Answer by David Shi, former blackjack player, on Quora: In blackjack, if you count cards, it's very easy to tell if other players are counting. Counting cards changes your play style in certain ways. Anywhoo, I've been cracking my head open with this BlackJack game in java I've sort of haphazardly put together over the last few days. Basically, I am having an issue with the creating of my deck. I am using an ArrayList to hold the cards, but I cant figure out a way to correctly add a value to each card. The best of all blackjack hand values to have is a ‘Natural Blackjack'. It will only happen when the first two cards dealt add up to 21. This means an Ace (carrying the value of 11) and a 10 card (any of the face cards or the number 10). If a player is dealt this hand, then the hand is immediately compared with the dealer's hand.
A staple of casinos from Las Vegas to Monte Carlo, blackjack is arguably the world's most popular casino card game. Thanks to its popularity, almost every casino in the world has a blackjack table – or 10, or 100 – set up waiting for new players. Youtube slot games.
You've probably played blackjack before, either online or in a casino. However, the game of blackjack is significant different when you're playing as the dealer instead of as one of the players.
In this blog post, you'll learn how to deal blackjack. From the order in which players are dealt cards to the hitting and standing requirements for dealers, read on to learn the blackjack rules you never learnt as a player.
Do you want to learn the fundamentals of blackjack strategy from an expert? Learn Blackjack and Counting Cards to learn how to play blackjack in any casino and maximize your average win rate.
Blackjack basics for players and dealers
The basic rules of blackjack are simple. Players try to score as close to 21 as possible without exceeding 21. In contrast to poker, where players compete with each other, blackjack is a one-on-one game between each player and the dealer.
As the dealer, the basic rules of blackjack still apply. Cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value. The jack, queen and king are worth 10 points each. The ace has a value of either 1 point or 11 points, depending on its usage in your hand.
The advanced rules of blackjack, however, are a little bit different. Since dealers are responsible for paying out bets, they obviously can't take insurance. They also can't split their hand, double down on a good hand or surrender for half their bet.
In addition to these rules, when you play as the dealer you face additional rules that limit how you can hit or stand. In most casinos, the dealer is required to hit on hands worth less than 17 points, regardless of the cards that make up their hand.
Hands worth 17 points, however, can't be hit on. If you're playing as the dealer and your hand is worth 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 points, you can't hit any further and need to stand with whatever hand you've got.
These restrictions on additional rules, hitting, and standing are the only differences between the dealer's rules and the players' rules. In addition to the different rules, the dealer plays their hand after the players have played their hands.
Do you need help memorizing the rules of blackjack as a player and a dealer? Learn how to memorize blackjack strategy, the values of different cards and the different rules for blackjack dealers in our Master Your Memory course.
Before you start dealing cards
Are you ready to deal the cards? Don't act too quickly. Before you deal cards to the players, several things need to be done. First, you need to shuffle your cards and, if you're playing with several players, combine two or more decks together.
Once your cards are shuffled, make sure all players have placed their bets. All bets need to be placed before you start dealing cards – players can't bet once their cards are dealt unless they're doubling down or splitting their hand into two.
Remember, players are allowed to have basic strategy cards at the table. If you're interested in learning basic strategy (remember, you can't help the players) read our blog post on blackjack strategy.
Dealing cards for players
Start by dealing each player's first card face down. Deal the player on your left first, then move left to right down the remaining players. Finish by dealing yourself one card face down. Deal another card to each player, this time with the card facing up.
Finally, deal your final card. This time, it should face upwards. If your card is an ace, you need to ask the players if they want to purchase insurance. If they do, take each player's insurance (it should be half of their original bet) and flip over your second card to see whether or not you have a blackjack.
If you have a blackjack, collect bets from anyone that didn't buy insurance. Players that did buy insurance receive their original bets back. Players with blackjack will receive their original bet, even if they didn't purchase insurance.
The players' turns
If your face-up card isn't an ace, continue play as normal. Starting from your left, all of the players play their hand in turn. Players can stand, in which case you move on to the next player. They can also hit, in which case you deal them a new card face up.
If the player continues drawing cards until their hand exceeds 21, they're bust. You can collect their bet and move on to the next player. If they have blackjack on their first hand, pay back their bet with a 3:2 bonus (for example, a $20 bet receives $30, as well as the return of their original bet.)
