Black Jack, learn How to beat the odds!

Blackjack

Also called "21", Blackjack is probably one of the most popular and
exciting card games, involving chance and skill. To get started, you first
need to decide which table you will play. Look at the betting amount, pay
percentages, speed of the game, and so on. After choosing a table, you
would sit down at the table with a Blackjack dealer and seats to
accommodate one to seven players. If you play a table with open seats,
you can play more than one hand.

As you sit facing the dealer, the first seat located to the left is known as
"First Base" and the seat furthest to the right is "Third Base." The
Blackjack table is covered with squares in front of each player called
"Betting Squares." In front of the dealer is the chip tray, deck of cards,
slot for discarded cards, and losing chips. Some casinos will also feature
an automatic reshuffling machine while others do not.

Learn the rules of the table by reading signs posted advising of the
minimum and maximum bet allowed, which usually range from $3 to $100
per hand. If you are a novice player, choose games that use six to eight
decks of cards or "Blackjack pays 3 to 2" games, which is called a "shoe"
game. In this game, all cards are dealt face up, allowing players to see
each other�s hands. Other Blackjack games deal cards face down. If you
have played Blackjack previously, consider a table with fewer decks of
cards.

When playing Blackjack, you are not playing against other players but
against the dealer. The goal is to get a hand that equals as close to 21 as
possible without going over. While playing, if you take a "hit", which
means taking more cards one at a time, but go over 21, you have gone
"bust." If dealt cards equaling 21 anytime during the game, you have
"21." However, if dealt a 10 or face card along with an Ace in the first
hand, you have "Blackjack."

Dealer is also dealt cards but once they reach 17, they have to "stay",
meaning they cannot take a "hit" or more cards trying to get closer to 21.
If the dealer reaches 17, you are then required to beat 17 but not go over
21. If you end up at 17, then you and the dealer have a "push" and no
money is lost or gained. If at any time, the dealer�s cards go over 21,
they are "bust." In this case, the player or players who did not go bust
win.

As an example, let us say you were dealt a King and a three card, making
your total hand value 13. If you "hit" but were dealt another card with a
value of ten, you would now have a hand value of 23, meaning you went
"bust" and lost. Now, if you were to receive a two after taking your first
"hit", your total hand value would now be 15. With this, you need to
decide to "stay" with the 15, hoping the dealer goes "bust", or take
another "hit" to try to get even closer to the coveted 21 so you win the
game.

To bet, you would purchase chips according to the table rules and the
amount you want to spend. Next, you would place the chips in front of
you on the table. Once all the players have the chips down, the game
would begin. You would then place a bet, putting the coordinating chip(s)
in the circle located on the table. After the bet is placed, you cannot touch
it. If dealt two cards such as tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings, you can
choose to split them, which means you get to play two separate hands,
giving you two ways to win, or lose. To split, slide the additional chips
onto the circle next to your original bid � never on top.

Once the game is over, the dealer will start with the left-side player
paying money due in chips, making his or her way around the table paying
all the players who won. When all the winning players have been paid, the
dealer will then remove all the losing chips, discarding them in the
appropriate slot. Finally, when you win a hand, it is customary to tip the
dealer. For this, after the cards and chips are removed from the table and
prior to a new game starting, you would push a chip toward him or her.
With that, the dealer would pick up the chip and tap it so overhead
security cameras know the chip was a tip and not the dealer helping him
or herself to money.