Learn the basics of blackjack now that Florida features the game at many casinos.

Let’s begin with the basic rules of how the game is played.

The objective of blackjack is to beat the dealer’s hand and you can do so in one of two ways:
1. When the total of your hand exceeds the dealer’s total, or
2. By having 21 or less when the dealer’s hand goes over 21 (known as “busting”).

Blackjack is played on a table with up to 6 players. Every player is playing against the dealer (i.e., you are not playing against your fellow table players). Every table has minimum and maximum betting limits and this information is usually posted on the table (or you can ask the dealer or a floor supervisor).

It’s no secret that the casino has the mathematical advantage, or edge, over players. But do you know how the casinos get their edge? It arises from this simple rule of the game: Players always must act on their hand before the dealer and if a player busts, he will automatically lose even if the dealer subsequently busts. Later I’ll show you how you can take advantage of this rule to play your hand in a manner that improves your chances of winning.

It doesn’t matter which seat you take when you play blackjack. Historically, some of the betting or seat positions have names. The seat position to the right of the dealer is known as “first base,” and this player is the first to act on his hand. On the other side of the table, the last seat position is known as “third base” and the player seated there is the “last player” to act on his hand before the dealer acts on his hand. Some blackjack players mistakenly believe that the third base player can “control” what cards the dealer will get by how the third base player plays his hand. But this is nonsense and in a future column I’ll explain why. For now just take any seat and don’t worry which one it is.

All cards count their face value in blackjack. Picture cards count as 10 and the ace can count as either a 1 or 11. Card suits have no meaning in blackjack. The total of any hand is the sum of the card values in the hand. A hand containing a 4-5-8 totals 17. Another containing a queen-5 totals 15. It is always assumed that the ace counts 11 unless your hand exceeds 21 in which case the ace reverts to a value of 1. Generally hands which contain an ace that counts as 11 are known as soft hands (i.e. ace, 7 is a soft 18 hand and ace-3-3 is soft 17). A hard hand is any hand that either does not contain an ace, or if it does, it counts as 1 (i.e. 10-8 and 5-ace-10-2 are hard 18 hands).

Fortunately for players, the playing rules that they must follow are not the same as the dealer’s rules. In fact the dealer has to follow the house rule which says he must hit if his hand totals 16 or less and stand if it totals from 17 through 21. So if your hand totals 15 and you stood, and the dealer’s hand totals 16 and is beating you, the dealer must still hit his hand since it’s less than 17.

Players have several options available to them when it comes to acting on their hand. These include the following:

Hit. This means you want the dealer to give you another card to your hand. In shoe games, indicate to the dealer that you want a hit by making a beckoning motion with your finger or tapping the table behind your cards with your finger. In hand held games, scratch the edges of the cards in your hand lightly on the felt.

Stand. This means you are satisfied with the total of the hand and want to stand with the cards you have. In shoe games, indicate that you want to stand by waving your hand over the cards. In hand held games, tuck your cards under the chips that you have in the betting box.

Pair Split. If you have two like cards (e.g. a pair of 6’s or aces), you could exercise the option to split. When you split you must make another bet equal to your original bet. By pair splitting you play each card as a separate hand and you can draw as many cards as you like to each hand (except split aces-most casinos will only allow one draw card to each ace). For example, if you were dealt a pair of 8’s (16) and split, you would have two separate hands containing an 8. You would be required to play out one of the split hands first before the other. In shoe games you indicate that you want to split by placing another chip next to the original chip. For hand-held games toss your cards on the table and then make the secondary wager. Most casinos will also allow players to split all ten-value cards such as a jack-ten or queen-king (although this is not a recommended playing strategy).

Double down. This playing option allows you to double your bet in return for receiving one and only one draw card. In most casinos you can only double down after you receive your first two cards and before drawing another card. To signal the dealer that you want to double down just place your chip next to the original chip bet on the hand (shoe games) or toss your cards on the table face-up in hand held games and then make the secondary bet.

