About Blackjack

Blackjack is the most popular card game in the casinos all over the world. The name derives from the early days when this card game was first played in the USA. The gambling houses tried to attract players by paying 1:10 to whoever got an Ace and a Black Jack (Jack of Spades or Jack of Clubs). Soon after gaining popularity, this payout bonus was abolished but the name remained.

Casino Rules vs Local Rules

The official rules in most casinos diff greatly from the rules of private players, although the most important rules in getting a blackjack and the golden point limit of 21 are common in both versions.

Basic Casino Rules

On a blackjack table in a casino, there is one dealer against one to seven players. Four to eight decks of cards (the house advantage is increased from 0.17% to more than 0.60% when four to eight decks are used) are used in the card shuffling machine.

All cards dealed are faced up (or declared, unlike the local version where the cards are concealed). The dealer will distribute the cards to the players in a clockwise direction before receiving one for himself. The dealer will then distribute the second card to everyone except himself.

After the distribution, the players will start to make the calls one by one. They have the following options:

1. Stand/Check/Pass - The player is satisfied with his cards and passes his chance to the next player.

2. Hit - The player wants to draw another card. If he is satisfied with the three card, he can pass or else, he can choose to draw the fourth one. The player is allowed to draw as many cards as he wants as long as the total points remain 21 and below. If the total points exceed 21, his stake will be forfeited.

3. Split - The player can choose to split his cards if he gets a pair at the starting of each round. Pockets of Aces are not considered for bonus payout in casino blackjack, but after splitting, they represent high chances of getting blackjacks.

4. Double - The player can double his stake to draw the third card, which is the final one as he cannot draw any more cards after that. Usually players will attempt this when they gets two cards which add up to 11, such as 2 and 9 or 4 and 7. The chances of getting the 10 or picture cards (see Values of Cards) are high.

The player should not attempt to double if his initial two cards add up to more than 11, as he has a high chance to go bust (more than 21).

If the player's hand beats the dealer's hand successfully and does not bust, he will receive payouts for both his original and additional stake.

5. Surrender - The player can opt to surrender half of his original stake if he feels his chances of winning is limited. This is usually so when the dealer opens an Ace for himself.

 

Values of Cards and Point System

All ordinary cards from 2 to 10 are according to their face values.

The picture cards (Jack, Queen and King) are valued as 10 points whereas Ace can act as 1, 10 or 11.

1. 2 cards on hand - Ace is considered as 11

2. 3 cards on hand - Ace can be considered as 1 or 10

3. 4 or more cards on hand - Ace is considered as 1

 

The aim of Blackjack is to get 21 points or close to 21. The dealer pays the player immediately if the player gets 21 exactly. The dealer forfeits the player's stake immediately if the player goes bust (more than 21).

 

The dealer must draw if he has 16 point or lesser. He will stand if he has 17 or more. Likewise, he will pay if he goes bust. The value of 17 is a special number for the dealer:

1. Soft 17 - A soft 17 consists of an Ace (which acts as a 11). In this case, it refers to the combination of an Ace and a 6. Accordingly to most casino rules, the dealer must hit another card.

2. Hard 17 - A hard 17 consists of any two cards (excluding Ace) which add up to 17, such as 9 and 8, or 7 and Queen. The dealer must stand for a hard 17.

 

For the player, he has the freedom to hit as many cards as he want if his hand's total value does not exceed 21. On the low side, he can also pass at any numbers, although it is illogical to pass when he has anything lesser than 11.

 

In situation of ties, most casino offers the result of push, which means the player will get back his original stake. The house advantage is greatly improved if the rule states that the dealer wins the tie.

 

Players' Strategies

Some players deploy strategies to "gang up" against the dealer so as to improve the dealer's chance of going bust. In this case, they will pass often when the table displays very few 10s or picture cards and the dealer has a low number card (2 to 6) to show off.

This will increase the chances of the dealer getting a 10 or picture card and cause his total points to be 12 to 16, which he must hit the third card, increasing his chances further to go bust.

