Advanced Blackjack Rules and Strategy
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by: mgammonish
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Word Count: 492
If you are like most blackjack players then you probably only know the basic rules of the blackjack game. Knowing only basic blackjack rules is fine if you enjoy playing blackjack for fun. However, if you are involved in high stakes blackjack or competitive tournament play then it is important to understand the more advanced rules of the game. Important advanced blackjack rules include understanding splitting, doubling down, insurance and hard hands versus soft hands.
Many blackjack players are unaware that when their initial 2-card hand is a double they can split the hand into 2 separate hands. This is a rule which, when put to use, can also be a great blackjack strategy that can increase a players odds of winning by quite a large amount. When you have 2 Aces you should always split them, as an Ace is worth 11 points and the largest percentage of cards in the deck are worth 10 points so your chances of earning at least one 21 blackjack hand are very good. There are several card values that are not so worthwhile to double down on, such as when you have double 10s or face cards for a 20-point hand. Doubling down may cause you to be left with 2 lower-valued hands so it is better not to double down in this case.
Many players are also unaware of the option that they have to double down. When you double down in blackjack you double your bet after receiving your initial 2 card hand. You then receive 1 additional card.
Another important part of advanced blackjack rules to understand is hard hands versus soft hands. In a blackjack game, a soft hand is a hand that contains an Ace which is valued at 11 points. A hard hand is a hand that contains an Ace that must be valued at 1 point because if it was 11 the player would bust. When you play blackjack and have a soft hand you can always add an additional card without any fear of busting because the Ace can always be valued at 1 rather than 11. Additionally, it is important to note that the dealer must always hit on soft 17.
Insurance is another important advanced rule in blackjack. When the dealer’s up-card is an Ace you may place an insurance bet. An insurance bet is equal to half the value of your initial bet and if the dealer gets blackjack when you have placed an insurance bet then you will only lose half of your initial bet.
When you are participating in blackjack gambling, whether it be in a regular table game or in a blackjack tournament, it is very important to have an understanding of advanced blackjack rules. Knowing everything there is to know about how to play blackjack can help you to improve your odds of winning so that you can minimize your losses and maximize your wins when you play blackjack online or off.
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