Black Jack

Black Jack is the casino’s most popular card game, adapted from a version of the French game vignt-et-un, or 21.  In Black jack, or 21, each player’s bet is a wager against the dealer’s hand.  The object of this game is to have the total point value of the cards dealt to you exceed the point value of the dealers hand without going over 21.  If one goes over 21 (bust), your hand breaks and you automatically lose, even if the dealer subsequently goes bust.  Each card takes the numerical value of the card except for Kings (cowboys), Queens (ladies), and Jacks (little boys), which count as 10.   The ace counts either as 1 or 11, whichever you choose.

After you place your wager, the Dealer starts the game by dealing one card to each player face up and one card to herself face up.  The dealer then deals a second card to each player face up but deals her second card face down and places the card underneath the first card.  If you feel you need additional cards to beat the dealer, you gesture for each card (called hits) until you are satisfied with your hand and decide to “stand”.  After all the players have completed their hands, the dealer checks her hand.  The dealer must draw a card on any point total of 16 or less and stand on any point total of 17 or more.  If a dealer’s points count exceeds 21 she busts and all players whose point count is 21 or less wins.  Otherwise, the dealer compares her hand to each players point total and takes all bets that are less.  When your point total is the same as the dealers you push and the dealer leaves your wager.  All winning bets are paid one to one.

Players have the option of surrendering one-half their original wager only after receiving their first two cards.  By surrendering, your cards and half of your wager are taken by the dealer.

If your initial two cards total 21, any ace with any 10 or face card, you have blackjack.  If both you and the dealer have a blackjack, it is a standoff or push.  A dealer’s blackjack beats a player’s three or more card point total of 21.  Black jacks are generally paid 3 to 2.

If the dealer’s face up card is an acc, you may elect to take insurance after the initial deal.  In insurance bet is a wager that the dealer has a blackjack.  In other words, you are betting the dealer’s face down card will be a face card.  You may bet up to one half of your original bet.  Insurance bets pay 2 to 1 if the dealer has a blackjack, but lose in all other instances.  Typically the dealer will use a tiny mirror in the table to check if the under card is either an ace or a face card or ten.  This mirror does not expose the value or type of the card, just will show an indicator.  This is sometimes the logo of the casino, the word ten or just a black mark.  

If your first two cards have the same numerical value, you may split them into two hands.  The bet on the second hand must equal the original bet.  Only after the first hand is played and completed may you play on the second hand.  A split hand may be split up to a total of four times (this may vary between casinos) If the split hand is a pair of aces, you are limited to a one card draw on each hand.  If the dealer gets a blackjack, you loose the money wagered on the original bet only (may vary between casinos).

After receiving your first two cards, or the first two cards of any split pair (except Blackjack), you may elect to wager an additional amount not to exceed the value of the original bet.  With a double down, you are allowed to draw only one additional card.  If the dealers gets a blackjack, the dealer collects only the amount of the original wager.

It is best to learn the hand signals of the game and give hand signals for hit and stand.  If you have any questions ask a dealer or a bit boss.  Good luck!

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