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HOW TO PLAY BLACKJACK
RULES
The object of the game is for you to get as close to possible to 21. All face cards (Jack, Queen, King) have a value of 10. Aces have a value of either one or 11 points; if counting the ace as 11 would put the hand over 21, count the ace as 1. Other cards are worth their face value.
If the total of your cards exceeds 21, you 'bust' and lose your bet. If you have the same total as the dealer, from 17 and up, it is a push (a tie). The dealer must draw cards until they have at least 17, and must stand at 17 or higher.
A blackjack is when you have a 10 (or face card) with an ace. You will get paid 3:2 unless the dealer has an ACE or a 10. If the dealer has an ACE they will offer you even money instead of the 3:2 odds. If the dealer has a 10 you will not be paid until the dealer pulls their second card. If the delaer gets blackjack it is then a push and you don not get paid your blackjack.
The dealer will always draw cards to 16 and will always stand on 17. If the dealer busts, the game is over and you win. Once the dealer stands, (has hit 17 or higher), the hands are compared and the hand closest to 21 is paid. The simplest way to get exactly 21 is to hold an ace and either a face card or a ten (which is a blacjack).
You do not have to draw any cards and can stand on any total, but in order to beat the odds and reduce the house advantage it is recommended that you learn the basic strategy. If you do not learn this, we advise you NOT to play blackjack at a casino.
In South African casinos all players are dealt one card first, face up, going clock-wise from the first box to the last, the dealer then gets their card, face up as well and then the players get their second card. The dealer does not draw another card.
The players then make their decisions in turn, and only after the last players turn, does the dealer then start drawing their cards to determine the outcome of the table.
Always remember that when you play blackjack it's you against the dealer. The way that determines how you should play your hand are the dealer's card and your hand. With more experience, you'll also be able to use the information of all the cards that you see on the table to make a more informed decision on how to play the hand. If you are a novice player , do NOT play the last box on the table, as your play could determine the outcome of the table, and a novice player will be put under enormous pressure on how to play from the rest of the table.
BASIC BLACKJACK STRATEGY
IF YOU PLAN TO PLAY BLACKJACK AT A REAL CASINO THEN YOU MUST LEARN THE BASIC STRATEGY RULES.
By playing the basic strategy you are not guarenteed a win every time you play 'correctly' but it is the mathematically correct way to play your hand against the dealers card. By playing basic strategy the casino's initial edge in the game of blackjack which is about 5.75%, is reduced to about 0.5%.
There are 3 scenarios of basic strategy play:
BASIC STRATEGY FOR HARD TOTALS
Hard totals are the sum of your first two cards if you dont have an ACE.
Always stand on hard 17 to 21, regardless of the value of the dealers card.
Stand on hard 13 to 16 if the dealer's card is 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6
Hit on hard 13 to 16 if the dealer's card is 7 or higher.
Always stand on hard 12 if the dealer's up card is 4, 5 or 6
Hit on hard 12 if the dealer's card is 2,3 or 7 and higher. (Most people tend to stand on 12 against a 2 and 3, but the better option in this cae is to draw a card).
Hit hard 13 to 16 if the dealer's card is 7 or higher, but stand against 6 or lower.
Hit totals of 8 or less
WHEN TO DOUBLE?
Double on 11 if the dealer's card is anything but an Ace. Just hit against an Ace.
Double on 10 if the dealer's card is anything but an Ace or a 10-value card. Just hit against an Ace or 10-value.
Double on 9 if the dealer's card is 3, 4, 5 or 6. Otherwise, hit.
Hit totals of 8 or less.
BASIC STRATEGY FOR SOFT TOTALS
A soft total is when one of your two cards is an ACE
Always stand on soft 19, 20. A soft 21 is a blackjack which is the hand you desire the most.
Hit soft 18, if the dealer's card is a 9, 10-value card or Ace.
Stand on soft 18 if the dealer shows a 2, 7 or 8.
If your soft 18 consists of an ACE and 7, double if the dealer shows a 4, 5 or 6.
If your soft 18 is three or more cards, stand when the dealer shows a 4, 5 or 6.
If a soft 13 through 17 consists of three or more cards, always hit, regardless of the dealer's card.
With a soft 17 consisting of two cards, hit if the dealer shows a 2, or a 7 or higher.
Double a soft 17, if the dealer shows a 3, 4, 5 or 6.
With a soft 15 and 16 consisting of two cards, hit if the dealer shows a 2, 3 or a 7 or higher. Double a soft 15 and 16 if the dealer shows a 4, 5 or 6.
With a soft 13 and 14 consisting of two cards, hit if the dealer shows a 2, 3, 4 or a 7 or higher. Double a soft 13 and 14 if the dealer shows a 5 or 6.
BASIC STRATEGY FOR SPLITTING PAIRS
In nearly all South African casinos, doubling is allowed after splitting.
Pair of 2s or pair of 3s: we split 2s or 3s whenever the dealer's up card is a 2 through 7.
Pair of 4s, split if the dealer has a 5 or 6.
Pair of 5s: Never split.
Pair of 6s: Split against 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
Pair of 7s: Split whenever the dealer shows a 2 through 7. Splitting against a 7 sometimes is a stumbling block for players who fear creating two losing hands, but we're far better off starting 7 against a 7 than 14 against a 7.
Pair of 8s: Always split.
Pair of 9s: This is the trickiest pair-splitting hand. Split when the dealer shows 2 through 6, as well as when the dealer's card is 8 or 9. Stand when the dealer shows a 7, 10 or Ace.
Pair of 10s: Never split.
Pair of Aces: Always split, though you can only draw on card, regardless of the total of your hand.
WHEN TO SURRENDER, TAKE OUT INSURANCE AND PLAY THE SIDE BET?
The answer to all three is never, never and never, but:
There is no point to the surrender option offered by casino's, except if you want to part with your money without a fight. The only hand where you might consider this, is a hard 16 against a 10.
Insurance is offered to the table when the dealer shows an ACE. You place an additional bet in the insurance bar, and if the dealer gets a 10 value card (or blackjack) you are paid 2:1 odds on your insurnace. You can only place half the value of your insurance bet in the insurance bar. The only time I really consider insurance is when I have a large wager and what I feel is a winning hand (such as a soft or hard 20), otherwise ignore this option.
Due to most players having learnt most of the rules of basic strategy, casinos have come up with various side bets to increase the house odds. These side bets generally have atractive payouts to tempt you to play, but the odds are heavily in the casinos favour. Our advice is that if you decide to play a side bet, then play it for the duration of your session, or don't play it at all. We have seen many a player play the side bet, stop, and then receive the 7's they were playing for.
ADVANCED STRATEGIES AND CARD COUNTING
THESE DO NOT APPLY TO SOUTH AFRICAN CASINOS, AS MOST OF THEM USE CARD SHUFFLERS
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