Blackjack

BlackjackMany people and websites like to start off saying blackjack is the easiest table game.  That couldn’t be more wrong.  Sure it’s easy to come over and put down money and lose, but playing the game strategically is more difficult and required if you want your best odds to win.  Your best odds are however well known by most players, dealers, and pit bosses.  For blackjack its also known as “The Book” or “Playing by the book”.

Strategy
The objective to blackjack is to get as close as 21 as you can without going over.  If you go over 21, you lose.  The value cards 2 through 10 worth their respective value, with the exception being,  face cards are values of 10, and aces are valued at 1 or 11 depending on which is optimal for the player.  Each player is dealt two cards in order from left to right.  Players must then in turn make hand signals to indicate what they would like to do with their hand.  Taking one card at a time, players can hit their hand which is indicated by tapping the table with their finger.  You can opt to double down, which involves taking a single card, and placing more chips up to the same amount as your current bet.  Splitting  your hand is an option if you have two of the same value cards (ex. 5 and 5 or Jack and 10).  You do this by holding your fingers in a V and putting up an equal amount of money as your current bet.  Otherwise you stay with your hand by holding your hand out, palm down.