What does Bust mean in Blackjack?
When you or the dealer goes bust it means
that the value of the hand went over twenty-one. When you bust you
lose, when the dealer busts you will win (assuming that you haven't
busted or surrendered before the dealer played its hand).
A busted hand in progress
Your initial cards
You decide to hit your hand.
Your completed hand
You have 23, you bust! If you bust you will lose your wager, if the dealer
busts you will win if you hand is still alive. If you and the dealer both
bust it is not a push, you lose no matter what if you bust.
What is Doubling in Blackjack?
When you double down you will
receive one more card and only one more card. When you double you
will be doubling your wager as well.
How doubling down works
Your initial cards and wager
If you double down, you will receive one (and only one) card and your wager will be doubled
If you beat the dealer you will be paid out 2x your original wager,
if you tie your hand will be a push and if you
lose you will lose 2x your wagers.
Your Completed Hand
Dealer's Completed Hand
You win! You will be paid
out your original wager + the double bet. For example: $5
(wager) + $5 (double bet) = $10 winnings!
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What does it mean to "Hit"?
When you hit you are asking the dealer for
an additional card. You can keep on hitting until you have 21 or over.
How to hit a hand in blackjack
Your initial cards
After you have decided to hit your and you will receive an additional card.
If you beat the dealer you will be paid out your wager, if you tie your hand will be a
push and if you lose you will lose your wager.
Your Completed Hand
Dealer's Completed Hand
You win! You will be paid out your
wager. For example: $5 (wager) = $5 winnings!
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What does it mean to
buy "Insurance"?
Buying
insurance is a side bet which is available when the dealer's up card is
an Ace. When you are buying insurance you placing a bet that the
dealer has an face card in the hole, giving the dealer a Blackjack.
The bet is equal to half your initial wager. The dealer will pay
out the insurance bets once the dealer has checked his hole card to see
if he has a Blackjack. If the dealer doesn't have a Blackjack all
the insurance bets will be collected and the game will proceed like a
normal hand. There is a house advantage in buying insurance so it
is recommended to not buy insurance at the Blackjack tables.
Buying insurance
Dealers Up Card
You decide to buy insurance
Dealer's Completed Hand
The dealer has a BJ, you win the insurance bet, but lose your wager!
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What is a "Push"?
A push is when you and the dealer have
the same hand value. When this happens your bet will be returned.
You don't win anything and you don't lose anything. To see what a pushed
hand in blackjack looks like, check out our demonstration
below.
Your initial cards
You decide to stand
Your Completed Hand
Dealer's Completed Hand
Both hands have 17, you push! If you push, you will have all the chips you spent
returned, including your initial wager, chips spent on
splitting pairs and doubling down.
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What does it mean to "Stand"?
When you stand you are telling the dealer
that you do not want anymore cards.
How standing works in Blackjack
Your initial wager
Your initial cards
If you choose to stand, you will receive no more cards. If you beat the dealer you will win an amount equal to your wager, a tie
will be a push and if the dealer beats you, you
will lose your wager.
Your Completed Hand
Dealer's Hand
You win! You will be paid out
an amount equal to your original wager.
For example: $5 (wager) =
$5 winnings!
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What does it mean to "Surrender"?
Some types of Blackjack games, you will
have the choice to save half your wager by surrendering your hand.
When you surrender you are essentially folding your hand, in order to
get back half your wager. There is only a handful of situations
when you should surrender your hand. You should only surrender
when you have a less than 25% chance of winning your hand.
When to surrender in Blackjack
If you don't think you can remember when to surrender, just remember
this one hand. A sixteen hand, when the dealer up card is a ten or
face card is the worst possible hand to have and should always be surrendered.
Your Hand |
Dealer's up Card |
9 |
10 |
Ace |
15 |
Hit |
Surrender |
Hit |
16 |
Surrender |
Surrender |
Surrender |
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