More Blackjack Rules
Hit or Stand
The main decision made on your cards is between hitting and standing.
To hit means to have the dealer give you another card. To hit you should
stay the word hit clearly to the dealer, while signaling with your hand,
usually by scratching or tapping the felt with your finger. To stand means
that you want to stay with the cards you currently have. When you choose
to stand, tell the dealer out loud, while waving an open hand, palm down,
over your cards.
There are a few more decisions that you have the option of making, given
certain circumstances on your first cards.
Double Down
To double down means that you want to double your bet on your initial
two cards and draw only one more card to improve your hand. You want to
do this if you have a good chance of beating the dealer without going
over 21, with just one more card. In other words, double down on a 9,
10, or 11, or even less if the dealer is showing busting cards.
Pair Splitting
If the first two cards you're dealt are a pair (two fives, two jacks,
two tens, etc.), you may split them into two separate hands. To do so
you need to add a new bet of same amount on your newly formed hand. After
you split, you play each new hand separately. Aces receive only one additional
card and after the split. Getting blackjack after a split does not count
as a natural blackjack, and does not pay any extra. The general rule of
thumb is, always split aces and 8's, be careful splitting anything else.
Insurance
If the dealer's up-card is an ace, the player may take insurance. This
means you can bet one-half your original bet, but not more, that the dealer
has blackjack. If the dealer has blackjack then the player wins 2 to 1,
basically nullifying the bet you put down originally for the hand. If
the dealer does not end up having blackjack, then the dealer will win
the insurance bet. General rule of thumb is, never take insurance. It
is never statistically in your favor.
Surrender
When permitted, a player may give up the first two cards he draws and
lose 1/2 of his original bet, rather than face losing the whole bet. There
are rare cases where losing half your bet is as good as you could statistically
do with the hand you've got. General rule of thumb is, always look at
your strategy card, and don't surrender if you're trying to impress your
date, it may come off as less than manly. That goes both ways though;
don't ever try to impress the casino by not surrendering when it's smart
to. Trust Fat Tony, the casino will remain unimpressed.
Blackjack Rules - Page 1
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