Black Jack Defenition & Principal’s behind the game

A card game in which the winner is the player that obtains a hand value of 21 or closest to 21, without going over and achieving a higher count than the dealer’s hand.

Origins of Black Jack

Black jack loomed in France in the 1700’s and was formaly known as “Vingt-et-Un” ,21 or Pontoon. And it is most likely to have originated from games as Ferme or Chemin. The word itself ” Black Jack ” is believed to be originated from the playing rules at that time. When a player got handed on his first two cards an Ace of spades and also a black Jack of any suit extra money was given to him.
Evolution in History

It was introduced to the US around the early 1800’s. It became very popular because the casinos offered good bonus payouts to attract players to the tables and was legal in most states. Around the first years of the 1900’s it became ilegal to play this game and till around 1950 Nevada made it legal to be played there.

Since then many authors and profesors have contributed to ehnance the popularity of this game by introducing strategies, mathematical formulas, and “perfect” techniques to win the game. ( Stanford Wong, Prof. Edward Thorp, Roger Baldwin) amongst others.

Strategies

Black Jack has become very popular because chance and skills may be combined to win at this game. Many believe that there are mathematical stategies,card counting or shuffle tracking techniques that when played right may give the player a tremendous edge and winnings.

Learning to play Black Jack

The hand with the highest count as long as it doesn’t exceed 21 wins; a hand with a total count higher than 21 will bust (lose). Cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value, and face cards (King Queen or jack) are worth 10. An ace’s value is 11 or 1. A hand in which an ace’s value is counted as 11 is called a soft hand, because it cannot be busted if the player draws another card.

Hit means to draw another card, and Stand means that the player doesn’t require any additional cards. If the player hits and busts (goes over 21), he immediately turns his cards over and his wager is lost. The player is allowed to double the bet (double down) on his first two cards and draw one additional card only to improve his hand. When a player doubles down, he also doubles his initial bet, therefore risking a higher win or loss on the hand.

When the player and the dealer have the same point value cards, it is named a “push”,(tie) and neither player nor dealer wins the hand. Each player has an independent game with the dealer, so it is possible for the dealer to lose to some players but still beat the other players in the same round.

Minimum and maximum bets varies from casino to casino and table to table. Soon after the initial wager is placed, the dealer deals the cards, either from one or two hand-held deck of cards or shoe containing four or more decks. The dealer hands out two cards to each player including himself. The dealer’s will deal one of his two cards face-up so anyone can see it, and the other will be dealt face down (hole card)

Players will be offered insurance if the dealer’s face up card is an ace.If the dealer has blackjack, all players lose their initial bets, except players who also have blackjack, who ties. Or have doubled up or splitted lose only the original bet. Any other player not having a black jack or a lesser count of cards loses.
Getting Familiar with the Black Jack Table

Blackjack tables have a semi circular table.

It normally has a felt topping and the edges are padded

Most tables may sit between 5 to 7 players.

The dealer stands on the straight edge and the players stand around the semi circle. There will be a separate circle or square for each player.

At the table there is generally information on the rules of the game including payout and maximum bet.
Blackjack Terms

Blackjack: A hand value of 21 that is achieved with the first two card dealt. A Blackjack usually pays off at a rate greater than 1:1, typicaly 3:2. A Blackjack cannot be pushed even with a dealer’s Blackjack.

21: A hand that has a vlaue of 21 achieved with 3 or more cards. Payoff is 1:1 and can be pushed if the dealer’s hand equals 21.

Hit or Draw: A request for an additional card.

Stand: To remain at the current hand value. To not take another card.

Double Down: To double the current bet and recieve only one card.

Pair Split: When your hand is a pair you can split the hand into two hands. The second hand requires a second wager equal to the first wager.

Surrender: Allowed at some casinos and in the WSOB. This option allows you to give up your hand for half your wager. This is used when you feel you have a hopeless hand. Instead of losing your entire wager you lose only half.

Bust: When your hands value exceeds 21.

Soft Hand: Any hand that contains an Ace which can still be counted as a one or eleven.

