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The magic number in blackjack is 21 - your aim is to get a hand total of 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over and then beating the dealers hand. All games are played with a set amount of 52 card decks ranging from one to eight depending on the game. |
All numbered cards retain their face value. All Jacks, Queens and Kings have a value of ten and Aces can be either one or eleven. To get a blackjack you need to get an ace and a ten in the first two cards. Payoffs are 1 to 1 for a win and 3 to 2 for a blackjack. Online you will find some casinos have a progressive side bet.
A blackjack game begins when you place a bet on the marked area in front of you on the table. The dealer then deals you two cards face up and deals him/herself two cards - one face up and one face down. From here you generally have a range of choices. These can include the following,
- Hit : Take another card
- Stand : Do not take another card
- Split : Separate your two cards to make two hands
- Double : Take one more card and double your bet
Your decision should be based on the two cards you have and the card dealers card that you can see. To get the most out of your game it is worthwhile learning basic strategy so you know what the correct play is for every possible hand combination. There are several possible hand outcomes.
- Blackjack : Occurs when you have an ace and a 10, J, Q, K
- Win : Occurs when your hand beats the dealers or the dealer busts
- Bust : Any hand with a total of over 21 loses
- Push : Occurs when your hand ties with the dealers.
On most game variations a win pays 2 to 1 and a blackjack pays 3 to 2. Online you will find that different casinos have different table limits. If you are looking to play high limit games then William Hill is probably your best bet as they have tables going up to £5,000 per hand.
If you are looking for a change of pace then check out the progressive jackpot versions. By placing a 1 side bet you can win jackpots that have gone as high as £200,000 - all of the sites listed above have at least one progressive version. |
