published, which upset casino owners. They changed the essential rules of the game in attempt to make the game more difficult, but this brought a wave of protest which returned the game to its original rules.
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Card counting in Blackjack is a mathematical phenomenon based mainly on probability. The only counting talent needed is the ability to count by ones up to the number twelve. This also goes for a game where multiple decks are being used. For example, a deck that has a lack of cards 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are generally better for the player while a deck with very few cards of 9, 10, and Ace is not in the player’s favor. If a player pays attention and can discern the amount of types of cards in the deck, then he will be able to predict his odds of winning.
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