Hole Card: The one card in each hand that is face down on the table.

Pat Hand: A hand with a total of seventeen or more.

Push: A tie between the player and the dealer.

Shoe: Used on some blackjack table to hold multiple decks of cards.

Pair: A hand that contains two cards with the same value, ie 4 of hearts and 4 of clubs.

Grinder: A gambler who’s wagers are low in value. This gambler is said to be grinding away.

Head On: When a lone player is playing against the dealer.

Cut Card: A solid colored card, typically a piece of plastic which is given to a player by the dealer for the purpose of cutting the deck(s) after a shuffle.

Burn Card: A card or cards removed from the top of the deck before play begins. These cards are removed to remove doubt about a stacked deck.

Anchor: A another name for Third Base.

First Base: The playing position directly to the left of the dealer. The player in this position is the first to recieve their cards and the first to wager.

Third Base: The playing position directly to the right of the dealer. The player in this position is the last to recieve their cards and is the last to wager.

Hard Hand: A hand in which any Ace is counted as a 1 and not as an 11, or a hand without an Ace. If your hand consists of an Ace, 7, or 9, you have a hard 17.

Soft Hand: A hand in which any Ace is counted as an 11 and not as a 1.
If your hand consists of an Ace and a 6, you have a soft 17.

Flat Bet: A bet which you do not vary ie, if you are flat betting five dollars, you are betting $5 each and every hand without changing the betting amount.

Bet Spread: The difference between high and low bets spreads between players.

Black Jack Tips

Use basic strategies

Do not take unwanted advice

Stay away cheap tables

Look for the best table.
Black Jack Variations

Besides the regular Blackjack games that you are used to we also offer these exciting variations of this popular game:

Double Exposure

Double exposure is a version of blackjack where both of the dealer’s cards are exposed. There are off course some rule changes to favor the dealer in order to compensate. The house edge is greater than conventional blackjack, but still this game is one of the best bets in the casino if properly played. Double Exposure uses the usual blackjack rules with these main exceptions:

* Both dealer cards are shown face up
* No Pushes. House wins all ties, except on a natural blackjack
* Player blackjack pays even money
* Player may split only once

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack switch allows the player to trade cards between two hands.By default six decks of cards are used. The player needs to make two bets of equal amounts and is then allowed to switch the second card dealt to each hand. In order to compensate for this, a dealer 22 results in a push and blackjacks pay even money. All rules are based on conventional blackjack with these exceptions:

* Dealer hits a soft 17.
* The player must make two bets of equal size.
* Cards will be dealt face up.
* Dealer will peek for blackjack with an ace or ten up. If the dealer has a blackjack all player hands will immediately lose, except a player blackjack will push.
* The player may switch the second card dealt to each hand. The player may also switch cards to form a blackjack.
* Player may double on 10 and 11 only.
* Player may split once.
* Winning player blackjacks pay even money.
* A dealer total of 22 will push against any player total of 21 or less. A player blackjack will still beat a dealer 22.

Spanish Blackjack

Spanish Blackjack (also refer to as Spanish 21) is a yet another interesting variation of blackjack. Depending on the rules set by the house Spanish Blackjack is probably a better bet than blackjack.
Spanish 21 uses six decks, each deck consisting of 48 cards, the regular 52 card deck without the four tens. To make up for the advantage that this gives to the house, this game gives the player a set of favorable rules. The game is based on blackjack rules, including double after split, late surrender, and re-splitting aces. In addition Spanish 21 offers the follows rule enhancements:

* A player 21 always wins.
* Player blackjack beats dealer blackjack.
* Player may double on any number of cards.
* Player may usually hit and double down after splitting aces
* Player may surrender half of total bet after doubling down
* A five-card 21 pays 3 to 2, a six-card 21 pays 2 to 1, a seven or more card 21 pays 3 to 1. However the bonuses are not paid if the player doubled.
* A 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suits pays 3:2, of the same suit pays 2:1, and of spades pays 3:1.
* Suited 7-7-7 when the dealer has a seven face up pays $1000 for bets of $5-$24 and $5000 for bets of $25 or over.