Insurance. When the dealer’s upcard is an ace, the dealer will ask players if they want to make the insurance wager. It is a side bet in which players are betting that the dealer’s hole card will be a ten-value card. Players can make an insurance bet equal to one half of the initial bet made on the hand. To make the insurance bet you simply place your chips on the insurance line, which is located right above the player betting box. You win your insurance bet if the dealer has a ten-value card in the hole. A winning insurance bet pays off at 2 to 1 odds.

Even Money. When the player has a blackjack hand and the dealer has an ace showing the dealer will ask the player if he wants “even money”. Even money means the dealer will automatically give you a 1 to 1 (or even money) payoff on your bet before he checks his downcard for a potential blackjack. Taking even money yields the same result as making an insurance bet on your blackjack hand.

Now that you know the basics of how to play, next issue I’ll explain some table etiquette so you feel comfortable playing, and then begin to review some playing strategies that will help you win.

Avoiding these 21 blackjack table faux pas may increase your odds of winning.

The casino game of blackjack has its procedures, codes of conduct, and playing strategies. The procedures are essential to ensure the security and integrity of the game. The codes of conduct encompass the playing etiquette so you don’t attract the ire of your fellow players, or the delaer. The playing strategies help you win. When you don’t follow any of the above, you are not going to play your best game. So avoid making these 21 faux pas.
1.    Handing money directly to the dealer. All cash transactions must be visible to the security cameras, so always place your cash on the layout outside of your betting spot, and then tell the dealer what denomination chips you want.
2.    Touching the cards when they are dealt face up. When four or more decks of cards are used, they are dealt face up to each player from a dealing shoe. The reason the cards are dealt face up is two-fold. First, it eliminates the potential for player cheating (by either marking or switching the cards), and secondly, it speeds up the game, because the dealer can quickly announce the total of each player’s hand. There is no reason to touch the cards, so don’t do it.
3.    Holding the cards with two hands. In games where the cards are dealt face down (usually single- and two-deck games), pick the cards up with one hand please, not two.
4.    Removing the cards from the table. Your cards must always be in full view of the dealer and the security cameras. Therefore, you should never, for example, hold them in your lap.
5.    Placing objects on the table. Purses, wallets, bags, and other items should be placed on your person or next to you (except ladies’ purses, which should be held in the lap). It’s OK to have a drink on the table, but use the drink holders provided by the casino to avoid spilling anything on the layout.
6.    Telling the dealer that you want a “hit.” Saying, “Hit me” might be OK when you play blackjack with friends back home, but in the casinos, it won’t fly. For security reasons, you must always use hand signals to signify whether you want to hit or stand.
7.    Touching your chips after you’ve made your bet and the cards are dealt. Your original bet must stay on the layout untouched until it either wins, loses, or ties. Once the dealer starts dealing the cards, that’s your cue to not touch your wager.
8.    Placing a higher denomination chip on top of a lower denomination chip in your betting spot. If you are wagering two or more different denomination chips, always place the higher denomination chip on the bottom of the stack.
9.    Not betting double the table minimum if you decide to play two (or more) spots. If it’s a $5 minimum table and you decide to spread to two hands, most casinos require that you wager $10 on each spot. If you are not sure, ask the dealer. Also, if the cards are dealt face-down, do not look at the second hand until after you have completed playing your first hand.
10.    Taking your bad luck out on the dealer or fellow players. They are not the reason why you are losing; most likely it’s just a bad run of cards, which happens to all blackjack players.
11.    Telling your fellow players how to play their hands. It’s their money and they have the right to play their hand any way they want to. However, if a fellow player asks you for advice, then it’s OK to offer it.
12.    Inserting the cut card a few cards from either end of the shuffled deck(s) of cards. On six-deck games, most casinos require that players place the cut card at least a half-deck from either end of the stack (some require a full-deck). If you place it less than that, you’ll get a rebuke from the dealer and a request to cut again.