Before players take additional cards, they can double down. In this case, deal them a new card face up after they have added their extra bet. Remember that players who choose to double down only receive one new card and cannot continue to hit.
Players with matching cards can split their hand into two. Once a player splits their hand and matches their original bet, you should deal them two cards – one for each hand – both facing down. Players then play one hand followed by the other.
Finally, if a player splits a hand containing two aces, they are limited to one card per hand. Deal one card for each hand, facing down as usual, but do not let the player hit on their hand any more. Any split blackjacks should be paid out at 1:1 odds instead of the typical 3:2 bonus payment.
Sound confusing? Learn how to play blackjack the right way from an experienced professional team that won over $4 million from casinos with our course, How to Count Cards for Profit at Blackjack.
The dealer's turn
Once each players has had their turn, it's your turn to play. Turn over your down-facing card. If your hand is worth 16 points or less, deal yourself another card and continue until it's worth 17 or more points.
If your hand is worth more than 17 points, don't deal any cards. If your second card is an ace, count it as 11 only until your total exceeds 21, at which point the ace has a value of 1 point.
If the value of your hand exceeds 21, you're bust and the remaining players win. If your hand is worth less than 21, pay any players with a higher value than you, and collect bets from players whose hands have a lower value than yours.
Finally, if you tie with a player, refund their bet. Once you've dealt with all of bets and finished playing, collect cards from all players and prepare for the next hand.
Do you need help learning how to play as the dealer? Learn Blackjack and review the basics of the game. In addition to learning how to deal, you'll master basic blackjack strategy and the secret art of card counting.
Having fun while you play
Once you know the basic rules of playing blackjack as the dealer, you'll be able to host players at home and have you own blackjack games. Most casinos require all dealers to have professional training, so if you'd like to make blackjack dealing a career, you'll need to attend a professional casino school.
If you're playing at home, why not spice up the game with some card tricks? Join over 1,000 students and learn simple card tricks that you can perform in between your blackjack games in our Hacking Perception: Cool Card Tricks course.
A staple of casinos from Las Vegas to Monte Carlo, blackjack is arguably the world's most popular casino card game. Thanks to its popularity, almost every casino in the world has a blackjack table – or 10, or 100 – set up waiting for new players.
You've probably played blackjack before, either online or in a casino. However, the game of blackjack is significant different when you're playing as the dealer instead of as one of the players.
In this blog post, you'll learn how to deal blackjack. From the order in which players are dealt cards to the hitting and standing requirements for dealers, read on to learn the blackjack rules you never learnt as a player.
Do you want to learn the fundamentals of blackjack strategy from an expert? Learn Blackjack and Counting Cards to learn how to play blackjack in any casino and maximize your average win rate.
Blackjack basics for players and dealers
The basic rules of blackjack are simple. Players try to score as close to 21 as possible without exceeding 21. In contrast to poker, where players compete with each other, blackjack is a one-on-one game between each player and the dealer.
As the dealer, the basic rules of blackjack still apply. Cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value. The jack, queen and king are worth 10 points each. The ace has a value of either 1 point or 11 points, depending on its usage in your hand.
The advanced rules of blackjack, however, are a little bit different. Since dealers are responsible for paying out bets, they obviously can't take insurance. They also can't split their hand, double down on a good hand or surrender for half their bet.
In addition to these rules, when you play as the dealer you face additional rules that limit how you can hit or stand. In most casinos, the dealer is required to hit on hands worth less than 17 points, regardless of the cards that make up their hand.
Where the gold slot machine. Hands worth 17 points, however, can't be hit on. If you're playing as the dealer and your hand is worth 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 points, you can't hit any further and need to stand with whatever hand you've got.
These restrictions on additional rules, hitting, and standing are the only differences between the dealer's rules and the players' rules. In addition to the different rules, the dealer plays their hand after the players have played their hands.
Do you need help memorizing the rules of blackjack as a player and a dealer? Learn how to memorize blackjack strategy, the values of different cards and the different rules for blackjack dealers in our Master Your Memory course.
Before you start dealing cards
Are you ready to deal the cards? Don't act too quickly. Before you deal cards to the players, several things need to be done. First, you need to shuffle your cards and, if you're playing with several players, combine two or more decks together.
