Blackjack Rules Explained- Part 2
Stand: When a player stands, that means that he or she does not want any more cards. The dealer then has to show their cards to the table.
Double Down: If a player is confident their hand is a good one, he or she can always double down. The players initial bet is doubled and they then are dealt one additional card. The player cannot hit after this. The player is only given the option of doubling down straight after the initial two cards have been dealt. So far example you cannot take a hit then double down.
Split: If the player is dealt two identical cards such as a pair of 5’s, a pair of kings or queens etc., then the player is given the option of spiting the initial two cards to become two separate hands. If the player does the split then the player again puts down their initial bet. Effectively the player is doubling their bet and is playing two hands against the dealer one. The player is then dealt another two cards, one for each hand, and the player then has the option of hitting or standing as they see appropriate. Some casinos do offer the option of doubling down on a split hand and others do not. Make sure you check the casino rules before you start playing so you know.
Insurance: If the dealer has one card that is an Ace, a player can make an additional insurance bet on the side. This amount is equal to half of whatever their initial wager was. The insurance bet is up for debate in the world of professional blackjack play. Most experts believe that it is a pointless bet that rarely pays off. It’s good to still know what it is though and understand when another player may try to use it.
Once the players make their moves, then the dealer has to show his or her down-card. If the dealer has a value of sixteen or lower, he or she will always hit. Seventeen is the big debate hand—if the dealer has a value of seventeen he will always stand on a soft seventeen. The totals are then tallied and the hand that has twenty-one wins, or the hand closest to it wins. Whether you are at land-based or on line casinos, the rules of blackjack are the same.