13.    Sitting down and making a bet in the middle of a shoe. In some casinos, this is forbidden and there will be a “No Mid-Shoe Entry” sign posted on the table. If you are not sure, ask the dealer.
14.    Not using the basic playing strategy. The basic playing strategy is the mathematically correct way to play every hand dealt to you. This playing strategy is readily available in books, on the Internet, and on strategy cards, which you can take with you when you play (they are legal to use in a casino). Even if you are a regular player, there really is no reason to guess how to play a hand when you can have the answers at your fingertips by using a strategy card.
15.    Playing a 6 to 5 game. Some blackjack tables will pay only 6 to 5 when you get an untied blackjack, rather than the traditional 3 to 2 payoff. Getting paid 6 to 5 is bad. How bad? The house edge in a single-deck, 6 to 5 game is increased as much as seven-fold! Usually there will be a sign on the table stating that blackjacks pay 6 to 5. Some casinos have it imprinted on the layout. If you are not sure, ask the dealer. By avoiding these awful 6 to 5 games, you’ll take a big step to improving your bottom line.
16.    Playing on a table that uses a Continuous Shuffling Machine (CSM). Don’t confuse a CSM with a traditional automatic shuffling machine. A CSM is a device that randomly shuffles the discards after every round has been played. The net result is the game plays faster (no downtime for reshuffling) and you will play about 20% more hands per hour. Since the house has the edge on every hand, playing more hands dealt per hour will increase your theoretical loss by 20%. For average players, playing on a table that uses a CSM is bad news and should be avoided.
17.    Never getting rated when you play. The casinos give away a lot of comps to players in the hopes that they become loyal players. You won’t get your fair share of these comps unless you ask to be rated when you play blackjack. If you don’t know how to go about this, get the details at the Player’s Club or ask a casino host (VIP or Marketing Department).
18.    Asking arrogantly for a comp. While playing recently, I overheard a fellow player, after less than 30 minutes of play, say to the floor supervisor, “Can you gimme a comp for four to the buffet.” This isn’t the way to ask for a comp. First off, comps are not a God-given right to players. You must earn a comp by meeting a casino’s play requirements (average bet and time of play). Check with a casino host or the Marketing Department to obtain this information, and then only after you’ve met their play requirements, ask the floor supervisor, “Have I played enough for a dinner comp?” You’ll be surprised how often you’ll receive a no-hassle comp when you politely ask for one.
19.    Using a progressive betting system. I know, I know, many players use them and swear they work. But trust me, they don’t. Never have, and never will, because your chance of winning the next hand is completely independent of whether or not you won (or lost) the previous hand. The secret to winning at blackjack (actually the secret has been known for 45 or so years) is to bet more money only when the unplayed cards are rich in tens and aces. So if you want to increase your bet, you’d be wise to watch the cards as they are played and bet more only after you’ve seen a fair number of small vs. high cards played in previous rounds. Better yet, learn a simple card counting system, like Speed Count, which will tell you when it’s the right time to increase your bet.
20.    Never using a casino host. This is a big mistake if you are a regular player. Casino hosts can do a lot for you and you don’t necessarily have to be a high roller to use one. Read Jean Scott’s book, More Frugal Gambling, for the low-down.
21.    Never tipping the dealer. You tip a waiter or waitress for good service, don’t you? You should consider doing the same for a blackjack dealer. It’s not mandatory to tip a dealer; however, if the dealer has been pleasant and helpful, it’s customary to tip to show your appreciation for a job well done. Of course, tipping won’t miraculously change the cards in your favor, but think of this – it might put you in a favorable light with the floor supervisor, who is the person that has some leeway in approving your comp and the amount (get the picture?).
If you avoid making these 21 mistakes, you’ll find that you will enjoy the game better, play better, get more comps, and wind up with fewer losses and more wins. Now, aren’t those the reasons that you play blackjack?
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Henry Tamburin has been one of America’s most popular casino gaming writers for over a quarter of a century with over 600 published articles to his credit. He is a skilled blackjack player, author of the best-selling book, Blackjack: Take The Money & Run, and featured in the instructional video Blackjack-Deal Me In.