Once your cards are shuffled, make sure all players have placed their bets. All bets need to be placed before you start dealing cards – players can't bet once their cards are dealt unless they're doubling down or splitting their hand into two.
Remember, players are allowed to have basic strategy cards at the table. If you're interested in learning basic strategy (remember, you can't help the players) read our blog post on blackjack strategy.
Dealing cards for players
Start by dealing each player's first card face down. Deal the player on your left first, then move left to right down the remaining players. Finish by dealing yourself one card face down. Deal another card to each player, this time with the card facing up.
Finally, deal your final card. This time, it should face upwards. If your card is an ace, you need to ask the players if they want to purchase insurance. If they do, take each player's insurance (it should be half of their original bet) and flip over your second card to see whether or not you have a blackjack.
If you have a blackjack, collect bets from anyone that didn't buy insurance. Players that did buy insurance receive their original bets back. Players with blackjack will receive their original bet, even if they didn't purchase insurance.
The players' turns
If your face-up card isn't an ace, continue play as normal. Starting from your left, all of the players play their hand in turn. Players can stand, in which case you move on to the next player. They can also hit, in which case you deal them a new card face up.
If the player continues drawing cards until their hand exceeds 21, they're bust. You can collect their bet and move on to the next player. If they have blackjack on their first hand, pay back their bet with a 3:2 bonus (for example, a $20 bet receives $30, as well as the return of their original bet.)
Before players take additional cards, they can double down. In this case, deal them a new card face up after they have added their extra bet. Remember that players who choose to double down only receive one new card and cannot continue to hit.
Players with matching cards can split their hand into two. Once a player splits their hand and matches their original bet, you should deal them two cards – one for each hand – both facing down. Players then play one hand followed by the other.
Finally, if a player splits a hand containing two aces, they are limited to one card per hand. Deal one card for each hand, facing down as usual, but do not let the player hit on their hand any more. Any split blackjacks should be paid out at 1:1 odds instead of the typical 3:2 bonus payment.
Sound confusing? Learn how to play blackjack the right way from an experienced professional team that won over $4 million from casinos with our course, How to Count Cards for Profit at Blackjack.
The dealer's turn
Once each players has had their turn, it's your turn to play. Turn over your down-facing card. If your hand is worth 16 points or less, deal yourself another card and continue until it's worth 17 or more points.
If your hand is worth more than 17 points, don't deal any cards. If your second card is an ace, count it as 11 only until your total exceeds 21, at which point the ace has a value of 1 point.
If the value of your hand exceeds 21, you're bust and the remaining players win. If your hand is worth less than 21, pay any players with a higher value than you, and collect bets from players whose hands have a lower value than yours.
Blackjack Cheat Sheet Printable
A staple of casinos from Las Vegas to Monte Carlo, blackjack is arguably the world's most popular casino card game. Thanks to its popularity, almost every casino in the world has a blackjack table – or 10, or 100 – set up waiting for new players.
You've probably played blackjack before, either online or in a casino. However, the game of blackjack is significant different when you're playing as the dealer instead of as one of the players.
In this blog post, you'll learn how to deal blackjack. From the order in which players are dealt cards to the hitting and standing requirements for dealers, read on to learn the blackjack rules you never learnt as a player.
Do you want to learn the fundamentals of blackjack strategy from an expert? Learn Blackjack and Counting Cards to learn how to play blackjack in any casino and maximize your average win rate.
Blackjack basics for players and dealers
The basic rules of blackjack are simple. Players try to score as close to 21 as possible without exceeding 21. In contrast to poker, where players compete with each other, blackjack is a one-on-one game between each player and the dealer.
As the dealer, the basic rules of blackjack still apply. Cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value. The jack, queen and king are worth 10 points each. The ace has a value of either 1 point or 11 points, depending on its usage in your hand.
The advanced rules of blackjack, however, are a little bit different. Since dealers are responsible for paying out bets, they obviously can't take insurance. They also can't split their hand, double down on a good hand or surrender for half their bet.
In addition to these rules, when you play as the dealer you face additional rules that limit how you can hit or stand. In most casinos, the dealer is required to hit on hands worth less than 17 points, regardless of the cards that make up their hand.
