| Blackjack 101 | |
[Part 4: Play Options
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Insurance
If the dealer's up card is an ace the dealer will offer insurance. You are not really insuring a hand. This is a side bet you make wagering half your original bet that the dealer has a ten in the hole. If you make the bet and he has the ten you are paid 2 to 1. You would then lose your original bet but win the insurance bet, which works out to being a push of your original bet. If you have a blackjack and the dealer has an ace you will be asked if you would like even money for your blackjack instead of 3 to 2. If you do not take the even money you will have a push if the dealer has a blackjack. Both the insurance and the even money bet are sucker bets. The dealers will NOT have a ten more times than they will have one.
Surrender.
Some casinos will allow you to surrender your hand and give up half your bet on your first two cards after the dealer checks for a blackjack. This is known as late surrender. This option is not offered in many casinos. It is to the player's advantage when played correctly. Unfortunately when it is offered many players surrender more hands than they should thus giving up the advantage gained by this option.
These are the decisions that you must make when playing blackjack. If you play your hand properly you can reduce the house edge to less than one percent. To do this you must learn basic strategy, which is a mathematically proven method to determine when to hit and stand. You can view a copy of the strategy chart by clicking the BJ Strategy Chart link in the sidebar.
A simple Strategy:
If your first cards total 12-16 you have a "Stiff" hand. (one than can be
busted with a hit.)
If the dealer's up card is a 2 - 6, it is a "Stiff" hand for the dealer.
If you have 17 or better it is a Pat hand and you stand.
If the dealer shows a 7 -Ace, you consider it a pat hand.
If you have a stiff and the dealer has a stiff you STAND.
If you have a stiff and the dealer has a pat hand you HIT
Previous pages> Basic Strategy Chart > Page 1, 2, 3
Until next time, remember:
"Luck comes and goes...Knowledge stays forever."