Blackjack is a simple game which would be entertaining for anyone. There are several different versions of the game although the basic concept remains the same in all, to reach as close to 21 as possible without going over it. In blackjack, the player would be competing against the dealer and different casinos would have different rules so it is important to know the rules beforehand.

The Basics of the Game – Understand the Rules

Blackjack is played with 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8 decks of playing cards. The player will have to try and get as close to 21 as possible. The aim is to beat the hand of the dealer without going over the sum of 21. The bets have to be placed before the beginning of the game. The value of all the cards which are dealt are added up and this value should not exceed 21. In blackjack the skill lies in the player being able to make the decision whether to ask for another card or to stand with his cards in order to get nearer to 21.

The Card Values

In BlackjackRat, the suits are of no importance. All the face cards like the Jack, Queen and King are at a value of 10 and the remaining cards have their face value. The aces are valued at one or at eleven, depending on the player. Any hand which does not have an ace is called a hard hand and one which has an ace is called a soft hand.

How is the Game Played?

At the start of the game, the player will first have to choose a table at the casino. Normally, six people can be seated at one blackjack table. It is important to find a suitable table which is comfortable according to the betting limits, the variant rules and the deck sizes.

The bets have to be placed at the designated area on the table. After the bets have been placed, the player would be dealt two cards following which the dealer would deal two cards to himself. In most variants, the dealer would deal himself one card faced down and the other facing up. If the player thinks that the dealer has a blackjack, which means a total of 21, he can ask for insurance bet. The bets would be cleared and the player would be paid 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack, if not, the player would lose the insurance bet.

The players would be dealt the cards facing up and should not handle the cards. Once the player sees his/her cards, they would then have to make the decisions. The player would either have to ask for more cards to be dealt to get closer to 21 and risk going over the sum or to stay with their dealt cards and hope to win with it. This is the basic concept of the game, though, there are many variants.