Like many other casino games, casino blackjack is a game of chance, but there is a lot of skill involved. Blackjack is also known by the name 21. That’s because the object of the game is to obtain a hand with a value of 21 or as close as possible to that value.
The blackjack table has 7 betting spots. There are generally several blackjack tables in a casino, and each table has the betting limits clearly stated. The betting limits are indicated by the sign posted on the table top, and indicate the minimum and maximum allowable bets. You can easily spot the signs showing the betting limit, as they are always color coded. The color red for $5: green for $25: and black for $100.
You simply go to the table that has the betting limits that you are most interested in. The tables offering the lower bets are generally crowded, but if you are new to the game, then that is the best place to start.
Once you have found the table with the wager limits you want, you can then buy the chips. To buy chips, you simply place the money beside you on the table and wait for the dealer to convert the money into chips. You might have to wait until there is an appropriate break in the action.
You place your bet by putting the chips in the circle in front of your seat. The dealer will then shuffle the cards, and then place them in a box on the table. This box is known in blackjack circles as the “shoe.” The dealer will then ask a player to cut the deck using the ‘cut card,’ which is a colored card.
The cards are then put back in the shoe, and the top card is discarded. After this, he will distribute the cards to each player, starting with the card at the top of the deck. When distributing the cards, the dealer generally starts with the player that is farthest to the left, and each player is given 2 cards.
Depending on the game, cards may be dealt face down, or face up. When cards are dealt face down, then players are allowed to handle the cards, however, if they are dealt face up, then only the dealer can touch the cards.
In blackjack, cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value. However 10s and face cards are worth 10 points. The player determines the value of the ace, which can be worth 1 or 11; it all depends on what you draw in your hand. Players also have the option to change the value of the ace mid-hand.
The object of blackjack is to get to 21, or as close as possible, so you if you are far off, you can take another card from the dealer, known as a “hit.” However, if you pass 21, you lose and out of the game. When you win, you simply take your chips to the cashier and exchange it for money.
