mirage casino :: blackjack
You've heard all of the talk and now you're ready to play the game that gives players the best 'edge' against the house, correct? Well, before you dive in, check out some of the rules and basics we've outlined below - along with some blackjack tips - before you make that plunge to play blackjack games online. It's true that this is one of the best online games out there and one which gives the player quite a bit of control. Nonetheless, you should be aware of the basics and potential pitfalls before jumping right in. We've tried to help below by providing below a quick summary of how to play blackjack that we hope will offer all of the details you need in order to get started with confidence.
Approaching the table - most land-based establishments have tons on their main floor and if you're playing online poker, you'll see the appropriate logo/button as soon as you sign-on - you'll notice that there is one dealer and normal between 1 to 5 players plopped down in front of him/her. Before the dealer begins issuing cards, players set their wagers down on the table. Depending on the table at which you're playing, these can range from a $1 minimum to a $500 maximum. Don't fret too much about this though - minimum and maximum bets are generally very clearly indicated at the table.
Players can make wagers with any of the chip denominations available and once all of the participants have put down their cash (poker chips, actually) and selected the `Deal' option, the game begins. After it has begun, it is not possible to change bets, however, players are able to increase the amount of their bet by taking advantage of options such as 'double down', 'splits', or 'insurance' (although, this final one is not usually recommended).
Each player competes 1-on-1 with the dealer or croupier and the goal is to have a hand which totals 21, or beats the dealer's hand by coming as close to 21 as possible without surpassing it or "busting." If the first two cards you get are an ace and a ten (or, any other face card) that's a `blackjack` or "a natural" 21 and this will pay 1.5x the original wager. This, in fact, always beats a hand that totals 21 by adding the values of more than the first two cards. A face card is counted as 10 and cards from 2-10 are counted according to their normal value. Aces can be counted as either 1 or 11. A "hard hand" is a hand that does not contain an ace or contains an ace that can only be counted as 1 so as not to bust. A dealer's ace always counts as 11.
Each player receives 2 cards and the aim is to reach the number 21 with your cards, or to be closer to 21 than the dealer/croupier, who of course is also a playing. Players can receive as many cards as they wish (this is achieved by "hitting"), or they can choose to "stand" and receive no more cards. When a tie occurs between the player and the dealer, the hand becomes a "push" and the player keeps his bet. Generally speaking, dealers are required to hit when they have 16 or less, and will stop when they have 17 or more.