Where the gold slot machine. Hands worth 17 points, however, can't be hit on. If you're playing as the dealer and your hand is worth 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 points, you can't hit any further and need to stand with whatever hand you've got.
These restrictions on additional rules, hitting, and standing are the only differences between the dealer's rules and the players' rules. In addition to the different rules, the dealer plays their hand after the players have played their hands.
Do you need help memorizing the rules of blackjack as a player and a dealer? Learn how to memorize blackjack strategy, the values of different cards and the different rules for blackjack dealers in our Master Your Memory course.
Before you start dealing cards
Are you ready to deal the cards? Don't act too quickly. Before you deal cards to the players, several things need to be done. First, you need to shuffle your cards and, if you're playing with several players, combine two or more decks together.
Once your cards are shuffled, make sure all players have placed their bets. All bets need to be placed before you start dealing cards – players can't bet once their cards are dealt unless they're doubling down or splitting their hand into two.
Remember, players are allowed to have basic strategy cards at the table. If you're interested in learning basic strategy (remember, you can't help the players) read our blog post on blackjack strategy.
Dealing cards for players
Start by dealing each player's first card face down. Deal the player on your left first, then move left to right down the remaining players. Finish by dealing yourself one card face down. Deal another card to each player, this time with the card facing up.
Finally, deal your final card. This time, it should face upwards. If your card is an ace, you need to ask the players if they want to purchase insurance. If they do, take each player's insurance (it should be half of their original bet) and flip over your second card to see whether or not you have a blackjack.
If you have a blackjack, collect bets from anyone that didn't buy insurance. Players that did buy insurance receive their original bets back. Players with blackjack will receive their original bet, even if they didn't purchase insurance.
The players' turns
If your face-up card isn't an ace, continue play as normal. Starting from your left, all of the players play their hand in turn. Players can stand, in which case you move on to the next player. They can also hit, in which case you deal them a new card face up.
If the player continues drawing cards until their hand exceeds 21, they're bust. You can collect their bet and move on to the next player. If they have blackjack on their first hand, pay back their bet with a 3:2 bonus (for example, a $20 bet receives $30, as well as the return of their original bet.)
Before players take additional cards, they can double down. In this case, deal them a new card face up after they have added their extra bet. Remember that players who choose to double down only receive one new card and cannot continue to hit.
Players with matching cards can split their hand into two. Once a player splits their hand and matches their original bet, you should deal them two cards – one for each hand – both facing down. Players then play one hand followed by the other.
Finally, if a player splits a hand containing two aces, they are limited to one card per hand. Deal one card for each hand, facing down as usual, but do not let the player hit on their hand any more. Any split blackjacks should be paid out at 1:1 odds instead of the typical 3:2 bonus payment.
Sound confusing? Learn how to play blackjack the right way from an experienced professional team that won over $4 million from casinos with our course, How to Count Cards for Profit at Blackjack.
The dealer's turn
Once each players has had their turn, it's your turn to play. Turn over your down-facing card. If your hand is worth 16 points or less, deal yourself another card and continue until it's worth 17 or more points.
If your hand is worth more than 17 points, don't deal any cards. If your second card is an ace, count it as 11 only until your total exceeds 21, at which point the ace has a value of 1 point.
If the value of your hand exceeds 21, you're bust and the remaining players win. If your hand is worth less than 21, pay any players with a higher value than you, and collect bets from players whose hands have a lower value than yours.
Blackjack Cheat Sheet Printable
Finally, if you tie with a player, refund their bet. Once you've dealt with all of bets and finished playing, collect cards from all players and prepare for the next hand.
Card Values In Blackjack
Do you need help learning how to play as the dealer? Learn Blackjack and review the basics of the game. In addition to learning how to deal, you'll master basic blackjack strategy and the secret art of card counting.
Having fun while you play
Once you know the basic rules of playing blackjack as the dealer, you'll be able to host players at home and have you own blackjack games. Most casinos require all dealers to have professional training, so if you'd like to make blackjack dealing a career, you'll need to attend a professional casino school.
If you're playing at home, why not spice up the game with some card tricks? Join over 1,000 students and learn simple card tricks that you can perform in between your blackjack games in our Hacking Perception: Cool Card Tricks course.