Blackjack Help
Rules for Blackjack
Playing a Game
Basic Strategy
Counting Strategy
Rules for Blackjack
- The object of Blackjack is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over (busting). Each card is worth its face value, with all face cards counting as 10. An ace counts as 1 or 11.
- You begin by being dealt two cards. If these are an ace and a ten-valued card, you have a Blackjack and win one-and-a-half times your bet (unless the dealer also has a Blackjack, in which case you push). If you don't have 21, you can take more cards (hit), or stay with the total you have (stand). Remember, if you go over 21, the dealer wins.
- Once you complete your turn, the dealer takes a turn. The dealer must continue to hit as long as the dealer has 16 or below, and must stand if the dealer has 17 or above. If the dealer has a soft 17 (a total of 17 with an ace counting as 11), the dealer will hit or stand depending on whether the Dealer stands on soft 17 option is selected. You have a slight advantage if you select this option.
- You can split your first two cards if they have the same value. You turn your hand into two hands, with your original bet on each hand. You play each hand as a separate hand, and may hit or stand on these hands. You may only draw one card on aces, unless you select the Re-split aces allowed option, in which case you can split again if you draw another ace.
- You can double down on your first two cards. When you double down, you double your original bet and receive one more card. You can select options that determine when you are allowed to double down (for example, on 10 and 11 only, or on any two cards). If you select Double after split, you may double on a hand after you have split.
- You can surrender on your first two cards if you select Surrender allowed. If you surrender, you don't play out the rest of the hand, and immediately lose one-half your original bet. If the dealer has blackjack, you cannot surrender and lose your entire bet.
Playing a Game
- Begin by entering your name and selecting how much you want to bet.
- After you look at your hand, you can hit by tapping the Hit button on the command bar or stand by tapping the Stand button on the command bar.
- After you have played the hand, you can deal another round by tapping the Deal button on the command bar.
Basic strategy
- Basic strategy is a mathematical system that has been proven to give the player the greatest possible advantage against the house.
- The basic strategy you use depends on which playing options you have selected (e.g. whether doubling is allowed after splits), and on the number of decks used in the game. If you select Cue Basic Strategy from the General tab on the Options page, the Blackjack program will cue your plays and tell you whether you made the right play or not.
Counting strategy
- Counting cards gives you an advantage. The way this program counts cards is a very basic 1-10 valued cards are assigned a value of -1, and 3-6 are assigned a value of +1. Thus, if the player is dealt a jack, six, and a three and the dealer is dealt a pair of nines, the count would be +1. When the count is positive, the cards remaining in the deck are favorable to the player and the bet should be raised. When the count is negative, it should be lowered.
- A more accurate method is the True Count, which is obtained by dividing the count by the number of decks still in play. If you select Show count from the General tab on the Options page, the count is displayed at the top of the screen, with the true count in parenthesis. In general, if the count is positive, you should bet 1% of your initial bankroll for every point the count is positive. If it is negative, you should bet the table minimum.
- If you select the Cue Counting Strategy from the General tab on the Options page, you will be told when to raise and lower your bet.