Various Blackjack rules

Also known as “Twenty-One”, Blackjack is one of the most played banking games in most live casinos around the world. Your aim is to score a hand that totals 21, or get as close to 21 as possible. If your hand is higher than 21, the banker wins. With the advent of technology, Blackjack is now widely played online as well, and prior to getting started, make sure that you know the rules like the palm of your hand. Dealing with hard hands A hard hand is defined by two cards that don’t contain an ace. Here’s how to deal with them if you have:

• 8 or less – hit
• Nine – if the dealer has 3 through 6, double – otherwise hit
• Ten – if the dealer has 2 through 9, double – otherwise hit
• Eleven – if the dealer has 2 through 10, double – otherwise hit if the dealer has an Ace
• Twelve – if the dealer has 2s and 3s, double – if he has 4s and 6s, stand – otherwise hit
•  13 to 16 – if the dealer has 2 through 6, stand – otherwise hit
• 17 to 21 – stand

Dealing with soft hands A soft hand is usually when one of the two starting cards is an Ace. Here’s what to do if:

• Your cards are Ace 2 – Ace 3: if the dealer’s cards are 5 or 6, double and if not, hit
• Your cards are Ace 4 – Ace 5: if the dealer’s cards are 4 thru 6, double and if not, hit
• Your cards are Ace 6: if the dealer’s cards are 3 thru 6, double and if not, hit
• Your cards are Ace 7: if the dealer’s cards are 2, 7 or 8, stand; double if he has 3 thru 6
• Your cards are Ace 8 – Ace 9: stand

Dealing with pairs

• Aces and 8s – always split
• 2s and 3s – if the dealer’s cards are 2 to 7, split; otherwise hit
• 4s – if the dealer’s cards are 5 or 6 split; otherwise hit
• 5s – if the dealer’s cards are 2 thru 9 double; otherwise hit
• 6s – if the dealer’s cards are 2 thru 6, split; otherwise hit
• 7s – split 2 thru 7 or hit
• 9s – split 2 thru 6, 8 or 9; if the dealer has 7, 10 or A, stand
• 10s – stand