Blackjack is the American version of the popular banking game Twenty One, other names for it are Pontoon or Vingt et Un. This gambling game can be played with several players but the players compete against the dealer and not each other. The object of the game is to beat the dealer by not going over twenty-one and therefore being declared bust. The aim is to defeat the dealer and not be the one closest to twenty-one.
An ace is classified as either one point or eleven points and face cards, the King, Queen and Jack are each worth ten points. Every other card is as per their face value.
A Blackjack is the highest hand but has to consist of an ace and any ten-point card, which then in turn beats all other twenty-one combinations.
The dealer deals the players in a clockwise rotation a card at a time but initially stopping at two and then himself two cards, however, one of his cards is face up allowing the players to see one of his cards.
If players hands are short in terms of overall value then they can request for additional cards but it is usual to stand at seventeen as anything in addition to this may take them over twenty one and make them bust. However, this is not guaranteed and they may even find themselves still reaching twenty-one.
Once all the players have all their cards it’s the dealers turn to issue his cards. The dealer’s hand, however, will not be completed if the players hands have either busted or blackjacked in other words have exceeded twenty one or reached twenty one.
Remember the dealer still has a hidden card which at this point he will reveal and will continue to ‘hit’ in other words draw further cards until the total cards reach the value of seventeen or more and then the same rule applies as it does with the players in terms of drawing more cards. Again, if there is an ace within the dealer’s hand then this can be either a one or an eleven.
Some terminology around Blackjack:
Stand – Player remains with his cards and doesn’t draw any further.
Hit – Player drawers another card and more if necessary but if this card them exceeds his total points beyond twenty one then he declares himself bust and has then lost.
Double – A risky but adrenaline rushing move, allowing the player to double his bet on the draw on only one other card. If a low card is received you cannot hit again and therefore one usually loses.
Split – This is usually carried out when a player has a pair of cards and wishes to double his bet and separate his cards into two individual hands. The player then continues as normal hitting, standing or doubling.
Surrender – Exactly as it says and therefore not many players like this option as it is, in essence, stopping play. The player also then loses half of his bet and does not carry on playing.
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