 

Casino Payout

Casino Blackjack offers 1:1 payout for ordinary wins against the dealer.

In cases of blackjack, the payout is 3:2, which means the player will receive 1.5 times his original stake if he gets a blackjack. If the dealer receives a blackjack, all players' stakes will be forfeited except the ones who also gets the blackjack.

The casino Blackjack also offers insurance payout for players who want to bet on dealer in getting a blackjack. If the dealer really receives a blackjack, the player will be paid 3 times his insurance stake.

 

 

Basic Local Rules

Blackjack is an easy game for beginners and is extremely popular among private players. In local version, it is also a dealer-vs-players system, where one of the players have to act as a dealer.

In order to be fair, the dealer role can be rotated among the players.

 

Some local rules applied to the dealer (these rules can be agreed upon among the players before the game starts) are:

1. Two decks of cards to be used if there are many players. Usually one deck of cards is used, but this will greatly increase the players' advantages if there are many players in the game.

2. Dealer's cards remain closed throughout the game. At the same time, he will also receive two cards (same as other players) in the distribution of cards in each round.

3. Dealer must have at least 16 points to play the game. He can challenge each player if he has 16 or more points.

4. Dealer can choose to challenge the players individually, ie if he has enough points, he can open certain players' cards or he can choose to draw another card.

5. Dealer can void the game if he has 15 points at the starting of the game (a controversial rule).

6. Dealer is not allowed to split his cards.

7. Dealer can declare his cards if he receives bonus hand (see Local Bonus Hand below).

Local rules applied to the players are:

1. Players will receive two closed cards during the distribution of cards at the starting of each round.

2. After checking his cards, the player can choose to pass or draw another card(s).

3. Players must have at least 16 points to play the game.

4. Players are allowed to split his cards (if he receives a pair at the starting and the "Pockets" rule is not implemented). He will then draw the additional cards to his splits and can continue to split further if he receives the same cards again.

4. Players can declare his cards if bonus hand is received (see Local Bonus Hand below).

 

Local Bonus Hand

There are many types of local bonus hands but the most common ones are:

1. "Bun Luck" or Blackjack - consists of an Ace with a Ten, Jack, Queen or King at the start of each round. The payout is 1:2.

2. "Bun Bun" - consists of two Aces at the start of each round. The payout is 1:3.

3. "Ngo Leng" or Five Dragons - The maximum number of cards on hand, ie 5 cards (3 cards drawn and 2 at the start of each round), and the total points added together do not exceed 21. The payout is 1:2.

4. "Ngo Leng + 21" - same as "Ngo Leng" but the total points added together is equal to 21. The payout is 1:3 (a controversial rule).

5. "Triple Seven" - consists of two 7s at the start and another 7 is drawn. The payout is 1:7.

There are also some other uncommon and controversial bonus hands which the players can decide whether to implement. Some of the examples of these rules are:

1. "Pockets" - Dealers and players receive 1:2 payout if he gets a pair (other than the pair of Aces which pays 1:3) at the start of each round.

2. "4 Fives + an Ace" - consists of a Five Dragon and the total points added together is 21. This is extremely difficult to achieve. The player usually needs to start with two fives and draw a five followed by an Ace and the last five.

3. "Drawing the sixth card" - If the player has achieved the five dragons and the total points added together is between 12 and 21, the dealer can offer him a chance to draw the sixth card and pay him 1:3. If the total points added, inclusive of the sixth card, still remain under 21, the player will receive his payout. If not, his stake will be forfeited.

 

Like the casino Blackjack rules, the dealer and the player will go for the push in situation of ties. The dealer's advantage will be greatly improved if the rule states that he wins in ties.

 

Pontoon

Pontoon is a version of Blackjack played in casinos.

The rules are the same except the number 10 cards are removed from the shuffling deck. This is played to the house's advantage as the players have statistically lesser chances of getting a Blackjack.

Due to this house advantage, Genting Malaysia has offered more Pontoon tables in recent years. Blackjack tables, on the other hand, has decreased in the quantities.

 

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